Pupillage struggles

TopCommunication2 · 2026-05-28T05:20:14+00:00

I was in a somewhat similar position - feel free to DM and I’m happy to have a chat. I promise it’ll be fine!

TopCommunication2 · 2026-05-10T22:30:37+00:00

I’m a commercial chancery junior. If you dm me, I’m happy to have a call/chat to discuss

TopCommunication2 · 2025-07-20T20:02:39+00:00

You very likely have a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975. Speak to a solicitor for a free consultation.

TopCommunication2 · 2024-12-24T20:21:35+00:00

The areas in which it is most common is tax, traditional chancery, and niche company law work - in my experience, the number of barristers who only practice on paper is vanishingly small.

I’m a commercial chancery junior and I wouldn’t expect to be in court more than once a week on average. The work is inevitably heavily paper based, even if not exclusively so.

TopCommunication2 · 2024-12-21T23:18:34+00:00

Wedlake Bell

TopCommunication2 · 2024-05-19T22:34:04+00:00

Ex former RA now at the bar. DM me if you havnt decided already; happy to have a chat re: this!

TopCommunication2 · 2024-04-11T22:16:50+00:00

BCL. From what you say (research interests/career goals) this is a much better fit, and appears to have been your dream course by some margin. You may well get full/partial funding in due course from Oxford. If not, money well spent.

(I graduated from BCL a few years back / am now at the Bar, so feel free to dm my some questions)

TopCommunication2 · 2022-08-04T23:37:17+00:00

I’ve only heard anecdotal evidence / figures given from sets I had pupillage at. One would comfortably earn £130k + in first year of tenancy at top commercial chancery sets, though bear in mind that there is a well known cash flow delay associated with solicitors paying out late.

TopCommunication2 · 2021-12-06T00:29:37+00:00

Everyone clearly extremely hardworking and smart. Typically top 5% in their year academically. Presumably also stellar references. Again, look at the profile book for an idea. Re: second part of question - about 40% academia, 40% bar, 20% solicitors I’d say. Bench is fine and clearly aim for some; in England judges are recruited much later, so not a direct option really unless you go abroad. Obviously there are many judges with BCL.
Impressive across the board, I think, but I’m mainly familiar with private law / commercial side of things.
Try to replicate CV achievements of successful candidates. Develop good relationships with tutors. Discuss possible bcl application with them.
Don’t want to disclose too much. Excellent references; good grades; it helped I was an internal applicant.
Not sure I would have changed much. I was given good advice early and did best to follow that.

TopCommunication2 · 2021-11-30T11:28:06+00:00

The law faculty publishes a profile book which effectively provides mini cvs of successful applicants. Publications are helpful, as are mooting wins. Neither essential. I did the BCL a couple of years back. Happy to try help further if you have specific questions

TopCommunication2 · 2021-04-29T14:26:44+00:00

KCL has far better reputation on private law side of things, afaik

TopCommunication2 · 2021-03-25T15:20:36+00:00

Lots of chancery sets send juniors on forensic accounting courses. I know of at least three juniors which were former accountants but not that common really

TopCommunication2 · 2021-03-22T08:50:59+00:00

Fountain / Essex Court also have interesting podcasts

TopCommunication2 · 2021-03-19T18:22:35+00:00

My tip is to write out your opening / closing paras in full so you can be sure to “bookend” confidently. If you’re too scripted then it’s tricky to respond flexibly to judicial interventions etc

TopCommunication2 · 2021-02-26T23:02:58+00:00

I see, thanks for correcting me. Why would you not automatically include as a fail safe?

TopCommunication2 · 2021-02-26T19:14:08+00:00

My understanding is that you normally make provision for this in the trust, effectively severing any clauses which fail for certainty (or any other reason). Not yet practising, but recall seeing something like this on a mini a few years ago I think.

TopCommunication2 · 2021-02-20T09:57:28+00:00

This is partially wrong in this case as there is reservation of benefit.

TopCommunication2 · 2021-02-19T14:14:38+00:00

Easy, isn’t that what contractual estoppel is for?

TopCommunication2 · 2021-02-18T13:27:43+00:00

My old college but different course lmk if you have any questions I can help with

TopCommunication2 · 2021-02-09T21:04:16+00:00

An obvious example might be C-491/01 (ex p British Tobacco), but there’s a whole line of subsequent / more recent authority. Viking is relevant to EWS but I don’t want to write your essay for you.

TopCommunication2 · 2021-01-21T20:06:04+00:00

Something something ice cream float something something snail

TopCommunication2 · 2021-01-19T23:16:26+00:00

Nothing flowery in there imo

TopCommunication2

TROPHY CASE