I think Ruthie is right about the way things will go at the bar: qualify as sol first then do the QLTT or whatever it’s called when you’re a bit more financially secure. And yes, the Bar will become more what it is, a consultancy profession. Though frankly it can easily be more expensive for the lay client to use a sol-adv.

My senior at Birmingham has an active practice at Brick Court (http://www.law.bham.ac.uk/who/harris.htm), as do other sufficiently eminent academics.

I’m not sure if this is universal, however, or only applies to academics of a certain level.

And “scam”?! I prefer to call it an alternative entry path…

All in all, it seems that a pleasant 6-month pupillage (without having to go to, or pay for, Bar School) and then a cosy door tenancy is the way to go. At least (should I actually manage to extract my digit from my proverbial backside) that’s what I’ll be doing.

Corporate Blawg hopes only the best for you, now and in the future.

If Corporate Blawg came across too harshly earlier in these comments it was because his self-depreciating sarcasm and despotic wit does not always translate well on the cyber-highways - and no offence was intended.

Stick with it and you will succeed.

Wishing you love, happiness and bouncy fun times forever,

CBUK

p.s. solicitors still have more fun

All I tried to convey is that my chambers made an investment in me, based presumably on how I came across and my academic record- but then it risks squandering it by putting me in a environment where, frankly, after 6 months I knew I could never stay. The people were great, on the whole- but everyone will know what I mean when I say if no one makes an effort to reassure a pupil he or she will simply assume they suck something major.

I dunno, maybe I’m generalising from my own experience. And yes, sour grapes and all that.

I really am a jolly nice chap you know, it’s only you I’m beastly too. But you deserve it

To Dr. Gonzo: thanks for your post, and I entirely agree with your comments about diversity. Solicitors firms are more of a meritocracy, but I think thats becuase the demands made of trainees are somewhat different to those of pupils. Law firms just want someone who will make lots of money and not cause any trouble; they don’t need to like you, they are simply purchasing a financial commodity, a fee earning unit, and if you stop performing they simply get rid of you.

Getting pupillage is rather like getting probationary membership of a club. No other member really has a direct financial interest in your membership, therefore its much more about whether your face fits.

To Corporate Blawg: aw..give Dr. Gonzo a break, maybe he really was academically streets ahead of the other pupils. If we’re doing a whos got the biggest [ego] competition I still think Geeklawyer would win hands down.

To Geeklawyer: I fear Clementi will succeed where Vos is doomed to fail. Market forces are causing much of the work previously done by the bar to be shifted to in-house employed solicitor advocates. Yes, the Bar will survive, but I fear in a much more reduced and specialist form. I suspect eventually everyone will start off a solicitors, then some will develop a specialist advocacy practice and become barristers.