It’s all paid off. Your application was a success and you have been invited for
interview. But now what?!
In the final - bumper - episode of the series, we talk to the people sitting on the other side of the table in pupillage interviews. We ask them how you can prepare for interviews, how to approach legal problem questions and advocacy exercises and how to spot an ethical question. And along the way, they tell us about some of the mistakes they see (and once made themselves) and offer some insight into how you can impress a Pupillage Committee.
Guests in order of appearance
Elizabeth Dwomoh: barrister at Lamb Chambers
https://www.lambchambers.co.uk/who-can-help-you/barristers/elizabeth-dwomoh
Master Ann Hussey: silk and Master of the Bench at 1 Hare Court
https://www.1hc.com/people/ann-hussey-qc/
Alex Cisneros: barrister at No 5 https://www.no5.com/barristers/barrister-details/493-alex-cisneros/
Cathryn McGahey QC: silk at Temple Gardens Chambers
https://tgchambers.com/member-profile/cathryn-mcgahey-qc/
James Wakefield: barrister, leader of the Council of the Inns of Court and dean of the Inns of Court College of Advocacy
Karen Steyn QC: silk at 11KBW https://www.11kbw.com/barristers/karen-steyn/
Kate Grange QC: silk at 39 Essex https://www.39essex.com/barrister/kate-grange/
Useful Links
5 Essex Court is the only chambers (as far as we know!) to publish a full report about its application and interview process each year. No matter what chambers you are applying to, it offers an invaluable insider point of view of what does and does not impress a Pupillage Committee:
https://5essexcourt.co.uk/images/uploads/misc/5_Essex_Court_Pupillage_Application_Round_2018.pdf
The 5 Essex Court Pupillage Committee also tweets advice from @pupillages
https://twitter.com/pupillages?lang=en and junior tenants give an insight into life in chambers on Instagram @5EssexCourt_pupillages
https://www.instagram.com/5essexcourt_pupillages/
Everyone who is assessing pupillage candidates must read or do training in this
guide so it is a very helpful insight into what barristers might be looking for:
https://www.barcouncil.org.uk/media/343819/fair_recruitment_guide_2015_april_final.pdf
See what Ishan Kolhatkar (to whom we spoken in the very first episode) has to say about pupillage interviews: http://bptclecturer.com/pupillageinterviews
The legal directories: Chambers UK: https://chambers.com/ and Legal 500
https://www.legal500.com/
Legal Cheek on nerves: https://www.legalcheek.com/2016/06/how-to-get-through-pupillage-interviews-if-you-are-prone-to-anxiety/
Ted Talk on Power Poses:
https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are?language=en
Bar Council: https://www.barcouncil.org.uk/
The Student Room usually has an annual The Pupillage Interview/Acceptance/Rejection Thread full of candidates sharing advice and when interview invitations have been sent – here is 2018’s:
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5066896
Some examples of pupillage interview questions from the MTSA:
http://middletemplestudents.com/example-pupillage-interview-questions/
How to address a judge (essential for advocacy exercises):
https://www.judiciary.uk/you-and-the-judiciary/what-do-i-call-judge/ and
https://learnmore.lawbore.net/index.php/Modes_Of_Address_Introduction
And some general advice about pupillage interviews:
https://www.lawcareers.net/Information/Features/03012017-Acing-that-pupillage-interview
https://targetjobs.co.uk/career-sectors/law-barristers/advice/291565-how-to-ace-your-pupillage-interview-tips-from-qualified-barristers
https://www.chambersstudent.co.uk/where-to-start/newsletter/pupillage-interviews
Books we recommended: Bewigged and Bewildered by Adam Kramer and Ian
Higgins; Learning the Law by Glanville Williams; Devil’s Advocate by Iain Morley QC and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
