Hi everyone!
In today's blogpost, I am going to write about the Inns of Court Scholarships.
For anyone who doesn't know, there are four Inns of Court: Inner Temple, Middle Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn. The Inns offer scholarships to cover or contribute to the costs of doing either the Graduate Diploma in Law (this is for students who did not study law in their undergraduate degree and have to do the conversion course), the Barrister Training Course (the BTC) and even pupillage. This blogpost focuses on scholarships for the BTC.
If you have read the "About" me section of my blog, you would know that I initially embarked on a career as a barrister. When I set out to do the BTC (or as it was then called, the Bar Professional Training Course), the course was £20,000. It now ranges from £13,000 to £17,000. That is a lot of money for a nine-month course. Fortunately, the four Inns have a combined total in excess of £4.5 million per year to award scholarships for aspiring lawyers. I was fortunate to have been one of the people who was awarded a full scholarship from my Inn, Inner Temple.
In today's blogpost, I collaborated with a few people from all four Inns who were awarded scholarships. These are:
Poppy Clearly – Lord Denning Scholar, Lincoln's Inn
Tommy Seagull – Tancred Scholar and Hardwicke Scholar, Lincoln's Inn
The girls from Wigs and Robes – Middle Temple scholars
Michelle Brown – Queen Mother Scholar, Middle Temple
Tanya Beck – Wilfred Watson Scholar, Gray's Inn
Rhys Brown – Inner Temple Scholar
Together, we share our tips.
This blogpost will be divided into the following sections:
General rules
How did you prepare for the interview
What was the procedure on the day
What was asked during the interview process
General tips
GENERAL RULES
There is no such thing as over preparation for an interview. Give it your everything.
It’s a one Inn policy, meaning you’ll only be able to apply for scholarships from one Inn, though you can apply for any number of that particular Inn’s grants and awards.
You’ll have to be a member of the Inn you secure a scholarship from too—the annual deadline for joining an Inn is 31 May.
The deadline to apply to each Inn is 5 November 2021. Please, do not leave this till last minute.
Each Inn has a different application process. Please make sure you thoroughly understand what it entails. This information can be found from each Inn's website.
Each Inn has an assessment criteria they are looking for: understand this and ensure you demonstrate each criteria out in your application.
When deciding which Inn to apply to, you need to ask yourself if you are better on paper or better in an interview. The reason I say this is because for Inner Temple and Middle Temple, you will always be interviewed regardless of what you put in your paper application. However for Lincoln's Inn and Gray's Inn, your paper application determines if you will be short listed for an interview.
Inner Temple and Middle Temple are means tested. This means that once the scholarship committee decides you deserve a scholarship, they will look at your financial situation to determine the amount of money you should get.
HOW DID YOU PREPARE FOR THE INTERVIEW
Tommy: I prepared by drawing mind maps for each of my achievements, work experience and pursuits. The mind maps fleshed out the points I made on the applications. Crucially, they provided detail/insights/reflections/analysis that wasn’t on the application form itself (because of the obvious word limit restrictions on application forms). This keeps the interviewer(s) interested – it’s refreshing to hear something they aren’t just reading from the piece of paper in front of them.
Wigs and Robes and Arooj: We thoroughly went through our initial applications and came up with all sorts of possible questions which could have been asked. We then had various mock interviews. The girls at Wigs and Robes did these with their friends, and I did mine with a lecturer at my university who was kind enough to offer. (if you have a personal tutor, I would recommend asking them. The worst thing they can say is no, but you would be surprised at how many people might actually be able to assist and offer invaluable advice).
Michelle: when preparing for the interview, after going through your application and coming up with a list of questions (and on the day itself!) try to apply the STAR method where appropriate. Situation, Task, Action and Result. Basically, give an example with ‘everything’ and most importantly state what your results were, from working through that situation you encountered. You should apply this method throughout your paper application and interview. It helps the reader and interviewer to understand your journey and thought processes. The assessors want to see how effectively you can problem solve. Another skill valued at the bar.
Arooj: An example of the above is this -
"I transferred the skills I received from school to University and was successfully elected as President of Taylor’s Law Society, where I was tasked with the responsibility to organise the law ball. A major issue at previous law balls was poor attendance due to expensive tickets and lack of student incentive to attend. I was determined to change this and had to think out of the box to make it a full-house and affordable event. This could only be done by way of subsidy and innovation.
To raise funds, I championed the idea to design and sell law school merchandise, source sponsors and organise different social events. To generate interest in the event, I organised a flash-mob, convinced our university lecturers to perform at the event and had a lucky draw. In the end, we added three additional tables to cater for the excess demand and we made a USD $1,000 profit. This highlights my entrepreneurial and interpersonal skills."
Tanya: Preparing for the interview was nerve wracking. I contacted a former scholarship winner who was happy to give me some advice for which I am very grateful, and blessed to have been able to pass on that advice to others many, many times over since then. Most of my interview preparation was about remembering to speak slowly and clearly, taking my time, and knowing it was ok to ask them to slow down so I could make notes. I always try to remember that an interview is a two-way discussion, a conversation. This makes it much less terrifying!
Rhys: So my interview was in four sections. The topical question, the legal case, the application form scrutiny, and financial status.
For the topical question I simply increased my average time spent following the news in the weeks leading up to the interview! There’s not much else to do to prepare for a completely unseen question on any topical matter where you will be asked to give a 1 minute for/ against argument. My question was quite political - not really legal based. It’s designed to test your ability to form and present a clear and compelling argument with almost no preparation.
For the legal case question, my only preparation could come from the hour I was given (including disability adjustments) to read the case and identify the facts and ratio. There’s not really much more planning you can do because it could be on any topic of law, and be prepared to talk on controversial topics! Mine was on rape.
For the application scrutiny, I knew from my GDL interview that I needed to know my original application incredibly well. Preparation was that; ensuring I knew what I had said and what my inferences were so that I could respond without any contradictions. Definitely make sure you don’t go into the interview without having re-considered your original application thoroughly because contradictions will certainly go against you.
As with application scrutiny, make sure you know your finances well and can answer any questions on ambiguity which may arise.
Arooj: Like Rhys explained above, the interview was divided into four sections. For the legal case you are given an unreported case (if I call recall correctly) or a court of appeal case and you have to go through the whole judgment in one hour before the interview. As a general rule, just try to pick out what the case facts were, what the ratio of the judgment was, who the judges were and try to form an opinion on whose judgment you agreed with or didn’t agree with and why. To become familiar with how to do this, I'd recommend going to the website BAILI's and doing trying this exercise out till you become comfortable with it.
Poppy: All candidates selected for an interview with Lincoln’s are sent a document in advance listing questions they might be asked. Using my paper application form, and a list of anything I had done in the time between submitting my paper application and my interview, I bullet-pointed answers to all the possible questions. I then went through these draft answers with a mentor I had from being part of the Society of Labour Lawyers. I tried to make sure that I spoke about different experiences and didn’t use the same information in each of my answers. For Lincoln’s interviews you also have to prepare to speak on an area of law of your choosing. I chose to speak about the area of law I want to specialise in, which I think is an obvious choice as it’s both what I know the most about and am most passionate about. As well as revising that area of law I kept up to date on any recent legal changes or areas within the legal news in case I got asked any questions about current affairs.
I also took part in a practice interview scheme that I found on the legal side of Twitter. Two previous Lincoln’s scholars did a mock interview with me over zoom and gave feedback, which was very helpful.
WHAT WAS THE PROCEDURE ON THE DAY
Lincoln's Inn
Tommy: I was greeted by the Scholarship Co-ordinator who gave me a seat and told me I’d be called in shortly. I got there super early so there was a pretty long wait. I had a little chat with the Scholarship Co-ordinator to loosen myself up!
Poppy: The interview was over zoom, so I was given my time and date in advance. You still have to dress smartly even when its online, and you have to be on time. I sent my family out of my house so that the Wi-Fi would be strong and there’d be no noise or distractions. My interview was in the evening, around 7pm I think.
Inner Temple
Rhys: I have already alluded to this above, but I was given my legal case to analyse 1 hour before my interview was due to commence. I read it, made relevant notes, and entered my interview! It’s as simple as that!
Arooj: Rhys has already touched on this and our experiences were similar.
I was first taken to a room and asked to pick a legal case – you get an option to pick from three: family, crime or civil. I picked the civil one and mine involved a tort issue about someone who was shot on their leg. For this exercise, do not forget highlighters.
After my legal case preparation, I was taken to a room where four barristers were present. Two were very senior and two were junior. Like Rhys has said, they divided the questions into four parts: legal case questions, application questions, finances and the topical question.
Middle Temple
Wigs and Robes: I arrived at Middle Temple 15 minutes before my allocated slot and was escorted into a waiting area. I was then called to one of the interview rooms. The room was quite small with a panel of 4 interviewers.
Gray's Inn
Tanya: On the day itself it was important to be calm, prepared, and comfortable. I always try on my outfit (suit) in advance and talk to my laptop camera just to get a feel for it.
WHAT WAS ASKED DURING THE INTERVIEW PROCESS
Lincoln's Inn
Poppy: I actually didn’t get asked many questions from the pre-sent list. The vast majority of the questions I was asked were new to me and certainly put me on the spot. The questions asked reflect the marking criteria that Lincoln’s put on their website. So, I was firstly asked about my academics, about my GCSEs and A-levels, and then more about my undergraduate degree, my grades and how hard I had to work for them. Then I got asked questions which enabled me to talk about my experience, including my year abroad, legal work experience, and part-time jobs. I also got asked questions like ‘What was the biggest mistake I’ve ever made?’, ‘Have you ever handled money?’ and ‘Name a time where you have showed integrity’. I also got asked what I had done to further my career since applying for the scholarship, so it seems they were looking for people who continually make an effort to get more experience. Finally, I was asked what my topic of choice to talk about was. I thought that I’d have a few minutes to speak persuasively about it, but as soon as I named my topic the panel started to quiz me about it, so I couldn’t steer the conversation to the areas I had prepared to talk about. The panel certainly put me under a lot of pressure in this section and pushed back on the answers I gave them.
Inner Temple
Rhys: The topical question was (unsurprisingly) related to Covid, though it’s topic is immaterial to the advice I can give. They simply put the question to me and gave me 1 minute to consider my answer. What was quite harsh is that they asked me to give the opposite opinion half-way through!
The application scrutiny was a combination of identifying gaps in my CV and affording me the opportunity to fill them, and challenging me to explain why certain points in my CV did not have me better suited to a career as a solicitor. Don’t see this as an attempt to trip you up; see it as an opportunity to boost your application with things which you didn’t have room to say in the word limits.
On the financial status, they were very practical questions. There was a number which they didn’t immediately see added up, and a brief explanation and contextualisation resolved their concerns.
Arooj: After I was asked about the legal case (I have given details of what type of questions came up above), I was asked questions about my application. For example, I mentioned I did MUN in school so they asked me about that experience and what it entailed. I had also said I was interested in Intellectual Property so I was asked to talk about a case that interested me. I spoke about how La Coste lost their trademark for non-use to Crocodile International. When I said this, I started laughing. The senior barrister asked why I laughed and I said that they are such a big company so it is sad that they could overlook something like that. I think me laughing like that was risky but it was genuine so it paid off because the senior barrister started laughing aswell. This part actually broke the ice for me. Then the junior barrister asked me questions like whether this has happened in other jurisdictions (because it had, and he was familiar with the case). He then scrutinised me and asked what the damages awarded in another jurisdiction were and I had thankfully read up on it.
Topical question: I was asked to give the purpose of civil law in one minute.
Finances: they asked what I would do if I didn't get the scholarship. I said I was committed to doing the course so I would save for a year. They also asked if I had inquired about getting a loan (since I am an international, the procedure for getting loans would have been different so they wanted to see that I had actually explored all avenues).
Middle Temple:
Wigs and Robes: The interview began with the standard questions 'why do you want to be a barrister as opposed any other legal profession, why do you think you will make a good barrister". The majority of the questions following this were in relation to the things I had mentioned in my application . For example, I had expressed an interest in immigration law and was questioned about a recent decision that I did not agree with and how I would change that decision and area of law. I was also asked to explain the recipe for my favourite cake as I had mentioned enjoying baking.
A few questions were based on current affairs and extra curricular activities I had participated in such as debating/mooting.
Middle Temple scholarships do not have a set or fixed amount. Once the panel deem you worthy of a scholarship, the sum awarded is based solely on your financial means. Therefore be ready to be quizzed on each aspect of your financial means form and remain as truthful as possible.
Michelle: Before the interview make sure you are up to date with the news as you will most likely be asked to argue for and against a relevant issue. For me the panel asked about the topic of protesting. They didn’t just want a for and against argument, they also wanted to hear my view. In so far as I can demonstrate a balanced approach. So even if you are totally ‘for’ something, can you evaluate the other side and argue counterintuitively?
Gray's Inn
Tanya: I don’t remember too much about the interview itself and didn’t keep my notes because I never expected to be in this position! However, here is what I do remember: it was all over very fast. I take a while to warm up to things, and just when I started to feel comfortable it was all over. Shortly before the interview time, Gray’s Inn aslo asked me to prepare a short talk on one of a couple of subjects. Although this made me the most nervous to prepare for, I found it the best part of the interview because I got to put my own point across to the panel on a topical subject. The interview panel were not looking for a great legal argument, just the fact that I could present my point of view.
GENERAL TIPS
Arooj: always remember, the Inn has a set criteria they are looking for. Please make sure you tie in all your experiences and everything you say in your interview to that criteria.
Tanya: I never in a million years expected to gain a scholarship. I had joined Gray’s Inn prior to the application simply because I knew it was the right Inn of Court for me. I knew that there would be a lot of different applications in law, so I applied for scholarship and told myself it was to get practice filling in forms in anticipation of upcoming pupillage applications. When I learned I had been accepted for an interview I was over the moon, if slightly bewildered. I did not have first class grades and did not realise that academia really was not the sole criteria.
There’s one top tip I give to absolutely everyone, looking to get absolutely anywhere: Do The Things. Attend the workshop, Experience the networking meeting. Go on the vacation scheme even if you don’t think you will get anything from it. Attend the webinars. Join the societies both at your place of education and national memberships (which are often cheap or free for students.) Talk to people and make connections. Do the mini pupillages both in person and virtually. Just Do. The. Things. I honestly believe this is why I was awarded a scholarship, despite my very average 2:1 grades.
The other huge tip is to remember that they already know your academic acumen from your grades on the application form. Show them WHO YOU ARE. You are the person who is asking them to invest time and money in, so they need to know you are the kind of person that will see this process through and return the investment. I often tell people that I was always called stubborn and bull-headed as a kid, and I finally found a use for it: determination and perseverance are the other side of that coin, and there are times in my life where they have been all I had. I made sure the Gray’s Inn interview panel could see that tenacity, that they saw who I am. It is such a cliché, but be yourself. Polished and professional with the rough edges smoothened down; but still YOU.
Everyone: be confident!
Tommy:
Think of your whole application (the written form and the interview) as an iceberg. When they read the form, what they should see is just the tip of the iceberg – the bit above the water. When they ask you about those things in the interview, they should be able to see the whole iceberg (91% of an iceberg is below the water!) In practice, that means for every thing you talk about on your form, you should have a few reflections/explanations/insights/more examples to talk about. How did activity X shape you? Have you done anything extra since? What did you learn from that mini-pupillage? Draw a mind-map, it really helps!
Be sincere. Don’t pretend to have been desperate to have wanted to go into commercial law since the age of 13! (Unless it’s true…) Coming across as authentic and genuine is so important and will endear you to the panel.
Smile.
Michelle:
Be You: I was very much myself in the interview and showed the panel why I was so passionate about my area of choice in which I wanted to specialise. I had also - prior to the interview - done a bit of further research around the topic. This is helpful for that question “Why do you wish to become a barrister”? Although, it may seem a simple question, it’s quite loaded. My reasoning was very much born from circumstances I saw and experienced growing up. For you it could be something different, but individual to you. Be open enough to express this. Be you, remain measured and stay in your conviction. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will. The bar is a place of varied talent, many experiences and truly committed barristers. You commit your energy, you give your time and sometimes it will take sacrifice, but it will be worth it. This is an opportunity you must grab with both hands and believe that you are enough.
Memory Refreshing: The worst thing is leaving the interview and forgetting to mention really key experiences about yourself that would have been paramount in demonstrating your barrister like qualities. Nothing can be worse than that. Therefore, I kept writing quick little notes to myself in a notepad months before the interview. I made notes of experiences I encountered that would prove valuable in the interview. It’s easy to forget, so its good to have a point of reference to refresh one’s memory closer to the interview. I also made notes of what I may wish to talk about. I carried my notebook around with me daily, but you could just use your phone. I noted key words, key experiences, awards I had long forgotten. A good way to remember is to write out a quick chronology of your life or look back over your CV. It helps to see a overview timeline of your experiences and this can jog the memory. You can also refresh your memory by looking back at documents such as previous legal applications or even your law school applications. Have an iron clad reason why you are on this journey. Sometimes we can get lost in the minutiae of the procedure and lose the why’s. So, stay true to your own journey.
Experience: If you can get more experience from now until then, do it. It doesn’t have to always be Mini’s or strictly legal. It could be an area you are passionate about. E.g. Volunteering at a Women’s refuge centre, obtaining an added position of responsibility (e.g. Student welfare officer at university or becoming your Class Representative) etc... This will help the panel see that you are committed to helping others and representing their best interests, just as an advocate would do. Or if you already have experience and are doing this, then that’s amazing! So, draw upon it for inspiration, as I was asked; “what have I done since the paper application”? I personally had done quite bit since. Look at giving your time to organisations such as Free Representation Unit, Freedom Law Clinic, Pro Bono Clinics, Refugee Centres. To name but a few. Causes that you are personally interested in.
Also:
research a bit about your Inn just incase (why you want to be there in particular).
Inner Temple has a great library website where you can sign up for weekly news posts, whether you are a member of not.
apply situations that demonstrate what an advocate looks like. Where you showed resilience, motivation, passion, aptitude, quick thinking, independence and relatability to clients.
Poppy and Wigs and Robes:
Take a moment to pause, breathe and think about what you say before you say it.
Listen carefully and make sure you actually answer the question asked!
Remember that if they are pushing you and making you sweat it’s probably because they think you are capable and want to extract your full potential!
Rhys:
For interview, the best advice I can give is to relax. Easier said than done I know, when so much rests on the outcome, but you will perform so much better when you are in a positive state of mind.
To assist you reach that state of mind which will give you peak performance, I invite you to remember one truth: the panel, whoever they are, have volunteered themselves as members of the scholarship panel because they want to feel as if they have contributed to the next generation of barristers. What does that mean? Unlike in other interview scenarios, the entire interview panel is desperately keen for you to succeed. I took no greater solace than knowing that.
All the best from all of us!