Chances on pupillage, a bit of an unorthodox background

Hey all,

I'm beginning my GDL this coming Sept. I graduated from Cambridge June 2024, with only a singular mark off of a first. I've secured 3 minis, with two of them being from top commercial chambers (the area I hope to go into). I also interned for a month at an int'l law firm.

I'm hoping to apply to pupillages Jan 2025 for entry post-BVC (i.e., Sept 2026). The question I have is regarding my rough chances and how I may improve them? The main concern I have is I did not receive any academic prizes/awards at university nor was I successful in achieving an Inns of Court Scholarship for my GDL. I do have applicable extenuating circumstances, where throughout the three years of my degree I had multiple debilitating physical health conditions and similarly had many surgeries for these. For the lack of a better phrase, would my health condition 'make up' for the comparatively lacklustre results when compared to top commercial sets (i.e., 4SB, Maitland, Essex Court etc.) ?

Also, if anyone is able to provide any ways in which I can improve my application profile between now and January it would be of great assistance.

Reply 1

Stiffy Byng

There is nothing "unorthodox" about your background. You have a high 2.1 from Cambridge, a GDL on the way, work experience in an international law firm, and three mini-pupillages to come. I am not sure what you think it is is that you are missing. Contrary to internet rumour, it isn't necessary to be Jonathan Sumption's cleverer kid brother to obtain a pupillage in a good chambers. Good luck.

Reply 2

Crazy Jamie

Careers Forum Helper

I agree. Your definition of the word 'unorthodox' is, well, unorthodox. Your extenuating circumstances may help to some degree, but I don't think it's likely, mainly because the whole point of extenuating circumstances is to provide reasons why there is a section of your academic profile where you have underachieved relative to other, higher results. It requires both that the extenuating circumstances are a genuine and reasonable explanation for the underachievement, and for you to have otherwise shown your 'true' academic level elsewhere. Your extenuating circumstances may well be genuine (they do sound like they are) but it doesn't sound like you have otherwise demonstrated a higher level. Which, in fairness, it is tough to do when you are one mark off a first. You may find a set that takes at face value that your 'true' level is a solid First, but then others may question just how extenuating the circumstances are when you still managed to achieve a very good grade on a challenging course at an exceptional university, seemingly without the need to delay your studies at all. That latter logic may not be right, but you have to be realistic about how your application is going to be viewed by pupillage committees.

I'd offer two pieces of advice. The first is to acknowledge that you do actually have the makings of a very strong pupillage application and have achieved to a high level to this point. I'd be inclined to focus on your strengths and the strengthening of your experience, skills and application going forwards rather than looking for excuses for areas where you would have liked to achieve higher. Viewing your background as 'unorthodox' suggests that you could do with adjusting your perspective a little and, frankly, giving yourself some more credit. My advice would be to acknowledge that you have the potential to be a strong applicant on your own merit, push on and, to the extent that you can, show that higher level on the GDL and Bar course.

Second, aiming exclusively for the top end commercial sets is a recipe for a lot of wasted effort. Not because pupillage there is unachievable, because some people obviously do achieve it, but because those sets are a very small part of the commercial bar itself, let alone the bar as a whole. You absolutely can aim for pupillage at those sets if you want, but I'd strongly advise against doing it exclusively. Even if you achieved a First at Cambridge and had some prizes, a quick look at the academic profiles of tenants at those sets will tell you that even that would by no means guarantee you pupillage. There are chambers outside of those very top sets where you could forge a very successful and lucrative career at the commercial bar, and may even be able to move to one of those sets later in your career if you wanted to (and you may not). So I'd suggest broadening your horizons, which at the same time will also hopefully reduce the tendency for you to lament every small area where you application isn't optimum as something that requires an excuse. Again, not because you don't have excuses, but because you are a strong candidate, and you should be giving yourself credit for that.

In short, I'd put the extenuating circumstances to one side and continue to build on what seems to be a pretty strong prospective pupillage application. Concentrate on your strengths and continue to build on your personal and professional development, rather than focusing on things that you cannot now change.

Reply 3

Retromade1453

Original post by Crazy Jamie

I agree. Your definition of the word 'unorthodox' is, well, unorthodox. Your extenuating circumstances may help to some degree, but I don't think it's likely, mainly because the whole point of extenuating circumstances is to provide reasons why there is a section of your academic profile where you have underachieved relative to other, higher results. It requires both that the extenuating circumstances are a genuine and reasonable explanation for the underachievement, and for you to have otherwise shown your 'true' academic level elsewhere. Your extenuating circumstances may well be genuine (they do sound like they are) but it doesn't sound like you have otherwise demonstrated a higher level. Which, in fairness, it is tough to do when you are one mark off a first. You may find a set that takes at face value that your 'true' level is a solid First, but then others may question just how extenuating the circumstances are when you still managed to achieve a very good grade on a challenging course at an exceptional university, seemingly without the need to delay your studies at all. That latter logic may not be right, but you have to be realistic about how your application is going to be viewed by pupillage committees.
I'd offer two pieces of advice. The first is to acknowledge that you do actually have the makings of a very strong pupillage application and have achieved to a high level to this point. I'd be inclined to focus on your strengths and the strengthening of your experience, skills and application going forwards rather than looking for excuses for areas where you would have liked to achieve higher. Viewing your background as 'unorthodox' suggests that you could do with adjusting your perspective a little and, frankly, giving yourself some more credit. My advice would be to acknowledge that you have the potential to be a strong applicant on your own merit, push on and, to the extent that you can, show that higher level on the GDL and Bar course.
Second, aiming exclusively for the top end commercial sets is a recipe for a lot of wasted effort. Not because pupillage there is unachievable, because some people obviously do achieve it, but because those sets are a very small part of the commercial bar itself, let alone the bar as a whole. You absolutely can aim for pupillage at those sets if you want, but I'd strongly advise against doing it exclusively. Even if you achieved a First at Cambridge and had some prizes, a quick look at the academic profiles of tenants at those sets will tell you that even that would by no means guarantee you pupillage. There are chambers outside of those very top sets where you could forge a very successful and lucrative career at the commercial bar, and may even be able to move to one of those sets later in your career if you wanted to (and you may not). So I'd suggest broadening your horizons, which at the same time will also hopefully reduce the tendency for you to lament every small area where you application isn't optimum as something that requires an excuse. Again, not because you don't have excuses, but because you are a strong candidate, and you should be giving yourself credit for that.
In short, I'd put the extenuating circumstances to one side and continue to build on what seems to be a pretty strong prospective pupillage application. Concentrate on your strengths and continue to build on your personal and professional development, rather than focusing on things that you cannot now change.

Original post by Stiffy Byng

Thank you both for the replies. I've been unfortunately stuck in a loop of looking at top chambers' Juniors, seeing their credentials (awards, grades etc.) and constantly comparing myself to them. The assurance is really helping. It's even more clear that I should focus on what I can do now and not what I may or may not have.

Re my extenuating circumstances @Stiffy Byng would you recommend putting them on my application nevertheless? Without discussing the finer details, the unfortunate coincidence about my condition is that 2/3 examination years it flared up less than a week before my exams began (thankfully it is fully under control now). Further to that, were I to include these in my application, what sort of detail would be expected? Again, these may seem like excuses, which you have rightly said not to focus on, but it is a nagging thing that I cannot seem to stop.

Reply 4

Cessle

Original post by Retromade1453

Hey all,
I'm beginning my GDL this coming Sept. I graduated from Cambridge June 2024, with only a singular mark off of a first. I've secured 3 minis, with two of them being from top commercial chambers (the area I hope to go into). I also interned for a month at an int'l law firm.
I'm hoping to apply to pupillages Jan 2025 for entry post-BVC (i.e., Sept 2026). The question I have is regarding my rough chances and how I may improve them? The main concern I have is I did not receive any academic prizes/awards at university nor was I successful in achieving an Inns of Court Scholarship for my GDL. I do have applicable extenuating circumstances, where throughout the three years of my degree I had multiple debilitating physical health conditions and similarly had many surgeries for these. For the lack of a better phrase, would my health condition 'make up' for the comparatively lacklustre results when compared to top commercial sets (i.e., 4SB, Maitland, Essex Court etc.) ?
Also, if anyone is able to provide any ways in which I can improve my application profile between now and January it would be of great assistance.

I agree with everyone else concerning the regard you have for your own achievements to date. I'd just like to add another reason for you not to be so hard on yourself. You mentioned that you did not gain an Inns Scholarship for the GDL and saw that as an indication of the strength of your application. For the record, the Inns have relatively few GDL scholarships to offer, especially when compared to the Bar Course and the handful of successful applicants are just able to show that they have ticked more of the selection boxes at that point of the process. I know someone who went through exactly the same disappointment. He was awarded a BPTC Major Scholarship from the same Inn. The extra time allowed him to improve his case.

Not getting a GDL Scholarship was not a sign that you don't have what it takes. Just a sign that your application at that point was not strong enough. Good luck.