Raising the Bar

Thinking of changing careers and coming to the Bar? This episode is a must-listen for anyone thinking of retraining as a barrister.

In this episode, I speak with barrister Nicola Sully who has a common law practice, about her journey to the Bar as a career-changer.  We discuss transferable skills, how to challenge assumptions, to articulate your motivation for changing careers and to demonstrate your professional compatibility with your target chambers.  Listen in for tips on how to overcome limiting beliefs, recognise the opportunities that your previous career offers and tackle pupillage applications to achieve success at the Bar as a career changer.

Applying for a GDL scholarship? Tommy, a GDL scholar, discusses how he approached his GDL interview and prepared to demonstrate his advocacy, drive and determination, problem solving skills and motivation to succeed to the panel.

Interested in getting published? The Gray's Inn Student Law Journal is an ideal way for students to engage academically with the law, learn about legal writing and get published. It's an inclusive publication with support available for first-time legal commentators.

In this episode, Nora speaks to Hazel Bannerman, editor of the Student Law Journal, to discuss how you can begin your legal writing career.

Find out more on how you can contribute: Call for Papers - Student Law Journal - graysinn.org.uk

If you're preparing for a scholarship interview, you won't want to miss this episode! 

Hear from Christian, a residential scholar, on how he prepared for his Gray's Inn Bar Course Scholarship interview and secured one of the coveted Residential Scholarships.

Gray’s Inn awards at least £1.4 million in scholarships each year. In 2024, the Inn intends to award at least 85 Bar Course Scholarships to support students undertaking the Bar Course. Gray's Inn also offers residential scholarships that enable students to live at the Inn while they study the Bar Course.

Applicants shortlisted for a Bar Course scholarship interview will be interviewed this March. The next application period for Bar Course Scholarships will open in September 2024. Find out more about Gray's Inn scholarships.

"Show, don't tell" is just one of the many tips for applicants preparing for Gray's Inn Bar scholarship interviews in Episode 1, Season 5 of Raising the Bar.

Gray's Inn students Matty, CK, Ioanna and podcast host Nora Nanayakkara discuss how they prepared for scholarship interviews, approached the legal topic interview exercise and answered the dreaded question, "Why do you want to be a barrister?"

Don't miss future episodes, which feature more advice and insights from Gray's Inn scholars, students and members to help you on your journey to the Bar. 

In this episode Niamh explores the area of Arbitration from a students perspective. The discussion covers and introduction to Arbitration, the Gray’s Inn International Arbitration course and the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot. Niamh is joined by Nia a previous attendee of the Gray’s Inn course who also went on to compete in the Vis Moot. This episode was recorded in advance of the Introduction to International Arbitration Open Evening on 27th July 2023. Find out more via the Gray’s Inn website. 

In this episode, Niamh talks to previous AGIS Mooting Officer Samuel Moss, to provide an in-depth insight into the world of mooting. The conversation covers what mooting is and why it is viewed as such important experience for aspiring barristers. AGIS offers students a plethora of opportunities to represent the Inn at national and international competitions over each academic year and Samuel offers his top tips to students on how to get started and how to be a successful. 

In this episode, Niamh is joined by Charlotte Ward, who offers her perspective on the journey to the bar when transitioning from a different career.

Charlotte is a current Bar Course student who has successfully changed careers after years of working in the Finance industry. As a future pupil barrister Charlotte discusses her experiences in returning to education to undertake the GDL, the process of obtaining pupillage, and both why and how she changed careers to become a barrister. 

This episode offers advice and insight into the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) for students who have studied a non-law undergraduate degree and want to pursue a career in law. 

In this conversation, Niamh is joined with Nicholas Zeolla, to discuss his pursuit of a career at the Bar from a History degree. Nicholas is a current Bar Course student and is due to commence Pupillage in 2023. As the current AGIS President Nicholas also shares insights on how the Inns of Court are there to support students becoming barristers through scholarships and other opportunities.  

This second instalment of the Raising the Bar - A Students Guide, is hosted by Ciara Church and guest Zoe Chan. 

Zoe is a Gray’s Inn Scholar and aspiring barrister wishing to pursue the law of Human Rights and Civil Liberties.  

This discussion provides a student’s perspective of inclusivity and having a disability at the bar. Zoe talks about her involvement in the particular initiative of ‘Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar’.