Geeklawyer is dining at his Inn tonight and is rather looking forward to it. Dining has been criticised as an archaic tradition that serves no modern purpose. Originally, in the 13th Century, it had an educational function: Bar students ate dinners at the Inns while receiving tuition and lectures in their art. Fine in those days but the Bar has had professional education for donkeys years so what’s the point?
Well none really. At least not educationally but does tradition really need a point? For some it is a social thing and provides a sense of place.
Geeklawyer has a better explanation: he thinks that his Inn is a fine place to get pissed and try his luck with intelligent bits of posh totty.
Mmm… totty …
I remember eating dinners in the mid Seventies at Inner… The wine was fine - the food wasn’t quite so good. I do remember the pleasures of getting fairly over refreshed afterwards at the Bung Hole.. I think it was called….
Yes…. some very attractive women present - and some of them who stayed the course are now distinguished lawyers - deservedly.
Very few make it long past call. Can’t remember the exact stats but it’s sort of along the lines of 20% of those being called get a pupillage, then 20% get a tenancy then 20% are still in practice 2 years after tenancy. The attrition rate is huge even if my figures a very approximate. Most people knowing a few student barristers won’t know any still in practise 5 years later.
ooh… it’s a deep-throat world out there
When I was called the stats were that one in 15 of those called would actually get tenancy. I have actually been called longer than Geeklawyer so I can only assume that the stats have now got worse, particularly as there are now more students qualifying.
To corporate blawg: yeah its cut-throat, but I guess no more so than entry and progression in say banking, or other perceived high earning high status professions. And its a career that naturally attracts the competitive. But some lawyers are so desperate to be a success that they forget that its also supposed to be fun..
I was called… it was a strange feeling… I was in a tunnel of light and hands were reaching out to me. A man in a black robe with a hood, holding a scythe was waiting at the far end of the tunnel… he did not smile.
I had a lucky escape… his scythe hit the bottle of Rioja which I was holding in my hand and I was able to scurry past him into my own Elysian field of dreams… which I find, today, most suitable
Very jealous. I’d love to attend if I had the chance. But be assured that it works both ways. Pin-stripe has a unusual magnetic quality. Works wonders in attracting the ladies. Enjoy!
Miss H
CharonQC: an hilarious reply as usual. I suspect only you could deploy a bottle of Rioja as a tool of combat!!
MissH: Having browsed you blog I’m not sure what exact position you are in in your career, seemingly in the academic phase, but you clearly appreciate the risks of your career choice.
I was horrified by your ‘magnetic’ comment: it had never occurred to me that it was, in fact, I who was being exploited by the young women concerned. This is a shocking indictment of young women today: cynical and manipulative
I now feel myself to be a victim of predatory young women using their attributes against gullible lawyers like me to advance their career interests.
If you want to have dinner at an Inn, an experience I’d recommend to all prospective lawyers, then I’d be happy to take you as a guest; contact me off blog at email address geeklawyer [at) geeklawyer.org. Might even rope in fellow Old Lincolnian Liadnan. And perhaps even Ruthie; but since she is a mere solicitor I might need to teach her how to use a knife & fork beforehand. Anyway It’d be fun so do think about it.
Excellent behaviour