First round interview next week at Serle Court though they seem to be doing two days of interviews so I suspect they are seeing lots of people!

It will be my first pupillage interview so I'm slightly terrified.

Reply 5

pupillagehunt

Congratulations on your first interview, and good luck!

Two days of interviews is not that much so don't let it put you off. A lot of criminal chambers do first round interviews every evening over a couple of weeks. I think is was 25 Bedford Row last year that told me they were seeing 90 in the first round. That's not unusual.

Reply 6

Nigel85

3

Thank you!

It's amazing how the support of people on this forum actually means something when you're facing such a difficult period of interviews and rejections :smile:

Talking of which, just had rejection from 3-4 South Square, though it's completely expected since I didn't have enough experience in their areas of expertise to back up my application very well

Reply 7

resipsaloq

5

Just got my first rejection - Serle Court.

Reply 8

ap3456

OP

9

Invitation from Wilberforce today :smile:

Reply 9

resipsaloq

5

Original post by ap3456

Invitation from Wilberforce today :smile:

Well done and good luck! The people I've met from there seem very pleasant.

Reply 10

ap3456

OP

9

Original post by Nigel85

First round interview next week at Serle Court though they seem to be doing two days of interviews so I suspect they are seeing lots of people!

There is information on numbers of candidates at Maitland at http://www.maitlandchambers.com/recruitment/pupillageapplication.asp . I would guess the commercial chancery chambers are going to be all pretty much the same.

So as long as we're in the top 1% of applicants we'll be just fine :biggrin:

Reply 11

st_files

Hi...I will be applying for pupillage this year so thought I'd sign up and say hello.

A couple of questions:

1. I am applying in my GDL year - am I wasting my time?
2. I have got onto a few mini pupillages, is that encouraging or do they not really indicate anything?
3. Just how hard is the BPTC compared to the GDL?

Thanks

Reply 12

ap3456

OP

9

Original post by st_files

Hi...I will be applying for pupillage this year so thought I'd sign up and say hello.

A couple of questions:

1. I am applying in my GDL year - am I wasting my time?
2. I have got onto a few mini pupillages, is that encouraging or do they not really indicate anything?
3. Just how hard is the BPTC compared to the GDL?

Thanks

1. No. If you are an exceptional candidate you might conceivably get pupillage but if not, you will begin to understand what is required of you in a law application and interview, ready for when you do it for real the following year. Just don't apply to your dream sets since many chambers don't like re-applications.

2. Many but not all chambers give minis to those who would receive a first interview. Do as many minis as possible - some in a few different areas of law and some in whatever area you think you will want to specialise in. You need to show that you have experienced different areas as well as decided on one. Short minis are better - give you a chance to show yourself off to various chambers. If you're good they will have made a note of it for when you remind them you were there, in your application.

3. Not easier or harder but a wholly different kettle of fish. Only half is book work (excruciatingly boring and difficult to learn procedures), the rest is skills such as advocacy and conference which boil down to maturity, people skills and an outward going character. Don't do the BPTC if you are an academic without people flair.

Reply 13

st_files

Thanks for the info - very helpful.

I've pretty much decided I am only doing the BPTC if I have secured pupillage (mature student with 14 yrs commercial advertising experience, poor academics 20 years ago) - looking to get into family or possibly employment (doing a mini next week so will have a better idea).

Reply 14

Nigel85

3

Original post by ap3456

Invitation from Wilberforce today :smile:

Well done!

Also heard from Erskine (rejection) and XXIV Old Buildings (interview)

Interestingly, I'm finding that my covering letters are leading to rejections and application forms are more likely to get interviews. It may just be coincidence, but I do wonder if I'm getting the covering letters wrong somehow. Perhaps they're a bit generic, or don't go into enough detail about why that set. They're about a page and a quarter at the moment, because I can't fit enough detail into just one page. Maybe that's too long / short? I also wonder if I'm repeating too much information that's on the CV, eg scholarships and results.

Anyone have any pupillage covering letter tips or thoughts?

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 15

Nigel85

3

Original post by st_files

Thanks for the info - very helpful.

I've pretty much decided I am only doing the BPTC if I have secured pupillage (mature student with 14 yrs commercial advertising experience, poor academics 20 years ago) - looking to get into family or possibly employment (doing a mini next week so will have a better idea).

I think I'm only doing the BPTC if I have an Inn Scholarship or pupillage. Have you applied for a scholarship? They're some indication of whether you'll eventually get pupillage, and obviously help with funding the BPTC.

Reply 16

st_files

Original post by Nigel85

I think I'm only doing the BPTC if I have an Inn Scholarship or pupillage. Have you applied for a scholarship? They're some indication of whether you'll eventually get pupillage, and obviously help with funding the BPTC.

Yes, applied to Lincolns Inn - havent heard a peep from them though.

Reply 17

pupillagehunt

Original post by Nigel85

Well done!

Interestingly, I'm finding that my covering letters are leading to rejections and application forms are more likely to get interviews. It may just be coincidence, but I do wonder if I'm getting the covering letters wrong somehow. Perhaps they're a bit generic, or don't go into enough detail about why that set. They're about a page and a quarter at the moment, because I can't fit enough detail into just one page. Maybe that's too long / short? I also wonder if I'm repeating too much information that's on the CV, eg scholarships and results.

Anyone have any pupillage covering letter tips or thoughts?

Well done on your interview - if you're getting interviews at the likes of Erskine then it looks like your covering letters could do with some improvement. I'm going for criminal sets but the same principles apply:

- Always limit your covering letter to one page
- Don't just repeat everything in your CV
- Always limit your CV to two pages

As a general rule, the CV is for the 'what', i.e. listing achievements, and the covering letter is for the 'why', i.e. making clear, in light of all your experience/achievements/qualifications, why you chose that set of chambers and area of law and why you should be invited for interview.

All sounds very obvious, but SO hard to master!