A life changing experience studying Law

In the summer of 2015, my personal tutor told me about a competition that Lincoln’s Inn was running called the Bar’s Open Prize (now the Neuberger Prize). My tutor really encouraged me to apply and the staff in the law school were extremely supportive. I was delighted to be selected as one of the prize winners and was invited to a celebratory dinner at Lincoln’s Inn. I also got to have tea with Lord Neuberger, former president of the Supreme Court.

After leaving the University in summer 2017, I began the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) at BPP Law School in Manchester. I received a Lord Denning Scholarship from Lincoln’s Inn which covered my course fees. Staff from the law school helped me with my scholarship application and also provided me with references which helped me to secure one of the awards.

Studying the BPTC was extremely tough. It’s a hard course as there is a lot of information to learn and lots of new practical legal skills to get your head around. It was good to start using the legal knowledge I had acquired at the University and put it into practice to experience what law can be like in the real world. I got through it and can now call myself a barrister!

After many gruelling interviews, I managed to secure pupillage at a commercial and chancery Chambers. I will start by having quite a diverse practice in wills, trusts, probate, company disputes, insolvency and property law. It feels so amazing to have come through five years of legal education, ready to start a career as a barrister.

Studying at a Scottish university has not hindered my chances at the Bar in England and Wales. If anything, it provided a really interesting talking point!

As my Chambers is in Newcastle, a lot of cases with jurisdictional arguments are dealt with. I was told that my knowledge of Scots Law will be very useful in practice and this probably helped me to stand out as a candidate in the pupillage process. I received a lot of support from law school staff on my journey to the Bar.

The University of Dundee has an excellent law school which I cannot recommend highly enough.

I will always be grateful to the law school staff for encouraging me to take this opportunity, as it was a life changing experience which confirmed I wanted to pursue a career as a barrister.