Wow – it’s been a while since my last post. I can’t believe that I’m already into my fourth week of pupillage. Some of the other pupillage blogs that I have been reading, my favourite one in particular, contain reams of entries all about how boring it is and how one will often spend time twiddling their thumbs with nothing to do. As an indicator of how much that applies to me, just check the length of time between this and my last post. And that’s not down to my being lazy; though far be it from me to deny that particular charge altogether. OK, enough with the vaguities (sorry, not sure how you spell that one), I have been swamped!!
On my second day I had to draft a particulars of claim on a real case and hand it into my Pupil Master (hereafter, known as “The Master”, a direct homage to “Pupilblogger” who, to the best of my knowledge, was the first to coin that phrase in blawgs). I had to do another a couple of days after that and, in between and since, there have been court visits, conferences and, mostly, case reading and summarising for the master, with discussions about my conclusions.
I won’t say that any of it has been easy, because it has not. What I will say is that it has, thus far, been very enjoyable and interesting. The most difficult thing for me has, until now, been the travelling and the hours. The travelling by tube I’m used to. What I’m not used to is travelling by tube in rush hour in a nice suit with all the trimmings and being groped by all and sundry. I won’t say that isn’t enjoyable at times.....but sometimes I’d like dinner and flowers first......sometimes. My hours are officially 09:00 to 18:00, though I frequently leave well after 18:00. On my first day the master impressed upon me that I would not score any brownie points by coming in early or leaving late (though he practically winked at me when he said that he was required to say that, and other blurb, under the working time directive). Let it be said that I am under no illusion that, converse to the last couple of sentences, I am positive that it will score me brownie points if I regularly outstay my fellow barristers and the clerks. As mentioned, I have been doing that a fair bit but, and here lies the rub, it has not been intentionally as such. Sometimes I am just enjoying a good conversation and other times I just want to get something finished or, at least, make some more progress on it before leaving chambers. We shall see how long that lasts....
Finally a word on the master. Actually, he’s pretty cool. I think I have been very lucky, having heard the horror stories of others. He’s patient, generous, witty, good conversationalist and seems to be an excellent barrister too. Right now, I don’t mind being at the feet of the master – he has nice shoes.
On my second day I had to draft a particulars of claim on a real case and hand it into my Pupil Master (hereafter, known as “The Master”, a direct homage to “Pupilblogger” who, to the best of my knowledge, was the first to coin that phrase in blawgs). I had to do another a couple of days after that and, in between and since, there have been court visits, conferences and, mostly, case reading and summarising for the master, with discussions about my conclusions.
I won’t say that any of it has been easy, because it has not. What I will say is that it has, thus far, been very enjoyable and interesting. The most difficult thing for me has, until now, been the travelling and the hours. The travelling by tube I’m used to. What I’m not used to is travelling by tube in rush hour in a nice suit with all the trimmings and being groped by all and sundry. I won’t say that isn’t enjoyable at times.....but sometimes I’d like dinner and flowers first......sometimes. My hours are officially 09:00 to 18:00, though I frequently leave well after 18:00. On my first day the master impressed upon me that I would not score any brownie points by coming in early or leaving late (though he practically winked at me when he said that he was required to say that, and other blurb, under the working time directive). Let it be said that I am under no illusion that, converse to the last couple of sentences, I am positive that it will score me brownie points if I regularly outstay my fellow barristers and the clerks. As mentioned, I have been doing that a fair bit but, and here lies the rub, it has not been intentionally as such. Sometimes I am just enjoying a good conversation and other times I just want to get something finished or, at least, make some more progress on it before leaving chambers. We shall see how long that lasts....
Finally a word on the master. Actually, he’s pretty cool. I think I have been very lucky, having heard the horror stories of others. He’s patient, generous, witty, good conversationalist and seems to be an excellent barrister too. Right now, I don’t mind being at the feet of the master – he has nice shoes.
