News from the Bar Council as Pupillage Gateway timetable is on the move

Newsflash from: The Bar Council

News from the Bar Council as Pupillage Gateway timetable is on the move

News this morning from the Bar Council:

Students call on the Bar Council to move Pupillage Gateway timetable

Pupillage Gateway will open in January from 2017

Following calls from students and chambers, the Bar Council will be moving the Pupillage Gateway timetable starting in January 2017.

The decision will mean that pupillage applicants know the outcome of their applications before they commit to the expensive Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) and pupillage interviews will no longer risk clashes with exams.

Prior to making the decision, the Bar Council ran a consultation about the move. There were 126 responses to the consultation (45 were from chambers). The majority of chambers supported the move and the overwhelming response from students was positive.

Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC, Chairman of the Bar, said: “This is a common-sense decision by the Bar and students. Given the high costs associated with the BPTC, the new Pupillage Gateway timetable, which will run from January to April as of 2017, means that at least students applying through the Gateway will know if they have pupillage before committing to the BPTC.

“However, this was never going to be about simply changing the date of Gateway. The Bar Council has an ongoing and crucial role to play in supporting students and pupillage providers. Over the next year we will be raising awareness about mini-pupillages, providing support via the Bar Council’s Pupillage Fair and continuing to equip students with the knowledge they need before they commit to the BPTC.”

While most respondents to the consultation were in favour of the Gateway timetable change, the Bar Council acknowledged that it would work with those who saw some challenges with the planned new timetable.

Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC said: “We intend to learn from the experience of those chambers who are already recruiting earlier in the year and will work with our members to make the move work for them.”

Happy 2016 from The Pupillage Blog

Happy New Year 2016

Happy New Year 2016

As the celebrations to welcome in another year come slowly to an end, can I start off by wishing everybody a very happy new year.

This coming year will see additions to ‘The Pupillage Blog’ with a wider remit of legal views and opinions as well as supporting all of those seeking to attain Pupillage, along with those who are well established within Chambers. As always, views will not be supportive advice, but merely a considered standpoint in light of the legal topic discussed.

Reflecting upon 2015, the blog established an even wider following of pupils and practitioners in law, with many more Chambers interacting directly so as to furnish wider opportunities of Pupillage as soon as they became available.  2016, will see a similar approach and as always please do let me know how your interviews go!

Well here’s to 2016 as  I raise a glass to you all and wish you a very happy and prosperous year ahead!

As always

Stephen (AKA Justin Time, Editor)

Bar Council announces launch of Pupillage Fair

Newsflash from: The Bar Council

Newsflash from: The Bar Council

Following my return back to Pupillageville from my August festivities, I have received an update and communication from the Bar Council in relation to a new directive for supporting pupillage.  The first ever ‘Bar Council Pupillage Fair’ has been announced.   This new incentive I hope will support the existing Pupillage Fairs, but importantly will encourage an additional opportunity for individuals to openly discuss and gain a wider understanding of both pupillage and realistic opportunities which exist in the legal marketplace of chambers.

I note that attendees can now register their place to attend the Pupillage Fair, so my recommendation is to get your name and place on the list for 21st November!

 

Bar Council announces launch of Pupillage Fair
Chancery Bar backs “all Bar” careers fair

The first ever Bar Council Pupillage Fair will take place on 21 November 2015 and will be a hub of information for students considering a career at the Bar and a chance to meet chambers as well as course providers.

Running alongside the Chancery Bar Association’s careers fair, the Pupillage Fair will be open to all chambers looking to recruit, irrespective of their specialism.

The joint fair, taking place at Lincoln’s Inn, will have representatives, workshops and information available from the Bar Council and other Specialist Bars about all aspects of life at the Bar. While many students may have a clear idea of the path they wish to follow, attending the Fair provides a unique opportunity to:

•    Learn about all areas of the Bar and ask questions to those in the best position to provide advice
•    Speak with representatives from different Specialist Bar Associations to provide the best insight into different practice areas
•    Speak with others who have been through pupillage or those from key committees who can offer advice about starting your journey at the Bar, and
•    Learn about the Pupillage Gateway, the online application system for pupillage operated by the Bar Council.

Philip Roberston, Director of Policy at the Bar Council, said: “Careers advice on how to become a barrister, which includes what’s required to succeed at the Bar and the challenges as well as the opportunities involved with the profession, is often hard to find.

“The point of the Pupillage Fair is to bring all that information, as well as people who can provide a wealth of guidance about a career as a barrister, under one roof. Students thinking about a career as a barrister can use the fair as an opportunity to find out more and help them decide whether the Bar is the path they wish to go down and whether particular specialisms at the Bar are of interest to them. As we are joining forces with the Chancery Bar this year, there will be a healthy representation from Chancery sets as well as exhibition stands, information and workshops tailored for all specialist areas. The fair is an excellent platform for students to meet chambers and course providers face to face, as well as a chance for chambers to widen their net in the search for potential talent.

“If chambers are serious about opening up pupillages to tap into a larger talent pool, the Bar Council Pupillage Fair is an ideal opportunity for them to do that. The fair also sends a clear signal to students that the Bar is open to all as a career.”

New updates on The Pupillage Blog…

Updates include the latest pupillage opportunities to chambers legal commentary

Updates include the latest pupillage opportunities to chambers legal commentary.

 

Over the weekend there have been major updates on ‘The Pupillage Blog’.

Current Pupillage Opportunities 2015‘ has now gone live and includes 16 differing sets of chambers offering pupillage opportunities.  In addition, a new feature has been added to the Blog entitled ‘Chambers Legal Commentary 2015‘.  This new page is incredibly important for any pupillage interview, or supporting those who are now working in chambers. The linked commentary provides a clear unfettered approach to compelling legal opinions, developing case law, succinct application of the differing legal disciplines along with general developments within law at the Bar.   The collection of linked newsletters and digests will be regularly updated and is designed to provide another supportive mechanism of reliable and compelling legal opinion.

Finally, whether you use either Twitter or Facebook, ‘The Pupillage Blog’ is updated regularly daily across both social network platforms, so as to support you whilst you are on the move with all the latest important legal news and views.

So until my next entry, keep watching the Blog as updates will be posted regularly.

As always,

Stephen AKA Justin Time

Normal pupillage service has been resumed!

Back again after a splash of paint....

Back again after a splash of paint….

After what has been an incredibly busy few months, I am pleased to say that normal service has been resumed! So please accept my apologies for the lack of posts upon ‘The Pupillage Blog’.  I am pleased to say that the Blog is currently undergoing a splash of legal paint and will therefore be updated throughout.  The latest pupillage offerings will be back online shortly, along with third six pupillage vacancies.

As usual, you will of course be kept up-to-date via Twitter/Twitterfeed or Facebook with all the pupillage opportunities, legal news, views and recommended legal reading and reviews. So until my next entry, keep watching the Blog as updates will be posted regularly.

As always,

Stephen AKA Justin Time