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Meads

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Just a question...if i was to get a bachelor or commerce and law, then went and worked for a corporation for a few years in either finance, accounting, or law...is it still possible for me to sit the BAR exam and become a barrister whenever i feel it is time...because i have the bachelor of law? Or do you need to spend some sort of time in a law firm?
 

santaslayer

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If you have a LLB or a certificate from the Legal Practicioners Admission Board and have passed all Bar examinations then you can certainly become an advocate in the courtroom. You do not need to do anything like be in a firm for a couple of years or even do solicoting work beforehand.

EDIT: It is assumed that you follow someone experienced in the industry before you work indpendently. (and gain some mdecent income...eventually)
 
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xeuyrawp

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Couple of things to remember: You can't have another job whilst you're a barrister. You will not get any kind of real income for a year or two. It's hard to find work unless you've impressed in your Reading Process (read Frigid's link re: "Reading"), so knowing a few people in the industry (ie working at a Firm) before hand is a real advantage. I've heard a point raised, though, that now it's more advantageous to go to the Bar straight away, because you have less to risk if you fuck up. I guess the reasoning is 1. You'd be at the bar earlier, and has less family and other financial commitments, 2. You could didicate more time to it, and 3. If you join a firm, then hit the bar, but then fail as a Barrister, it'd be hard to get back into a firm.

Just what I've heard:)
 
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xeuyrawp

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also worth noting is that Barristers are expected to have high research skills.
 

Frigid

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spking of barristers, this cafe is barristerally-cute ^.^

Silks Coffee Lounge
GROUND FLOOR, 170 PHILLIP STREET, CITY
SMH Eat Up Review

The smokers among you (so long, it's been nice knowing you) will know the brand Silk Cut, which comes in a white-and-purple pack. It's distinctive, though more recognisable in the UK, I am told. The sign for Silks, a city cafe, is almost exactly the same.

Dick Dazzle, who is a Pom, takes one look and says: "Will it be full of fags?" This is, of course, a very English play on words and Dick, brought up on a diet of Carry On films, means nothing untoward by it.

Silks, one assumes, is so named because it is next to the Law Society. Popsi Bubblehead has steered us to it because she has lunched there, enjoying not only the food but also the procession of barristers swirling in and out in the black silk gowns for which they are nicknamed. Not, not crows - silks.

"And they wear those lovely little white wigs that don't quite fit," she squeals in paroxysms of delight I haven't seen for a while. (Memo to self: buy wig.)

It's a good point; why are those things always too small? Is it because to be a barrister you have to have a big head? Something to ponder, people.

Silks looks like one thing from the outside (cafe, cakes, coffee) and is another thing entirely when you get inside (fractal mauve wallpaper, groovy circular moulded seats with holes for your bum, trendy sofas) and a short but funky menu.

Part of the menu comes under a Made In Greece heading and includes oven-braised lamb shanks, spanokopita, moussaka and souvlakia. As it is an extremely hot day, we both opt for salads: for me, the oven-roast rare beef; for Dick, the special salad nicoise. Each comes with a slice of decent sourdough bread.

The special is special, Dick says, because it has spuds in it. He is surprised at this, whereas I'm pretty sure a nicoise always has spuds in it. There's tuna, too, of the canned [Sirena] kind and all in all it's a damn good feed. So, too, is my pile of rare roast beef, which comes with a sweet onion jam that complements the meat beautifully. Tomato, rocket and horseradish aioli finish it off with aplomb.

There are desserts, but you have to choose them from the glass counter out front. We both decline, ordering more beer instead. In Dick's case it was sheer laziness; in my case it was because my back end had become wedged in the hole in the seat.
 
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xeuyrawp

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hehe. Cool.

Gimme... 25 years and Pwaryuex SC will be there:)
 

Frigid

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i googled "barrister's wigs" and this was the first result. the article is interesting, but too long to reproduce here.

:O - wow. Ede & Ravenscroft, Robe Makers and Tailors since 1689.






 
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xeuyrawp

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Frigid said:
I never noticed they had two little ponytales.

edit: I remember agggggess ago, an episode of JAG had the main guy buying a Barrister's wig. They showed you most of the process, and it looked like a real shop rather than a set.
 
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santaslayer

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One of those wigs costs heaaaaaaaps...

You don't really need them nowdays anyway. More of an act of tradition. Females can apparently go without the wig when in court if they choose to. :)
 
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xeuyrawp

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santaslayer said:
One of those wigs costs heaaaaaaaps...

You don't really need them nowdays anyway. More of an act of tradition. Females can apparently go without the wig when in court if they choose to. :)
Yeah they do cost heaps. It's tradition, I hear, for someone else, usually a female like a mother or spouse, to buy a Barrister his wig.

Santa- many courts will allow barristers to not wear wigs, but some rooms will not let a barrister speak until he's properly attired.

I hope it's a tradition that does not die because the Barrister is, imo, an honourable profession that requires high character. And the wig is a sign of this.

They've only recently faded out Solicitor's attire here, whereas in Britain, and a lot of the ex-colonies (like Indonesia, if you saw Chapelle Corby help with her solicitor's attire) still make most court persons wear court dress- clerks, solicitors, barristers, judges, etc.

The recent changing of Senior Counsel's title of QC to SC probably shows that tradition is dying, although I believe there was a vote in the actual Bar association. Honestly, though, I really don't care if we've still got ties to Great Britain, god knows there's no real downside to it.

Edited: jesus I can't spell.
 
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Frigid

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i actually quite like the term QC (or KC if we had a King)... i mean i don't think it ties us to Queen Lizzie anymore than it does tie us to Queen Mary (hehehe populist propaganda ^.^). I think that the term QC is similar to using R v. in criminal cases - it's a matter of tradition.

besides, SC sounds so School Certificate it shits me.

fridgey on his 20th bday: MUM BUY ME A FORENSIC WIG WILL U! :D
 
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xeuyrawp

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Frigid said:
i actually quite like the term QC (or KC if we had a King)... i mean i don't think it ties us to Queen Lizzie anymore than it does tie us to Queen Mary (hehehe populist propaganda ^.^). I think that the term QC is similar to using R v. in criminal cases - it's a matter of tradition.

besides, SC sounds so School Certificate it shits me.

fridgey on his 20th bday: MUM BUY ME A FORENSIC WIG WILL U! :D
I like the term QC as well; a lot of people don't know what an SC is. And I'm fond of some tradition.

I dunno when I'll be getting my wig, probably more like my 28th birthday :( Goddamn long degrees.

I wonder when you actually start wearing the wigs and robes? Do you wear them whilst in the reading programme?
 

Frigid

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PwarYuex said:
I wonder when you actually start wearing the wigs and robes? Do you wear them whilst in the reading programme?
yes. once you've done your bar course and become a reader-barrister, you can start wearing robes and wig in court.
 
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xeuyrawp

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Frigid said:
yes. once you've done your bar course and become a reader-barrister, you can start wearing robes and wig in court.
Excellent. *Cue Batman music*
 

santaslayer

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PwarYuex said:
Yeah they do cost heaps. It's tradition, I hear, for someone else, usually a female like a mother or spouse, to buy a Barrister his wig.

Santa- many courts will allow barristers to not wear wigs, but some rooms will not let a barrister speak until he's properly attired.

I hope it's a tradition that does not die because the Barrister is, imo, an honourable profession that requires high character. And the wig is a sign of this.

They've only recently faded out Solicitor's attire here, whereas in Britain, and a lot of the ex-colonies (like Indonesia, if you saw Chapelle Corby help with her solicitor's attire) still make most court persons wear court dress- clerks, solicitors, barristers, judges, etc.

The recent changing of Senior Counsel's title of QC to SC probably shows that tradition is dying, although I believe there was a vote in the actual Bar association. Honestly, though, I really don't care if we've still got ties to Great Britain, god knows there's no real downside to it.

Edited: jesus I can't spell.
I'm actually waiting on the day where I can go to court with a simple T-shirt and shorts. :p
magine wearing that in 38 degree heat...do we have air con in the courtrooms? :p
 
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xeuyrawp

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Omg. I am now more dedicated to becoming a barrister.

After watching an SC for a day, I have realised that such a profession is for me.

More tomorrow:D
 

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