The CV clinic is one of the most popular sessions at the Bar Council's Pupillage Fair every year. At the clinic, aspiring barristers have a one on one meeting with a practising barrister who gives them advice and feedback on their CV or application. James Gould (left) attended our clinic after several unsuccessful pupillage applications and interviews. There he met and was advised by Arfan Khan (right), a barrister at 42 Bedford Row with a specialist appellate practice in chancery, commercial, and public law. Thanks to Arfan's advice, James secured not only pupillage but tenancy and he is now practising in Normanton Chambers, specialising in civil law. In this blog, both explore how beneficial they found the experience.
James Gould's experience
After several unsuccessful pupillage applications and interviews, I contacted the Bar Council's Pupillage Fair CV clinic for help. Despite initial advice from various barristers, my challenge remained obtaining a pupillage offer after an interview. Determined but discouraged, I sought further help from the Bar Council Pupillage Fair CV clinic and connected with Mr Arfan Khan.
Despite his busy schedule, he reassured and encouraged me to persist, urging me to reapply as many times as necessary, but with refined adjustments to my interview technique and CV. In a confidential and supportive environment, he reviewed my CV, provided detailed tailored feedback, and arranged a mock interview. He refined descriptions of my county court advocacy. In assessing my interview technique, he identified a tendency to present answers from a single, overly assertive perspective, which, though eloquent and effective in court, could potentially alienate interviewers. The wider strategic picture was considered in the context of differing personalities, including frank and open discussions.
Mr Khan suggested a more structured and nuanced approach to answering questions: first acknowledging the strength of the question, affirming its validity, and offering further support for the lines of inquiry that the question is designed to address. He advised me to then introduce my perspective, balancing it with a caveat recognising potential flaws in my view or alternative views with appropriate speed. This involved recognising the validity of appropriate interjections and, when necessary, assertively interrupting those that attempted to derail the answers.
By applying this refined technique, I delivered a compelling and approachable performance and secured a pupillage following an interview. I then contacted Mr Khan to seek his views on how to obtain tenancy. He referred me to the advice he gave to students on how to qualify for the Bar in his speech on behalf of the Bar Council in 2022.
I followed that advice and obtained a tenancy at a chambers.
I am extremely grateful to Mr Khan for his invaluable guidance, patience, and transformative advice at the Bar Council's Pupillage Fair CV clinic which played a pivotal role in helping me secure pupillage and tenancy.
Arfan Khan's experience
Supporting James in his journey to secure pupillage and tenancy has been a rewarding experience: it enabled me to give something back, share my knowledge, and witness the growth and development of an inspiring and promising individual. His story exemplifies the freedom to try again, the power of resilience, and an open mind, as well as the need to encourage and support applicants in times of need and adversity.
Of course, credit is due to the Bar for recognising his impressive talent, having been elected a Middle Temple Young Barristers' Association Advocacy Officer, and winning several prestigious advocacy scholarships. This might not have been possible had he faltered in the face of adversity, and opposition. James’s eagerness to learn, determination, and ability to overcome challenges in the face of opposition, have been the driving forces behind his inspiring success.