Hundreds of aspiring barristers came to The University of Law for the Bar Council’s Pupillage Fair 2016 last Saturday (22 October).
The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, holds the annual fair to facilitate access to the profession. Traditionally held at the Inns of Court, this was a great opportunity for The University of Law, celebrating 20 years of teaching the BPTC, to showcase our facilities, course, and success with helping students achieve pupillage.
More than 50 exhibitors attended on the day, including barristers’ chambers, specialist Bar associations, the Supreme Court and the Law Commission. Representing the University were Anna Williams, Bar Specialist Careers Consultant; John Watkins, Director of Employability; Jacqueline Cheltenham, National Director of the BPTC; Alexandra Frith and Anne-Marie Critchley, both senior lecturers and advocacy scholarship winners Oliver Persey, Aisling O’Regan, and Ben Hamer.
The turnout exceeded expectations and included those still at school to BPTC graduates seeking pupillage. They gained invaluable information, tips and hints at the stands, sessions and panel events. The CV clinic was especially popular, with Anna Williams and Matthew Withers, Future Pupil Programme Coordinator, reviewing students’ CVs and application forms in one-to-one sessions.
Jacqueline said: “The day was a great success; the attendees were enthusiastic and many of them told us how valuable the experience was. Teaming up with the Bar Council for this event allowed us to promote our industry-leading BPTC and to help hundreds of aspiring advocates in their career ambitions.”