I understand why chambers prefer candidates who have obtained experience in roles very specific to their practice areas. It demonstrates a commitment to that practice area and indicates that you are making an informed commitment. It’s also helpful during training and practice...
However, sometimes this becomes an influencing factor and expectation which is wrong if chambers genuinely want to promote diversity at the Bar. It’s fair enough if an applicant is from a comfortable family who can afford to fund unpaid or low paid internships...
We don’t choose not to do the exciting but unpaid/underpaid internships and other legal roles. We simply have to sacrifice balancing paying our living costs and the cost of getting to Call Night with gaining legal experience, caring for our families needs and making applications.
However, chambers need to be more open minded and consider more broader legal experience with relevant transferable skills when considering app from a working class background and those with parental responsibilities. These people have already committed more than you can imagine.
If you genuinely want to promote more social diversity at the Bar please be more open minded to the commitments and resilience that some applicants have already shown in gaining legal experience alongside working, personal/family commitments, studying and making pupilage apps.
As I said, I understand why this is chambers instinctive approach but the Bar may be missing out on some amazing talent because they are not factoring in the personal and financial reasons for people choosing different legal experience.
An important point for any applicants reading this. Always remember that pupillage questions are (or should be) designed to test your advocacy skills. So try to avoid taking them personal or being a people pleaser. Utilise critical questions to sell yourself & show resilience. 💪🏼
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