[vh123]

(Original post by Ready123)
Guildford chambers interviews out

How did you hear? Congratulations :-)

[Mini Pupil]

Hi guys, I've been receiving a lot of positive private message about my blog - so thanks so much for that. To answer a few 'frequently asked questions':

1. There are stil 5 or 6 posts from the period late-March to early-May that need to go up to fill in the gaps, they'll be up in the coming days. Recently I have uploaded two posts on my application form last year, and my interviews last year which I hope might be interesting, do take a look at them.

2. I'd prefer to stay anonymous for now, but people who know me have found it very easy to identify me. Even one of my tutors at BPP worked it out. Well done him.

3. It is possible to subscribe to the blog via an RSS reader like google reader, or via email. If you go onto the main blog website, you'll see a 'subscribe by email' box on the right hand side, if you put in your email you get an automated message every time I write something new. Which is nice. I do NOT have access to this email list, it's completely automated by google, so I'd like to think there are no data protection issues, etc.

Anyhow, thanks for all of the very kind words so far, I hope to keep you interested in the coming months.

[delboyandrodders]

With regards to handwritten covering letters accompanying a CV, would people agree that they should remain limited to one side of unlined a4 paper - even though an individual's handwriting may be slightly larger than .11 font causing them to go onto a second page?

Thanks!

[delboyandrodders]

(Original post by Wildman)
Only ever done one of these. My typed covering letter is always on one page, but the one handwritten one that I did basically followed the same format but was 2.5 pages. It was fine - the focus was on making it clear and legible rather than cramming it onto one side - and I got an interview. Didn't get any further than first round though, so read into that what you will.

Thanks Wildman - I will type it out first and then see if I can neatly fit it onto one page.

Cheers.

[Mini Pupil]

Last shameless plug for a while, I promise, the final part of my posts about last year is now up on the blog and can be found here

EDIT: I've now turned on anonymous and unregistered comments so you can get involved without registering.

[littlewig]

Hello,

I haven't applied there, but Henderson Chambers have put an official post re interviews on The Pupillage Pages website.

[littlewig]

Also, CPS 1st round online test invitations are out by email.

[Mini Pupil]

do we know how many people go into this stage? As it's online I assume it's still thousands.

[mwiko]

And what an annoying test it is.

[littlewig]

I completed a practice one on the website they recommended, and after 30 questions it doesnt even give you any feedback as to whether you got them right or not!!

[Mini Pupil]

(Original post by littlewig)
I completed a practice one on the website they recommended, and after 30 questions it doesnt even give you any feedback as to whether you got them right or not!!

I found this as well. The questions where you have to rank your responses from 1-5 were particularly mindless.

[zara82]

(Original post by mwiko)
And what an annoying test it is.

And considering the fact that this is only the first out of 3....

[theresagreenjnr]

hi there, has anyone heard back from any criminal sets of chambers? charter chambers, pump court chambers, 23 essex st, 7 bedford row?.. or does anyone know when we might be hearing from them? I'm guessing that the lack of contact isn't a good sign!

[Kessler`]

Personally, I feel that undertaking a pupillage in the CPS is a dangerous move for a wannabe future practitioner. There's a real chance that you could lose your perspective, which is one of the elements that make the Bar so strong. To be able to prosecute successfully, objectively and efficiently surely one needs to have a deep understanding of how the defence operates? Vice versa, if you have a pure defence practice, it's entirely possible that you could lose objectivity and foresight in the long run. FWIW, I wish that criminal practitioners were required to prosecute and defend as much as possible!

[zara82]

(Original post by Wildman)
The great thing about applying for pupillage at the independent Bar is that you avoid all the box-ticking HR feckery that you get in most other industries.

Looks like extreme HR gymnastics need to be performed to obtain pupillage at the CPS. Easy if you know which boxes to tick, not so easy if you don't.

But at least the CPS' process appears to be much fairer, ie you must all these tests first before you selected for an interview, in contrast to chambers who might just pick you coz of your educational institution, background etc.

[littlewig]

(Original post by Kessler`)
Personally, I feel that undertaking a pupillage in the CPS is a dangerous move for a wannabe future practitioner. There's a real chance that you could lose your perspective, which is one of the elements that make the Bar so strong. To be able to prosecute successfully, objectively and efficiently surely one needs to have a deep understanding of how the defence operates? Vice versa, if you have a pure defence practice, it's entirely possible that you could lose objectivity and foresight in the long run. FWIW, I wish that criminal practitioners were required to prosecute and defend as much as possible!

I think I would disagree with you there, and it is also something very easy to say after securing pupillage. (Which by the way is an incredible achievement).

6 years ago when I started my Law degree all I wanted was to prosecute, and be an advocate and the CPS was the perfect place to do this. When they froze recruitment, I was extremely disappointed. During the BVC this changed slightly, and I realise I had a keen interest in defence work as well, and family law.

However, my main goal is to be an advocate, whether that be at the employed or self employed bar. Unfortunately there isn’t the luxury of choice anymore, and if an organisation is offering potentially 15 pupillages, and you were interested in crime, you'd be a fool not to apply.

[zara82]

Phoned Farringdon law chambers just now and asked for an update. The clerk said that they are currently considering applications and will get back to us very soon.

[Mini Pupil]

(Original post by theresagreenjnr)
hi there, has anyone heard back from any criminal sets of chambers? charter chambers, pump court chambers, 23 essex st, 7 bedford row?.. or does anyone know when we might be hearing from them? I'm guessing that the lack of contact isn't a good sign!

Most criminal sets last year didn't get in touch until June. I wouldn't worry quite yet, it's still so so early in the game.

[Kessler`]

(Original post by littlewig)
I think I would disagree with you there, and it is also something very easy to say after securing pupillage. (Which by the way is an incredible achievement).

6 years ago when I started my Law degree all I wanted was to prosecute, and be an advocate and the CPS was the perfect place to do this. When they froze recruitment, I was extremely disappointed. During the BVC this changed slightly, and I realise I had a keen interest in defence work as well, and family law.

However, my main goal is to be an advocate, whether that be at the employed or self employed bar. Unfortunately there isn’t the luxury of choice anymore, and if an organisation is offering potentially 15 pupillages, and you were interested in crime, you'd be a fool not to apply.

I understand what you are saying, and I agree that it really is a case of getting your foot through the door. Nevertheless, I would hope that - after completing the pupillage period - CPS advocates were encouraged to spend some time in the independent Bar. Maybe as a third six or (probably more sensible) with a couple of years under their belt. Speaking from personal experience, the job which I currently do means that I see a lot of cases where the CPS lawyers (and advocates) are very short-sighted and narrow in their view of, as one example, their CPIA duties. That could be helped hugely by understanding the mindset and process of a defence through personal, hands-on, experience.

Something to consider anyway, and perhaps a subject for a separate thread

[zara82]

(Original post by Wildman)
That's what they said to me 2.5 weeks ago, almost exactly. The Clerk sounded quite apologetic when I asked. It makes me wonder if they are reconsidering whether they have enough funds for a pupil? I note that one of the two pupillages was meant to have started in April, so either that has been chopped or shunted to a later date.

He said that it's apparently a Ms Pinkus who looks at them. She is stuck in a very big case though and thus she looks through them as much she can right now.

I think we spoke with the same clerk. The one I spoke to perfectly fits the description you gave.