Arbitration Solicitor to the Commercial Bar
Hi all
I am currently a 5-7PQE solicitor at a US firm in the international arbitration team. I enjoy my job (subject to the below), but am seriously considering making pupillage applications in the upcoming round.
I have a decent (but unspectacular) first class degree from Oxford, and scraped a Distinction on the GDL and LPC after doing the minimum possible. I have done well at my firm, and have conducted advocacy at several hearings, including openings/closings and cross-examination. I also was a reasonably successful university debater.
I would not have had the confidence to be barrister out of university, and don’t regret the route I have taken. But I have come to realise the parts of my job I enjoy the most are advising, drafting and conducting advocacy, and I don’t enjoy everything else that comes with being at a solicitors firm. I would not want to switch to any area of the bar other than the commercial bar, because I fundamentally want to stay in the same area of practice.
I would appreciate some advice on the following:
- Do I stand a realistic chance of getting through to the interview rounds? (I know my academic CV is fine, but realistically it is not as good as most new tenants at the below sets.)
- Once at interview, is selection based mainly on performance on the day, or will my academic CV remain a concern?
- Do I need to do mini pupillages? Trying to do them on top of my day job would be difficult, and I feel like I have a good handle on what barristers do.
- I am considering the following sets, in rough order of how competitive they are (acknowledging all are very competitive): Essex Court (speculative), OEC (speculative), 3VB, 7KBW, Twenty Essex, Quadrant, Atkin, Keating, 4NS, 4 Pump Court, Crown Office (?), 39 Essex (?).
- Do any of these sets (a la Brick Court) have a reputation for routinely not taking on pupils? Appreciate some people will not make the grade at any set, but it would be pretty gutting to move from my current career to the Bar only to lose out at the tenancy stage.