Successful Alumni

AMY

Hi all, my name is Amy and I am shortly going to commence my BPTC year at UWE in Bristol. I was lucky enough to be awarded the Jerry Parthab Singh scholarship from Middle Temple this year.

For those of you who are applying for Scholarships it is really important to think about which Inn is right for you. I chose Middle Temple because when I attended an open day there, they were extremely informative, welcoming and honest. I recommend that you so go and visit the Inns of Court if you get a chance. It allows you to get a feeling about the place. However, if you are unable to do this ensure you attend any events arranged by the Inns of Court at University. Gray’s Inn hosted a particularly informative evening session when I was in my final year.

Unfortunately, choosing an Inn is the easiest part of the process. The application and interview stage (if reached) is where it gets really tough. With your application it is really important that you try to stand out – I appreciate this is really difficult to do in such a high calibre and competitive environment. The one thing that interviewers and application handlers really like to see is self-reflection. How aware are you of the things you have done well, incorrectly, or what you would change if you were to do something again. Honesty is absolutely critical as it highlights your integrity which is vital in a legal career. If you get offered an interview you must know your application inside out. They will scrutinise the tiniest sentences so make sure you can defend anything you have said. Needless to say you also need to be aware of current affairs and key legal developments. If there are a few of you all applying for scholarships, it is a good idea to meet once a week and discuss developments together. This allows you to open your ears to other points of view and think about things from different angles. I found this very useful for interview preparation this year.

Good luck if you are applying for scholarships!

As for choosing where to do your BPTC I would say do what is best for you. The institutions all have their pros and cons. The BPTC is much the same wherever you do it. Different institutions offer their own extra opportunities. I am staying in Bristol to do mine because I love the City. Also I have no burning desire to work in London in the future. That may be different for some of you.

If you are just about to start your law degree at Bristol I wish you the best of luck. You should immerse yourself in University life and welcome every opportunity that is thrown your way. The three years go extremely quickly and before you know it you will be sat in your Graduation Ceremony saying bye to Bristol.

Good Luck to all of you!