Jack Meek is a barrister at the Government Legal Department, currently working in its Public Inquiries Division. He has been a Bar Council social mobility advocate since 2021. In this blog, Jack offers some words of wisdom on how to deal with pupillage rejection: vent, self-evaluate and try again.
At first glance, there might not appear to be much that links a family of Australian cattle dogs, an eight-year-old psychiatrist, a toadlike humanoid, an aging boxer or an animated donkey, but I believe they can all teach aspiring barristers something about handling rejection.
As another year’s pupillage application round recedes into the rearview mirror, I know many will be disappointed. To those readers who successfully navigated the labyrinth of this Bar recruitment cycle, please accept my profound congratulations and best wishes for future success. As for those of you dealing with various degrees of despondency, I cannot endorse strongly enough Chilli Heeler’s checklist to Bingo in the superlative Bluey episode, The Show: "Have a little cry, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep going." Or, put another way: vent, self-evaluate and try again. I hope the following reflections on grappling with setbacks offer some modicum of encouragement.
Vent
Take it from someone who knows better than most. Through 6 years of applying, I lost count of the number of notifications informing me that I had not been successful in my quest for pupillage. Forget Bluey; turning the air blue is perhaps a more understandable instinctive response when the umpteenth refusal rolls in or, worse, you hear nothing at all and rejection by silence fills the vacuum.
On the other hand, you may take against being greeted with otherwise kind words designed to soften the blow of non-acceptance. For Peanuts fans, Lucy Van Pelt captured the mood in Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! when she observed, “I don’t mind the rejection. It’s the smile that bugs me.”
One way or the other, you are entitled to express your chagrin. Give voice to your ire with friends. Find comfort in the support of loved ones. I have written before about the importance and value of outside interests. It can be difficult, but take pleasure in the other things in your life that distract you from the dismay of the moment.
Self-evaluate
With time will come perspective. It may not feel like it now when the repudiation is raw, but there are things you can learn from the process. That little space frog, Yoda, in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, mused: “The greatest teacher, failure is.”
Ask for feedback. Carry out a self-audit. Speak with a mentor. Identify those things to improve for next time. Maybe you were that close. It may not immediately offer much comfort, but if you secured pupillage interviews, particularly at final stages, you are very likely ready once opportunity knocks.
It is also important not to lose sight of the bigger picture when you are reflecting on these latest travails. Although pupillage is not forthcoming now, think what other chances, both professional and personal, could be available to you. If I had jumped into pupillage straight after Bar school, I would not have worked for a city firm, qualified as a New York attorney, secured a traineeship at the European Court of Human Rights or broadened my outlook by working for a legal publishing company. More importantly, I might not have known to curse the butterfly whose effect would have been to deny me the possibility of meeting my wonderful wife, with whom I have a beautiful daughter. So, whether you believe everything happens for a reason or simply that you should make the most of what life throws at you, roll with the punches.
Try again
Speaking of which, the aging boxer I trailed in the introduction. Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa taught us, “it’s not about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”
The Bar is a wonderful vocation, but you do not need me to tell you how competitive it is to secure your shot. Unlike Rocky though, who had one crack at being plucked from obscurity and proving he could go the distance with Apollo Creed, you can have another go (I know, I know, Rocky II). Whether you were knocked out at the paper stage or lost by the narrowest of margins in a split decision after a second-round interview, you can rally and come back stronger.
It will only work if you do and if you really want it. If you have gaps in your experience, seek to fill them. Apply for more mini-pupillages or marshalling. Practise your advocacy, whether through work, volunteering, debating or mooting. Build your network. Get a mentor if you do not already have one. Use the time to put yourself into the best possible shape on paper and in interview so that you can be the undisputed champion when you next step into the arena. Whatever the case may be, keeping going.
Believe me, I know how tough it is to cope with pupillage rejections. When I was a prospective candidate, I felt dejected about my career prospects more times than I care to recall. I voiced my frustrations and took solace from my family. Each round, for 6 years, I lifted my head back up so that I could get it down again to focus on improving my prospects. I failed, I tried, ad nauseum, until, finally, the clouds parted and the silver lining of pupillage darted into view.
And so, to Eeyore in Disney’s Winnie the Pooh: "The nicest thing about the rain is that it stops eventually."
The Bar Council is here to support you through every stage of your career. Have a look at our 'I am trying to secure pupillage' page on our becoming a barrister hub for resources, guidance and opportunities.