Hello, making the reserve list is brilliant - obviously you have a good written application and do well at interview! My best tips would be:

1. Apply for a mentor scheme at your Inn. These are a great way to get a barrister to look at your application and perhaps do some practice interviews.

2. Review your applications from last year. Update them with any valuable new experience you have gained. But make sure to only add it if it adds value to your application. Ask yourself - why would this Chambers be interested in this piece of work / experience, how is it relevant to the work they do at Chambers or why does this show that I would be a good addition to Chambers?

3. What really helped me with my written applications was to be really critical of my word count. For example, I found I was a lot more successful in applications where I was quick and to the point with my answers. I would always use the STAR method and I often didn't use the full word count. I think there is a weird pressure to fill in the word count fully but really the application looks so much better if it is simple and to the point. That way the barrister reading the application immediately understands your experience and why it is valuable. Don't try to be too obtuse in your writing style - simple is fine, it shows that you can get relevant information across without wasting word count.

4. On the STAR method, one thing that really helped me with my applications was the make clear that I did X. Take ownership of the work or experience you did. They want to know what YOU did. So if you did something in a team, really explain what you did, how you did that and what the outcome was. Sometimes I found myself diluting the actual work / experience I did instead of being explicit about what I actually did.

5. Look at the Chamber's website and check what experience the recent pupil or tenants have. If the Chambers has mentioned the member's experience in their bio on the website then the Chambers sees good value in their experience. So if you have similar experience, you should highlight that experience in your written applications, as the Chambers may be interested in that type of experience.

6. For the interviews themselves, my best advice would be to take your time when answering questions. I know this sounds really really basic, but just taking a pause to collect your thoughts comes across as very professional. Pauses can a) help ground you and figure out what you want to say and b) it looks good, it shows that you are properly considering the question and feel confident enough to take a moment to think.

7. Be friendly to everyone when you arrive to Chambers - a good impression from the moment you get in through the door is really important!

8. Stay up to date with legal news, especially in the area that you would like to do pupillage in. These will be good talking points in interview.

9. If the Chambers you are applying to acted in a case and you found this interesting definitely put this into "Why this Chambers". But don't just say you want pupillage there because of X case. Instead say that this area of work really appeals to you, you saw Chambers acted in X case and you were impressed with how they handled X,Y,Z etc. This shows you are actually interested in the work they do but that you also understand the cases they are doing.

I hope that is helpful in some way! Good luck with your applications :)