The MCT (Multiple Choice Test) is the exam that will have most BVC students tearing their hair out. I nearly went bald this morning, but I digress..
The MCT is the Criminal and Civil Litigation and Evidence Paper that each budding barrister must sit, irrespective of what area of law they want to specialise in.
The MCT always cause my heart to almost stop, but when I realise I am still actually alive, I take a breath and read, I am OK.
The paper was a 3hr paper, no break, no water, no nothing, just you, your paper and the big muscle in your head that is called a brain. I did wonder where mine went at times today. I believe I have finally located it....Hmmmm (What -is- my- name? Where- am -I?)
I wonder which sad, depraved individual obviously in need of good hard shag, writes these papers? They must be seriously frustrated, or I am simply a fool? Can you believe it took me about 8 minutes to READ one question today (Q66) that made my brain fizzle. Apart from trying to stay awake, having revised for half of my life, travelled over 200miles to attend, fought my way through the breakfast squash at 07.30 this am, at 9am, I found myself in a room with a pencil, the exam Q paper, answer paper and a sharpener. I felt good, until...I opened the trucker! In all honesty, compared to the mock, the question paper for me was far too long winded. Plenty of double negatives, and at the best of times this is quite difficult, added to the fact that all the parties in the various scenarios had similar names, like Dee and Deidre and Priya and another one beginning with "P" This just makes it all that little bit harder to make a quick judgement on an answer. I suppose my college expects its students to take this all in their stride, along with the £12K they have conned out of me.
Instead of getting some beauty sleep, and trust me I need it, I am preparing for my Negotiation Mock exam, tomorrow. We also have to prepare an Advocacy Brief for tomorrow afternoon. The only saving grace, apart from it being the last SGS of the day, it is also a brief we have worked on before, so those that did the work the last time, will know it, those that did not, will have to get to reading.
Our last SGS of the day was with a lecturer I have never ever seen or heard of before. Apart from a slightly crossed eye, the lecturer is really good at bringing out the good points in a student's submission. Said lecturer also found the time to give me some advice re the path I am hoping to take.
Initially, I wanted to work in the area of Crime, not really to become Rumpole's sister, but because I love Crime. My LA job revolves around other people committing crimes and I enjoy that. Coupled with my weekly subscription to "Serial Killers" when I was about 13yrs (yes, the parents allowed it!) Crime has always been my passion....BUT...................................
I am not Stooopid! I really, really, really, really (x100, or to infinity, as me Sis would say) want to practice crime and run around various Crown Courts (Mag's don't pay enough @ £50 per appearance) High Courts and dare I say it, Appeal Courts, but the monies paid to Junior Counsel are DIRE. Apart from the added problem that pupillages are so few and far between, one has to be realistic and this is where said lecturer comes in. Today he advised me that many people come to the BVC expecting to leave, get a pupillage and then run around courts for loadsamoney. Said lecturer advises strongly that this is not the case and that legally aided practice areas will come under more funding cuts. With this in mind, what does one do? Advice from lecturer, open your mind and think about other ways that the BVC can be utilised. In-House is the way forward and with the impending merge of both professions (Barristers and Solicitors), it makes sense to be paid to work, be paid to be sick and be paid to have mini-me's!
With that in mind, I have just completed a search and have found a pupillage provider who is willing to entertain me.
Failing that, I will have to ensure my boss sees the merits of having In-house Counsel at the LA. Who knows, that is the fun part of this, in a sick twisted way, it’s a bit Forest Gumpish, "you never know what you are going to get"
Over and out,
Knackered, bewildered, knackered, bewildered and knackered some more.
