The Pupillage Interview/Acceptance/Rejection Thread 2012

With regards the Rose and Dunn pupillage, I wouldn't try and over analyse the presence or lack there of, of a covering letter or the short time to apply in.

Yes, there is a possibility that they already have someone in mind etc, but it could also be the case that the firm has suddenly had an influx of work, and realised they would like a pupil to start sooner rather than later. All experience is good, and having had final round interviews at Chambers and Solicitors, it's a good chance to compare the differences between the two if you get an interview.

Reply 221

Kessler`

11

Rose and Dunn look to be an EXTREMELY small firm - their facebook profile pics suggest maybe a total of 5-6 people.

Firstly, it is worth checking whether they are capable of providing pupillage. Their advertisement and they way in which they market themselves suggests to me that they may be confused about the role. Do they mean a trainee solicitor? or a paralegal? A simple check with the Bar Council may sort that out.

Secondly, if the above proviso is met, go into this with your eyes open. They are local solicitors dealing with criminal work, on a very small scale. Now, either they have fantastic connections/very high paying private clients or they are likely to suffer in the long-term from public funding cuts. Furthermore, let's say you surmount these obstacles, training with them is probably not going to give you anywhere near as wide-ranging or an in-depth experience as you could be receiving at an established set. This could make things difficult in the long run, particularly if you find yourself looking for a third six and competing against other third-sixers with a higher class of pedigree.

I do not wish this to be taken as an attack on Rose and Dunn. For all I know, they could be operating a damn slick outfit behind that facade. However, it should be given the same check as any other 'unknown' chambers which pops up now and again.

Reply 222

Neo

2

Just wondering what most people intend to do in the year between their BPTC ending and pupillage beginning (if they manage to get one)?

Original post by Neo

Just wondering what most people intend to do in the year between their BPTC ending and pupillage beginning (if they manage to get one)?

I expect more people will be concerned with what people are intending to do between their BPTC ending and pupillage beginning when they don't have pupillage, albeit there will be many questions asked and threads started on that topic.

For those lucky enough to be on the BPTC now having secured pupillage, I think the answer to that question is very straightforward; if there's something you've always wanted to do that is logistically possible between finishing the BPTC and starting pupillage (e.g. travelling somewhere in particular), do that. The time between finishing the BPTC and starting pupillage is valuable because you'll not be in a position again where you are entirely free but your future is entirely secure. Clearly if you have to work for financial reasons, or circumstances dictate that there is something else that you have to do, then so be it. But in the absence of that I'd be making the most of that time to pursue interests and relax.

Reply 224

Isherwood100

Original post by Neo

Just wondering what most people intend to do in the year between their BPTC ending and pupillage beginning (if they manage to get one)?

I'll be staying in my current job should I be blessed by the pupillage gods. I'd recommend those who are straight out of university/BPTC to get a job of some kind for a year, even if it's not legal - I've heard complaints from lay clients and solicitors that young barristers have no idea of how real life works, and the real-world knowledge you get will stand you in good stead in the future.

(But perhaps my opinion would be different if I'd ever been the kind of person who could afford to travel for a year!)

Reply 225

rjg_5

hey, im about to start filling out my portal application and am trying to whittle it down to the 12 i want to apply for. i want to specialise in criminal law and was wondering if anyone had any info on these 3 chambers' recruitment processes/experience of them above and beyond what's on their websites: 4 Breams Buildings, 1 Gray's inn square and 1 inner temple lane? cheers

Reply 226

Kessler`

11

After the BVC finished for me, I devoted my time to pupillage apps and looking for work. I didn't get a long-term job until November of the same year, and missed out on pupillage to boot.
I spent the following year working in a very nice job, obtaining pupillage in August. Fortunately, I'm still in the job and was offered the choice of leaving when I wanted. I'll be leaving work in July, simply because I haven't had a holiday since, erm, 2005! I'll be using the time between then and starting pupillage to travel Europe on my own, following a cultural trail from Ancient/Renaissance Italy, Medieval Spain, Reformationist Germany and finishing in Baroque France.

I'm doing it because I know it's going to be a long time before I get the chance to do something like this again :wink:

Reply 227

Neo

2

Original post by Kessler`

After the BVC finished for me, I devoted my time to pupillage apps and looking for work. I didn't get a long-term job until November of the same year, and missed out on pupillage to boot.
I spent the following year working in a very nice job, obtaining pupillage in August. Fortunately, I'm still in the job and was offered the choice of leaving when I wanted. I'll be leaving work in July, simply because I haven't had a holiday since, erm, 2005! I'll be using the time between then and starting pupillage to travel Europe on my own, following a cultural trail from Ancient/Renaissance Italy, Medieval Spain, Reformationist Germany and finishing in Baroque France.

I'm doing it because I know it's going to be a long time before I get the chance to do something like this again :wink:

Sounds very pleasant. What's your story then? How many years did you apply for pupillage? What's your CV like?

Reply 228

resipsaloq

5

Original post by alphaman

So, I guess I'm a hopeless dreamer then?

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1930334

I've replied in that thread.

Reply 229

Lozzab3

Does anyone know what the final round for falcon chambers involves? Have it next Thursday but unlike other final rounds at Maitland, Wilberforce, there is apparently no problem to consider beforehand, will it be purely a think on your feet job?

Reply 230

sanf

Original post by Neo

Just wondering what most people intend to do in the year between their BPTC ending and pupillage beginning (if they manage to get one)?

I'm planning to teach part-time in as many universities as will have me.

Reply 231

TakeTwo

3

Original post by Neo

Just wondering what most people intend to do in the year between their BPTC ending and pupillage beginning (if they manage to get one)?

Paralegal jobs seem to be the norm. I had a paralegal job for six months straight out of the BPTC and am now on an internship in the US working in a capital defence office. If anyone interested in the US system, I would strongly encourage them to look into Amicus/Reprieve and consider coming out here - it is without a doubt, the greatest experience I have ever had.

Reply 232

TakeTwo

3

Original post by rjg_5

hey, im about to start filling out my portal application and am trying to whittle it down to the 12 i want to apply for. i want to specialise in criminal law and was wondering if anyone had any info on these 3 chambers' recruitment processes/experience of them above and beyond what's on their websites: 4 Breams Buildings, 1 Gray's inn square and 1 inner temple lane? cheers

Portal isn't open yet. Do you mean drafting your application? One Inner Temple Lane didn't offer pupillage last year (not sure if they will this year), in any event they are not a pure crime set and 1 GIS are also not pure crime set, so the decision is made for you.

Reply 233

seraphina

Francis Taylor Building first round interviews are out by email, with the interviews taking place next week - gloriously short notice! Both myself and my housemate have got one - that's going to be stressful...

Reply 234

nearmiss

Hi, I'm thinking of applying to Quadrant. I didn't go to Oxbridge, and noticed that almost every profile of their tenants has an Oxbridge degree (or two). I have a First, and though my CV isn't double oxbridge first level, I think it is of such standard that I would usually stand at least some chance of an interview with commercial sets, but in light of the people Quadrant seem to recruit, does it seem a waste of time to apply? Has anyone interviewed there without having attended Oxford/Cambridge? Thanks.

Reply 235

FMQ

5

Original post by nearmiss

Hi, I'm thinking of applying to Quadrant. I didn't go to Oxbridge, and noticed that almost every profile of their tenants has an Oxbridge degree (or two). I have a First, and though my CV isn't double oxbridge first level, I think it is of such standard that I would usually stand at least some chance of an interview with commercial sets, but in light of the people Quadrant seem to recruit, does it seem a waste of time to apply? Has anyone interviewed there without having attended Oxford/Cambridge? Thanks.

You have nothing to loose by applying.

For people who are either in the position of being on the BPTC so need a pupillage or testing the water before it, who have an excellent CV, there may always be a mould breaker. It is not going to be someone with 2.1/2.2 from Westminster and a week at the CAB and a couple of minis, that would be time wasting, but a genuinely excellent CV with a first and experience commensurable with those at the set, why not?

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 236

sanf

Original post by nearmiss

Hi, I'm thinking of applying to Quadrant. I didn't go to Oxbridge, and noticed that almost every profile of their tenants has an Oxbridge degree (or two). I have a First, and though my CV isn't double oxbridge first level, I think it is of such standard that I would usually stand at least some chance of an interview with commercial sets, but in light of the people Quadrant seem to recruit, does it seem a waste of time to apply? Has anyone interviewed there without having attended Oxford/Cambridge? Thanks.

Their online application form only takes ten minutes. Worst case scenario is that they reject you.

[Actually, the worse case scenario is that they give you a first round requiring you to spend a day or two on a 3000 word problem, require you to spend a day in London for interview with concomitant travel expenses, and then reject you.]

Reply 237

Onthepupillagehunt

Re: Francis Taylor Buildings

I've got a first round interview there next week as well - anyone have any idea of the format/type of questions? I realise we have to review a short problem beforehand so any tips on that would be useful too!

Thanks!

Reply 238

Onthepupillagehunt

Original post by seraphina

Francis Taylor Building first round interviews are out by email, with the interviews taking place next week - gloriously short notice! Both myself and my housemate have got one - that's going to be stressful...

I've got a first round interview there next week as well - anyone have any idea of the format/type of questions? I realise we have to review a short problem beforehand so any tips on that would be useful too!

Thanks!

Reply 239

yellowhannah33

I've had a couple of PM requests about FTB interviews and want to make all advice publicly available for a level playing field - I interviewed with them twice 2010 and 2011, 2010 resulted in a second round but no pupillage and in 2011 I bombed the interview in a catastrophic manner which still makes me cringe as I think about it.

They set you an advocacy task. Both years it was three statements and you could speak for or against. The three topics can broadly be categorized as - political, legal, general knowledge. You get 15 mins to prepare, a pen, paper and I referred to the notes I made when I spoke.

So 2010 the topics were something like,
1.) Global warming is a myth.
2.) Judges are increasingly willing and able to challenge Parliamentary sovereignty.
3.) Young men are committing more and more crime because they lack father figures
(obviously not the exact wording, but you get the drift). You get five minutes to speak, but this is flexible, the panel interrupt you, challenge your arguments - typical advocacy stuff. This is a real area to shine and in 2010 I am certain that a good performance in this task secured my second round.

The rest of the interview is very general. Why FTB? Why their areas of law [they do some pretty specific areas - environmental caught me out in 2011, I didn't know enough and, boy, did it show - do your research]? Some general CV questions - oh I see you did X, how did you find it? What about the following aspects of Y? Then there was some general chat about politics and what I thought about various government policies. All in all, great set, friendly interview.

Hope that's helpful for everyone, good luck.

The Pupillage Interview/Acceptance/Rejection Thread 2012

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