What are the chances of securing a pupillage?

[TheRealMBJ]

I am qualified medical doctor but am currently a SAHM. I have always had an interest in the law and my mother is a solicitor (but is no longer working as such, she has become involved in editing if law texts) so I do have some idea of the work required once obtaining a senior status law degree.

I am looking into starting a OU LLB for the 2012/2013 academic year (DS WILL almost be 3 and DD 1). We live rurally but at a push within commutable distance of York.

Knowing that it is extremely competitive what are the chances of securing a pupillage at the end of my studies (2016/2017) ? And do you have some tips as to how to increase my chances.

Until recently I was a chartered engineer and know a few engineers who became barristers. They say there isn't much difference, both require similar skills and have similar constraints which would apply to medicine too;

engineer = time, problem solving and laws of physics

barrister = time, problem solving and laws of the land

babybarrister London works for us/DS He is only in year 1 of degree at moment so a long way off yet but where we are based London is realistically his best option. I'm actually considering a slight change of career and looking at trying to become a barrister's clerk. Think I'd quite enjoy that and you never know, might give him an 'in' in a few years time.

Do you come from Romford then MOS (old barristers clerk cliche but true to some extent)?
... has vision of MOS clumping over to the RCJ in 4" stilettos and an overloaded trolley for £13k pa.

I absolutely am not an Essex girl. I don't wear white stillettos! I'm from Surrey don't you know but now living on Surrey/Sussex border.

Where did you get your medical degree? What did you get? What practise did you have as a doctor?

I'd have thought if you had good qualifications and a bit of medical work behind you you would probably be more interesting to most chambers than most baby lawyers fresh out of school.

We have a number of barristers in chambers who had former careers and came to the bar a little late- army (now doing crime), psychiatric nurse (family), trading standards officer (regulatory crime and trading standards) to name a few.

I'd have thought chambers doing clinical negligence and personal injury would be particularly interested in you.

Normally I am rather pesimistic about people looking for pupillage, but not for you!

I studied in South Africa and gained the equivalent of a first (although medical degrees don't get classed the same way) I have 5 years of clinical practise most in South Africa, 2 at registrar level, 2 at foundation/SHO level and one here in England as an SHO.

Would the College of Law GDL be recommended?

yes, you would need to do the PgDL before sitting the LPC. College of Law has always had a good reputation although I'm not so up on providers these days. If you can do a bit of research with prospective chambers about what they are looking for, that's probably your best bet.

Oh incidentally, the GMC employ solicitors. They were recruiting for one plus a trainee a few weeks ago. Any doctor who wants to be a lawyer might want to investigate that.

Thanks Flagelina I will