I'm a software engineer working at a fintech start up, and have been for the last 10 years in various roles. In the last 5 years I've been in a team lead / associate director role.
I'm now considering a switch over to law, specifically I would like to become a barrister. My academics are moderate: 2.1 from Oxford in a humanities subject, AAA at A level (though this was all well over a decade ago). I've got my places to study GDL - but before I drop that hefty sum, leave my job and take the plunge I am keen to know that I'm not DOA based on decisions that I made over 10 years ago.
How much weight does professional experience carry in a pupillage application?
My research tells me that my academics might not put me in contention for the legal 500 tier commercial/IP sets, but what about other sets, mixed practice sets?
What I would be keen to get an opinion on is whether having a decade of quality professional experience in a competitive field, and my track record there help me with a pupillage application?
Would it at least get me into the door for an interview?