What does it take to be a barrister?
“The Guardian” knows these things and young lawyer and aspiring barrister Safiyah Moulana has written about the key factors required in her view.
First off, “drive and motivation” are crucial. Don’t do it for your parents’ sake, she says.
And think REALLY hard about whether you want it for your own sake. ” I’ve met such ex barristers who made this mistake. They’ve been miserable and quit to pursue other paths. Here are some other things I’ve learned on my journey so far.”
So ask yourself the key questions: “Every barrister I’ve met has asked me the same question after a day of shadowing – “do you still want to be a barrister?” And I don’t blame them. The job isn’t as glamorous as I had imagined: there is a lot of waiting around and a lot of taking beatings from judges.”
The Keys to the Aspiring Barrister Lifestyle
1) You’ll need a lot of money
If your father isn’t an Earl, nor your mother a business tycoon, you’ll need to find a way to finance your career. If you want to take a year out of academia, start applying for jobs during your final year at university. You might have to start off working for free, like John Teixeira, 24, a paralegal at a London firm and part-time master’s student, who secured his position only after having volunteered at the firm for three months.2) Appreciate learning for its own sake
Law books aren’t dull – they’re crammed with jaw-dropping tales
Completing my undergrad law degree was the hardest and most rewarding three years of my life. But I regret that I focused so much on getting the right grades that I didn’t appreciate the learning process. For instance, although I managed to get a first in international human rights law, ask me about the role of non-state actors in the promotion of human rights, and I won’t be able to tell you. So value the learning process as much as – if not more than – the end result.
3) Go into it with your eyes wide open
A circuit judge once gave me this advice over lunch. Don’t be fooled by Suits and the allure of the legal life. The suits aren’t that expensive, the parties aren’t that wild, and the offices aren’t that stylish, for the most part anyway.4) Take inspiration from everything
Sometimes being outside court, waiting for hours on an unlisted case can drain you. In such situations, says Nishan Paramjorthy, a barrister at Mansfield Chambers, commitment is vital: “If you’re committed to justice being done for all, you must embrace the – often arduous – process towards ensuring that justice.”So look around you; feed off of the hustle of it all. Be thankful that you’re in a legal environment, surrounded by intelligent, hard-working people. Not everyone gets such an opportunity.
5) Take each day as it comes
The road is long and it may be years before you feel like you’ve made it. Sophie Ramdour, a law graduate and support officer with the Citizens Advice Bureau, says: “Given the current economic climate and competitiveness within the profession, I would say money and time are the two biggest contributing factors towards making someone change their mind – so a healthy optimism is key.”
Focus on what you need to accomplish in that day, week or month. Don’t compare your chapter one to someone else’s chapter twenty. As Steve Jobs often did, ask yourself if what you’re doing today will help you get to where you want to be. If the answer is no for too many days in a row, change something.
Being a barrister who is successful, or at least a barrister who really enjoys his or her job requires hard work. Dedication and hard work.
Ready for it?
Source: The Guardian
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