How much does a BPTC/Bar Course 'Pass'/Competent matter?
Hello. I am currently on the BPTC, and recently failed my Crim Lit exam, and am feeling increasingly uncertain about the fact I will pass my Civ Lit one, upcoming. The prospect of getting a Pass is increasingly realistic as I've already failed one exam, and I would really like any insight as to how much this matters.
This year has been really hard, alongside lots of mental health issues, I've found it really damaging to be studying in a (very cramped) houseshare throughout lockdown when I can only really work well in libraries or super clinical environments. I've felt consistently stupid all year because no matter how much I read about civil litigation specifically, nothing seems to actually go in all that much. I get the specifics mixed up, can't remember mays and musts, and feel really wobbly about my abilities when everyone around me says the course is a walk in the park.
I basically would like to know whether a Pass will weigh my applications down or be a factor my other CV components can in any way make up for. For financial reasons, I can't drop out or defer the course, and have no choice but to sit my upcoming exams. I am feeling a bit desparing in cramming in stuff daily, currently at a rate where I am trying to learn both crim and civ lit in ten days before the exams, with little going in. Doing mocks is either a scraped pass or a fail every time, and because of the way papers are weighted, I actually need to do quite well in civil to make up for my first term (ie for failing criminal). It would be easier a Pass/Competent if I knew the Bar Course wasn't a huge factor. I worry I will never get SRIs, or even paper sifts, particularly considering I felt quite confident this year I'd manage more FRIs and did not.
Some people say it counts for nothing and you just need to pass. Yet I've never seen a Pass on chambers profiles. I feel really stressed about the whole thing and would really like some advice. I especially wonder if anyone knows at what point the grade is considered alongisde the others - just at paper sift, or are all candidates' qualifications taken into account at each stage and compared? Is it only interview performance that makes the difference? I feel so in the dark about the whole thing.
For context: I am applying for pupillage at specialist family chambers based in London. I have two Inns of Court scholarships, an Oxbridge 2:1, and a GDL Distinction. I've got 3 FRIs this year out of 9 chambers, one rejection post FRIs, two pending (one FRI interview yet to be had). I didn't apply last year, but I applied in 2019 and also got 3 FRIs and no SRIs.
This year has been really hard, alongside lots of mental health issues, I've found it really damaging to be studying in a (very cramped) houseshare throughout lockdown when I can only really work well in libraries or super clinical environments. I've felt consistently stupid all year because no matter how much I read about civil litigation specifically, nothing seems to actually go in all that much. I get the specifics mixed up, can't remember mays and musts, and feel really wobbly about my abilities when everyone around me says the course is a walk in the park.
I basically would like to know whether a Pass will weigh my applications down or be a factor my other CV components can in any way make up for. For financial reasons, I can't drop out or defer the course, and have no choice but to sit my upcoming exams. I am feeling a bit desparing in cramming in stuff daily, currently at a rate where I am trying to learn both crim and civ lit in ten days before the exams, with little going in. Doing mocks is either a scraped pass or a fail every time, and because of the way papers are weighted, I actually need to do quite well in civil to make up for my first term (ie for failing criminal). It would be easier a Pass/Competent if I knew the Bar Course wasn't a huge factor. I worry I will never get SRIs, or even paper sifts, particularly considering I felt quite confident this year I'd manage more FRIs and did not.
Some people say it counts for nothing and you just need to pass. Yet I've never seen a Pass on chambers profiles. I feel really stressed about the whole thing and would really like some advice. I especially wonder if anyone knows at what point the grade is considered alongisde the others - just at paper sift, or are all candidates' qualifications taken into account at each stage and compared? Is it only interview performance that makes the difference? I feel so in the dark about the whole thing.
For context: I am applying for pupillage at specialist family chambers based in London. I have two Inns of Court scholarships, an Oxbridge 2:1, and a GDL Distinction. I've got 3 FRIs this year out of 9 chambers, one rejection post FRIs, two pending (one FRI interview yet to be had). I didn't apply last year, but I applied in 2019 and also got 3 FRIs and no SRIs.
(edited 3 years ago)
Hi AspiringBazza20. Really sorry to hear about the difficulties you're facing this year. The bar course is a difficult enough course to do, let alone in the middle of a global pandemic. Look up Fake Street Chambers on YouTube as they do a mock interview in which the question comes up. The way I read it, it's easier to explain away a competent rather than a poor academic background (of which yours is very strong) but may still be a bit of a negative mark on your application. If you're getting first round interviews up to now though, I'm sure you'll be ok! What I've found with the pupillage process is that there are weaknesses in all our applications and if a Chambers is going to hold something against you, there isn't a lot you can do about it. It seems like the process is all about finding the right fit for you and I'm sure you'll be able to do that! Best of luck!
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