The Pupillage Interview/Acceptance/Rejection Thread 2013

This whole process is horrendous! This is a slightly impertinent question, but I'm just wondering what the CVs of those who have been invited to interview at criminal sets are like? ( congratulations!)

I just finished the BPTC. I had the top mark in my high school leaving exams, a 2:1 in law from a top 5, FRU casework, 5 minis, paralegal experience, volunteer experience at a youth offenders centre, placements with solicitors, mooting and other types of public speaking under my belt. I know it's not the best CV in the world, but I thought I was at least good enough to have a chat to!

Sounds like you do have a pretty strong CV! I was lucky enough to get three offers from criminal sets last year, and certainly didn't have as much experience as you - I hadn't been a paralegal yet or completed as many mini-pupillages. What sort of sets are you looking at? If they are the same as I interviewed at, I might be able to help.

Pump Court Chambers first round invites out - status changed to 'First Interview' on gateway, but no email / call / letter yet.

Pump Court Chambers first round invites out - status changed to 'First Interview' on gateway, but no email / call / letter yet.

Doughty street rejection in, has anyone heard anymore re: 9 gough square ? Not looking especially hopeful. Any more news on 3pb ?


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Congratulations! That' so fantastic- and thank you for replying! Still waiting on Carmelite, Chambers of John Coffey and 15 NBS ( looks like it's a silent rejection from 6KBW so stopped holding my breath for them!) In the middle of applying to Holborn Chambers and St Ives right now.

25 BR, 18 RLC, 2 Hare and 9-12 Bell Yard are the ones with no love for me- no visible mess in my application, so wondering what I should do to improve my chances if I need to do this again next year!

Congratulations! That' so fantastic- and thank you for replying! Still waiting on Carmelite, Chambers of John Coffey and 15 NBS ( looks like it's a silent rejection from 6KBW so stopped holding my breath for them!) In the middle of applying to Holborn Chambers and St Ives right now.

25 BR, 18 RLC, 2 Hare and 9-12 Bell Yard are the ones with no love for me- no visible mess in my application, so wondering what I should do to improve my chances if I need to do this again next year!

It's frustrating. Those sets are all at the very top for crime, though. There will be candidates with multiple degrees, firsts, second careers, and internships etc that would blow your mind (I remember meeting a fellow interviewee who had just returned from drafting the constitution of Iraq). Usually not getting an interview from these places says more about the other candidates than it does about you.

2012 interviews were panel of 4/5 - general application chat and an ethics question.

This whole process is horrendous! This is a slightly impertinent question, but I'm just wondering what the CVs of those who have been invited to interview at criminal sets are like? ( congratulations!)

I just finished the BPTC. I had the top mark in my high school leaving exams, a 2:1 in law from a top 5, FRU casework, 5 minis, paralegal experience, volunteer experience at a youth offenders centre, placements with solicitors, mooting and other types of public speaking under my belt. I know it's not the best CV in the world, but I thought I was at least good enough to have a chat to!

It sounds like you have a really great CV, I woul be very proud and confident if I were you and that is a real shame about your lack of interviews, I'm sorry to hear it. I have interviews at four of the chambers you mention, and my CV is very similar to yours, I also have a 2.1 not a first, minis, experience essentially equivalent to yours. So I wouldn't, if I were you, necessarily conclude I needed to do different or more volunteering or extra-curriculars. Tricky to identify the issue! Of course the sift process is a bit of a lottery and so there might not be an answer. But one thing I identified as really key was to show awareness of "the reality at the criminal bar" and to show interest or at least awareness of the chambers' expertise in crime-related areas (regulatory, extradition, appellate etc). I think that applies to 2 hare court and 6kbw in particular of the ones you've mentioned.

Basically my impression is that your cv sounds very strong, and perhaps the place to look is your answers to "why this chambers" and "why crime. I am by no means an expert, and not of legallucy's level of achievement, but I have several interviews at criminal sets this year and I hope my thoughts are be helpful. Anyway, good luck with the ones you are still waiting to hear from!

It sounds like you have a really great CV, I woul be very proud and confident if I were you and that is a real shame about your lack of interviews, I'm sorry to hear it. I have interviews at four of the chambers you mention, and my CV is very similar to yours, I also have a 2.1 not a first, minis, experience essentially equivalent to yours. So I wouldn't, if I were you, necessarily conclude I needed to do different or more volunteering or extra-curriculars. Tricky to identify the issue! Of course the sift process is a bit of a lottery and so there might not be an answer. But one thing I identified as really key was to show awareness of "the reality at the criminal bar" and to show interest or at least awareness of the chambers' expertise in crime-related areas (regulatory, extradition, appellate etc). I think that applies to 2 hare court and 6kbw in particular of the ones you've mentioned.

Basically my impression is that your cv sounds very strong, and perhaps the place to look is your answers to "why this chambers" and "why crime. I am by no means an expert, and not of legallucy's level of achievement, but I have several interviews at criminal sets this year and I hope my thoughts are be helpful. Anyway, good luck with the ones you are still waiting to hear from!

Really great advice today all, thank you.

Sorry to ask again - but I'm getting nervous about the interview. Any tips or tricks (even about interviews in general really!) would be really appreciated. Thanks all.

No5 in Birmingham for 2014. Just finishing off my Law degree at the mo (City in September for the BPTC) and my scholarship interview was a mess of word-vomit (and received no ££££s as a result!) so I'm a bit terrified really!