For the longest time I have wanted to become a barrister, I know how difficult the pupillage route can be but I was willing to take that challenge head on.

I used to not be a very good public speaker but forced myself to be better which led me to this route.

I am achieving very good grades at University (all firsts besides two 2:1 grades), I’ve done mooting experience, mock trials and have even been complimented many times by my teacher in advocacy who was a QC and a judge.

However, I’m coming to a point in my life where seeing the pupillage statistics is scaring me- a lot. I don’t go to an RG University (I wanted to but my alevel grades were good enough to go to University but not enough for an RG). I know the significant advantage not only an RG background can bring you but an Oxbridge background too. I am at a point where I’m going through the process of a buying house so now I have a very big responsibility where if I’m waiting around for a pupillage I will have to remain employed- as many do.

Because of the pandemic I haven’t managed to get a lot of legal work experience either. I have a mini pupillage waiting for me with a barrister in London but because of the pandemic we have been putting it off for nearly a year, but have agreed to carry on in June. I have managed to get work experience at a solicitors firm last July but haven’t been able to since because I work part time on a fixed schedule and get 33 days of holiday a year which I usually use to relax or catch up on my studies.

I’m incredibly scared for what the future holds, but part of me still wants to hold out and see how the barrister route plays out. Becoming a barrister is what I want most out of life right now, but part of me also wants to play it safe and become a solicitor and gain my full rights of audience.

I would like advice from anyone who has been in my situation before, where you’ve been tossing and turning at whether or not to become a barrister or solicitor advocate and which route worked best for you. And even then, advice from anyone who sees my situation and can potentially give me advice on where to proceed. Any advice at all would be appreciated, and a very big thank you in advance.

Apologies if there are any grammar mistakes, I woke up with the worst migraine and will be trying to sleep it off.

EDIT: I also want to clarify that I understand the solicitor route itself also isn’t easy, I completely understand that. Another reason why I am considering the soli

I am interested in a career in commercial litigation but I am unsure on the level of actual legal/technical law work this role offers for a solicitor, or whether this is a matter predominately reserved for barristers/advocates.

For instance, my current background is in tax advisory (accountant). As such, we regularly prepare our advice in regards to HMRC disputes, which concern points of law, but will not instruct Counsel until we reach a sticky wicket or there is an impasse between both parties and this is seen as the appropriate way forward.

Is the dynamic in litigation the same? Do litigation solicitors assess the various potential legal arguments to be put forward, which depending on how far the dispute goes will result in Counsel being instructed; who will then inform them as to the strength of their arguments and possibly identify other grounds (due to their likely superior knowledge/expertise).?

Looking at online resources I can see litigation, as a solicitor, has a considerable requirement for project management, preparing witness statements, filing court paperwork and taking instruction from clients (amongst other things). However, I am not sure if solicitors initially review the case law and prepare the technical legal advice, or if Counsel are instructed early to do so, effectively relegating the solicitor to project management.

My reason for confirming is that I very much enjoy the technical challenge of law i.e. researching case law, analysing its application to the facts and preparing the written advice/file notes. If litigation, as a solicitor, is essentially a project management role then I think I would have to consider another practice area.

I need a signature of a witness who is authorised to administer oaths for a Gender Recognition Certificate.

Obviously I would pay for this service as required.

Many thanks.

Hello everyone.

I am a law school student studying from the University of London's external programme in Pakistan, first year exams just ended. I am interested in becoming a Barrister in UK, but I have come to an understanding that it is nearly impossible for foreigners to secure a pupillage in UK. Neverthless, securing a training contract on the other hand, while still very competitive, is not as far-fetched as securing a pupillage in a chamber. The only difference between the two, according to what I know, is that a Solicitor cannot argue in Courts, although, with a HRA course, he can also do that.

So in the end, what will the difference be between a Solicitor-Advocate and a Barrister, except that of the title (both in terms of practical application and prestige/salary)?

THANK YOU!

Was watching a good documentary called 'The Barristers' on YouTube made in 2008. And the barristers in the chambers were already complaining about half their work being taken away from them because the CPS started directly hiring their own barristers full time. And I imagine the situation is only getting worse 11 years on from when that doc was made, as solicitor advocates take even more work away from them.

Okay, so let's say you want to become a barrister... you finish your LLB (which is already going to land you in a huge amount of debt), then you've got to lay down between £13k-£18k to do your BPTC. Probably going to be even more money in 3 years time. That's a lot of wedge to find. Then you have to obtain a pupillage. According to the BSB:

> Obtaining a pupillage is very competitive; our last survey, published in May 2018, showed that of the UK/EU domiciled graduates of the BPTC, 42.7% of those who enrolled on the course between 2012-13 and 2015-16 had so far started pupillage.

42.7% isn't actually as bad as I thought it would be, thought it would be much lower than that, but still though, if you haven't gone to a top university, if you are a bit older like I am, and if you don't speak in a certain way (I'm a great speaker if I do say so myself... BUT... I don't speak how the vast majority of the people in the documentary speak) then it would be reasonable to think the odds will start to be stacked against you. I mean I do believe in myself, but it still represents risk. I mean I wouldn't go down to the casino and put 18 large down on red, and those are the kind of odds we're talking about here. Okay, that's a poor analogy as you'd only double your money if you win at roulette. Plus of course roulette is down to pure luck.

So okay, what about the solicitor advocate route? Well first of all, it sounds more appealing being a solicitor advocate, because you can take a client's case from beginning to end. If by luck, the juiciest case you are ever going to see in your life walks through your doors, you don't have to hand them over to a barrister when it gets to Crown Court.

Another benefit, is before you even start your LPC, you can try and find a Law Firm who will give you a training contract and pay your fees for you, plus a loan to help you with your living costs while you're studying. All in all, it does feel a lot more secure going down this route (assuming you get a training co

I get the fact that solicitor advocates have rights to represent their clients in higher courts? But how often do solicitor advocates represent their clients in court? Which areas of law use solicitor advocates the most? Is it common for corporate law firms to use solicitor advocates?

Thank You.

I ask about Skeleton Arguments (if this is the correct term), NOT court opinions. The UKSC doesn't publish them, but what of lower courts?

Any full time or part time judges on here? Wondering what you need to do early on in your career as a solicitor to put yourself on track for a judicial role. Also wondering what the pros and cons of the working in the judiciary are. Thanks in advance for your help.

For those who may not be aware, legal firms in Sabah are not allowed to give discounts for land matters such as conveyancing. The fees must be according to a Schedule of Fees subject to an exemption for family members. Malaysia is also the only common law country in Asia that still enforces this No-Discount Rule. In HK, the conveyancing heaven, lawyers and clients can negotiate although there is still the Sch of Fees. Section 56(1) of the LPO provides that a solicitor and his client can agree on an amount or method of remuneration regardless of any rules made under Section 74.  In Singapore, also another heaven for conveyancing lawyers, it is the same story but not Malaysia.

So, shouldn't we ask why not in Malaysia ? Lawyers here are still selling the story that any discount will bring “disrepute” to them or their firm in the same way that lawyers do not negotiate fees or money being a professional. But lawyers in Singapore or Hong Kong or Australia are not complaining about their reputation in tatters are they?  In Australia, they even have Conveyancers (non-lawyers) to do transactions charging a fraction of the price by lawyers but again Australia is different, NSW, in particular, has an electronic settlement system (PEXA) connecting the land office and banks and is able to check ownerships of titles in seconds (not days) online. I am suggesting as tasks get automated, then costs should go down.

Come this 22 January 2022 is the big day for Sabah Law Society’s AGM in KK. Sabah lawyers who are present in this fancy hotel from 10 to 12 noon will be asked to vote on the latest amendment to enforce this No-Discount Rule. More pertinent the upcoming rules incorporated power for the Sabah Law Society to police by asking lawyers for documents to show compliance and even charge the law firm for this review.  For example, this is proposed Rule 10(12):

(12)    The Law Society shall be empowered to request in writing for additional documents or evidence whenever it appears to the Law Society that there is reasonable cause to suspect that there is any evidence of the breach or breaches of this Rule 10 in administering the compliance of the advocate or the firm of advocates with this rule and the advocate or the firm of advocates shall within seven (7) days comply with such request, failure which shall be deemed to have committed misconduct as defined under section 12 B of the Advocates Ordinance and therefore subject to disciplinary action.

**(Is my

Law school question: I’m not from the UK. A colleague of mine earned an LLB and completed “16 modules” at Brunel University in London (per their CV). We met in a non-law-related grad school years later, and to my knowledge they never practiced law, although they’ve mentioned working in a law office.

In casual conversation, they will sometimes say, “As a lawyer, I [insert opinion/perspective].” Usually this is to weigh in about a high-profile court case in the news or a friendly discussion— to my knowledge they have never offered/attempted to legally represent anyone. I’m curious about their credentials. Does one typically consider themselves a lawyer after just a Bachelor’s degree in the UK?

If not, at what point is one considered a Lawyer ™️ ?

Fritz Springmeier is the most notable author when it comes to exposing the witchcraft inside of Jehovah's Witnesses.

The CIA of the U.S. has his book Bloodlines of the illuminati on their website, you can download it from CIA.gov: https://www.cia.gov/library/abbottabad-compound/FC/FC2F5371043C48FDD95AEDE7B8A49624_Springmeier.-.Bloodlines.of.the.Illuminati.R.pdf

Enochian Magic

Last year in the Jan. ’93 newsletter I wrote an article about the Freemasons and the Watchtower Society. Recently, on Dec. 10, ’93, Texe Marrs interviewed me over international short-wave radio about the 1990 book The Watchtower and the Masons. Having a good response from the short-wave radio interview, it is only appropriate that this newsletter starts off the new year with another article on the Watchtower Society and the Freemasons. Because of numerous problems within the congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses with Satanic Ritual Abuse, the Watchtower Society put out an article in the Oct. 8, 1991 issue of the magazine. Lee Waters of Bethel Headquarters kept a file on his computer of Jehovah’s Witnesses who were reported to be victims of SRA. It is possible headquarters has told him to delete the file. Another man who was at headquarters who is now believed out of the Society was also well informed of SRA among the congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses. In fact, two JWs who had been Freemasons while JWs but had broken free, confronted the Governing Body and headquarters with their evidence of the Freemasons operating within the membership of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. What was the response of the WT leaders? To simply ignore and cover up the evidence. The actions of the Governing Body in squelching any serious action against the high-level Satanism secretly operating within the Jehovah’s Witnesses shows what my Be Wise A Serpents book revealed, which is that very secret high-level Satanism has long been controlling the Watchtower Society. One of these 2 eyewitnesses to Freemasonic activities within the higher levels of the Watchtower Society realized that something is seriously wrong at the top, when the Watchtower leaders do not really care for those people in the congregations who are becoming the victims of SRA. One elder in good standing lost his position because be warned the Watchtower Society of satanic infiltration. It is obvious that th

https://preview.redd.it/dnoluto8vr581.jpg?width=1942&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5f8e9f116b99aac287237ac6b559da699fcdf191

NEWS RELEASE

All Ontarians 18+ Eligible for COVID-19 Booster Appointments at Three-Month Interval

Free Rapid Testing Provided at Pop-Up Locations Across the Province and Select LCBOs for a Safer Holiday Season

December 15, 2021

Premier's Office

TORONTO — To protect Ontario’s progress in the fight against COVID-19 and safeguard the province’s hospitals and intensive care units (ICUs) in the face of the rapidly-spreading Omicron variant, the Ontario government is rapidly accelerating its booster dose rollout by expanding eligibility to all individuals aged 18 and over, as well as shortening the interval to three months following an individual’s second dose. To provide an additional layer of protection against COVID-19 and variants during the holiday season, Ontario is also launching a holiday testing blitz starting today to offer rapid antigen screening to individuals free of charge at pop-up sites across the province, as well as select LCBO stores across Ontario.

“As we combat the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant, nothing matters more than getting these booster doses into people’s arms” said Premier Doug Ford. “I am issuing a call to arms. We need every member of Team Ontario to stand tall and do their part as we work to protect our hard-fought progress and keep Ontarians safe.”

Starting Monday, December 20, 2021, individuals aged 18 and over will be eligible to schedule their booster dose appointment through the [Ontario’s booking portal](https://u21118854.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=lD4dx-2BnG5q0hGva6EtJJPZZH8D0wW2ZUDjx109KSoqcwBZ9nvsiEqNqOw7-2BDllqbDyy2augHQ-2B3K-2B8J3wpcLk-2F-2F47R3ydTvIedGOGu83OmW8T8MswQUzI0tFQEF6NzFKhYT4gcJQ6dDGe5viXQc-2FWKf1zO3YyBf5D70-2BqbI-2B6s5zYStsKDlA21eB2xjtgE

I don't want to step on anybody's toes here, but the amount of non-dad jokes here in this subreddit really annoys me. First of all, dad jokes CAN be NSFW, it clearly says so in the sub rules. Secondly, it doesn't automatically make it a dad joke if it's from a conversation between you and your child. Most importantly, the jokes that your CHILDREN tell YOU are not dad jokes. The point of a dad joke is that it's so cheesy only a dad who's trying to be funny would make such a joke. That's it. They are stupid plays on words, lame puns and so on. There has to be a clever pun or wordplay for it to be considered a dad joke.

Again, to all the fellow dads, I apologise if I'm sounding too harsh. But I just needed to get it off my chest.

Housekeeping:

• HOW TO SUPPORT: I know we are all facing unprecedented financial hardships right now. If you are in the position to support my work, I have a patreon, venmo, and a paypal set up. No pressure though, I will keep posting these pieces publicly no matter what - paywalls suck.

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#The narrative

Republicans made a spectacle of a judicial nominee hearing on Wednesday by pushing their anti-transgender agenda using an unverified, months-old story. Current Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Holly Thomas, nominated to serve on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, has a strong civil rights background and support of prominent organizations like the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF) and the Alliance for Justice. She worked as an assistant counsel at the LDF for five years, spent another five years as an appellate attorney in the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, a year as special counsel to the Solicitor General of New York, and two years at the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. If confirmed, she’d be the second black woman to ever serve on the Ninth Circuit.

Despite her extensive expertise, GOP lawmakers focused on the unfounded threat of transgender individuals using bathrooms that are consistent with their gender identity. Their evidence for this threat is a months-old, misreported incident in Loudoun County, Virginia, that rightwing media hopes to use to energize the Republican base in the state’s governor’s race.

The narrative, as originally told by the Daily Wire (archived version), goes like this: A male in a skirt entered a girls’ bathroom in a trans-inclusive high school on May 28 and sexually assaulted a female student. The right-wing media sphere quickly spread the story, warning that “Assaults like these are the natural result of transgender bathroom policies” (archived version).

As anyone with basic media literacy can tell, however, the outlets in question spun the story to fit their own agenda.

The nurse asked the rabbit, “what is your blood type?”

“I am probably a type O” said the rabbit.

The doctor says it terminal.

Alot of great jokes get posted here! However just because you have a joke, doesn't mean it's a dad joke.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT NSFW, THIS IS ABOUT LONG JOKES, BLONDE JOKES, SEXUAL JOKES, KNOCK KNOCK JOKES, POLITICAL JOKES, ETC BEING POSTED IN A DAD JOKE SUB

Try telling these sexual jokes that get posted here, to your kid and see how your spouse likes it.. if that goes well, Try telling one of your friends kid about your sex life being like Coca cola, first it was normal, than light and now zero , and see if the parents are OK with you telling their kid the "dad joke"

I'm not even referencing the NSFW, I'm saying Dad jokes are corny, and sometimes painful, not sexual

So check out r/jokes for all types of jokes

r/unclejokes for dirty jokes

r/3amjokes for real weird and alot of OC

r/cleandadjokes If your really sick of seeing not dad jokes in r/dadjokes

Punchline !

Edit: this is not a post about NSFW , This is about jokes, knock knock jokes, blonde jokes, political jokes etc being posted in a dad joke sub

Edit 2: don't touch the thermostat

Does anyone else feel like health professionals and aged care staff are a little too inclined to state that a resident is 'confused' and/or doesn't have capacity?

My grandpa has had essential tremors his whole life and ever since he became visibly older people have treated him as if he has dementia as a consequence of Parkinsons. Which I feel is fair enough if you don't know him but it should be on the damned medical records for health professionals to take note of, yet no one ever does.

It's even worse now that he has lung failure and has to take a few breaths every sentence and sometimes forgets what he was talking about. I'm in my 20's and I'm sure the same would happen to me and my peers!

Health professionals and general staff are always trying to rush him too which doesn't help. Especially since he also has nerve damage under his arm and is often cringing in pain which doesn't help his communication. I don't think they even have that on his record either since the aged care assessment wrote that he reported 'back pain'.

This has become a major issue after a staff member from the nursing home told a bank worker that he was confused when my grandma was trying to open a new account in his name as EPOA to put his pension in. It took 4 hours of calling my grandpa (who isn't mobile), the solicitor, and the aged care team that assessed him for capacity to decide to go from hospital to the nursing home. Just to open a damned bank account so that my grandma can keep a separate statement for his care.

I've tried to make an appointment with top level staff at the home about it but now it's in lockdown and everything is a mess.

So I guess I'm just venting and sort of wondering if it's just a comedy of errors or if it's something we should all be on the lookout for. I really don't want his capacity and wishes to go ignored even though he has a medical and financial power of attorney in my grandma. But if it were just my grandma caring for him I don't think she would think to advocate for him in this sort of issue.

Do your worst!

How the hell am I suppose to know when it’s raining in Sweden?

Mathematical puns makes me number

We told her she can lean on us for support. Although, we are going to have to change her driver's license, her height is going down by a foot. I don't want to go too far out on a limb here but it better not be a hack job.

Solicitor General is to the Supreme Court, and Federal District Prosecutors are to the Federal District Courts as Who is to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit? Is it like the other Circuit courts that don’t have an assigned federal advocate?