Archives: BPTC

Useful Links for all things BPTC, BCAT and the Inns of Court

Considering a career at the Bar? Confused about the BCAT? Not sure what the Inns of Court do?

Then check out the collated list of useful links below.  I have blog posts on most of these things. However, this blog post gives you a handy guide to all of the useful links!

BCAT

https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/qualifying-as-a-barrister/current-requirements/bar-professional-training-course/bar-course-aptitude-test/

FAQs https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/media/1721499/bcat_faq.pdf

Handbook https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/media/1630869/bcat_handbook.pdf

Bar Standards Board

https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/

BarSAS

https://www.barsas.com/

How to apply for the BPTC – https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/qualifying-as-a-barrister/current-requirements/bar-professional-training-course/how-to-apply-for-the-bptc/

BPTC

https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/qualifying-as-a-barrister/current-requirements/bar-professional-training-course/

BPTC Handbook 2017-2018 https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/media/1846141/bptc_handbook_v2.pdf

BPTC FAQ’s https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/qualifying-as-a-barrister/current-requirements/bar-professional-training-course/bptc-frequently-asked-questions/

BPTC List of Providers https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/qualifying-as-a-barrister/current-requirements/bar-professional-training-course/bptc-providers/

Inns of Court

Middle Temple – https://www.middletemple.org.uk/

Inner Temple – https://www.innertemple.org.uk/

Lincoln’s Inn – https://www.lincolnsinn.org.uk/

Gray’s Inn – https://www.graysinn.org.uk/

On each of the above websites (the Inn’s) you can find out information about becoming a member, events, Qualifying Sessions, routes to the Bar and much more).

Other Useful Information

Joining an Inn – https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/qualifying-as-a-barrister/current-requirements/bar-professional-training-course/how-to-apply-for-the-bptc/joining-an-inn/

English Language Requirement – https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/qualifying-as-a-barrister/current-requirements/bar-professional-training-course/how-to-apply-for-the-bptc/english-language-requirement/

If you have any specific questions about studying the BPTC or which Inn to join then send me an email using the contact me page! (link opens in new tab for you!)

Rebecca x

Are you coming to the Annual Bar and Young Bar Conference 2016?

I am so excited to be heading back to the Annual Bar and Young Bar Conference 2016 in a few weeks time.  I had a great time last year, the sessions were really good, the exhibition was great and I got to meet some old friends and make some new ones.

Details

Saturday 15th October 2016 at the Westminster Park Plaza, London.

prices

There were early bird prices for quite some time but I am not sure if they still apply.  They might possibly still apply for students but not lawyers.  Check this out online though. (Click the image below to be taken straight to the page for all the necessary information).

So, are you coming to the Annual Bar and Young Bar Conference?

If you haven’t booked a ticket yet or are considering whether you should attend then maybe check out some of my old blog posts about it from last year.

I met with lots of barristers and pupils whilst at the conference, and had some amazing conversations – so I definitely recommend it to barristers.

I would highly recommend students attending (whether you are LLB, GDL, LLM, BPTC), I personally had a great day, and I attended the sessions most suited to me, and they weren’t all the Young Bar related ones.

Click on the link below to be taken to the page where you can find costs and more information, including the sessions that are running.

Bar Council Annual Bar Conference

I am going to be tweeting all of my conference notes and general engagement tweets during the day (I don’t make notes any more at conferences I just tweet them all), so I am sorry if you get a bombardment of tweets from me on the 15th October.

If you are attending drop me a tweet, my twitter is @lawyer_inmaking (You can follow me by clicking here) and we can say hi etc.

I am really excited to be attending the Annual Bar Conference and Young Bar Conference and really hope it is going to be as good as last year was!

Rebecca x

*  Note this is not a sponsored post!

Update – June 2016

This weekend I decided to sit and write my June update for you all.  So much has happened over the last 6 months, and even the last month and I wanted to share as much as I could of that with you.

I have been travelling a lot, speaking at events for lawyers and law students on social media and blogging, and the benefits of these.  I have been running lots of training sessions on these topics as well, as well as writing lots of content for law firms, whether that is blog content or website content.

The last few months I have also been writing social media strategies, content strategies and also speaking on panels.  As well as managing a couple of social media platforms.

I have also been helping lawyers, law firms and law students with their LinkedIn profiles and company pages.  I have been creating reports containing ways to improve your engagement as an individual or company.  I have been rewriting summaries, and also company pages, and showcase pages.  I absolutely love helping lawyers with improving their LinkedIn pages both individually and their company profiles.  LinkedIn is a great resource for sharing news and updates, making connections, potentially finding jobs, and lots more!

Read my full update here.

I have also travelled a lot as mentioned above and there will be the odd blog post going out about my travels, such as must sees in various locations, and some of my business travel tips.  Don’t worry though, this blog won’t be turning into too much of a lifestyle blog, just sharing the odd insight in between my law related posts.   Places I have been to for work so far this year: The Hague, Berlin and Barcelona.  Places I am going to this year: Hong Kong, Melbourne, Boston and Washington DC.

By way of a random update can you believe that it is exactly a year ago since I spent 3 weeks exploring the west coast of America.  I had an amazing time and will try and reshare some links to posts and photos over the coming weeks, especially the amazing law related things I got up to, such as The California Women’s Law Center – Pursuit of Justice Awards, Alcatraz, visiting Santa Barbara Courthouse to name a few.

Don’t forget to hit the subscribe button so that you never miss a newsletter or important update.  I have a big update coming this week which I am extremely excited to share with you all.

Let me know if there is anything else you would like to know about the work I do.. how I run the sessions? locations? Costs?

Rebecca x

Why everyone needs to take some time out?

Time out is crucial, whether you are a student, parent, company owner, employee etc.

I am very conscious that I spend a considerable amount of time working, blogging and studying, and this is something I have done for many many years.  However, since running my own company it is so easy to get into the habit of working 24/7.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not moaning about that, I love my job and I love working and being able to work to my own schedule, but sometimes it takes over.

I am someone that finds it very hard to switch off, and stop working.  I am that girl that will respond to emails late at night sometimes and will get into a full blown conversation with clients, I am the girl that will be writing content for clients on a Saturday and Sunday – and once again, that is my choice and the reality of working and I am fine with that, and the geek inside me actually loves it.

I love my job, and I love what I do, and the ability to work when I like (which seems to be most of the time!).  I am also aware that this is the same for most people, whether they are employed or self-employed, it is just a matter of fact and whilst I am not complaining about working long hours (it was my choice, and it still is) it really is important to take some time out.

I have always been a hard worker and that won’t change, and whilst I am happy with my working patterns, I don’t mind working late nights and weekends, every once in a while it is great to switch off and have a proper weekend to yourself.  Not even a weekend, even just a day or an evening, where you can put the phone away, the laptop (or in my case my Mac), disable emails if you need to do so, and just be you.

Do the things you enjoy doing, catching up on boxsets, going out for dinner, having people over, have a duvet evening, run a bath, do nothing, – do whatever it is that makes you you, and make sure the focus is on you and not your work or job.

I am strong believer in taking some time out, and whilst I am not very good at doing that myself, whenever I do, I am always so much more productive for it.  It never impacts negatively on my work, and very often I come away with some new ideas as well!

It is far better to take 1 day, 1 evening or a weekend out a month, where you say no to work, you put everything work related to one side and just switch off.   So often you see people reach that burn out point, where they are over worked, stressed, unhappy, tired and that impacts on home life as well as work life.  Wouldn’t it be better if we didn’t let ourselves get to that point, where our bodies are forcing us to take a break?

Schedule in some time if you need to, where you can be you, do the things you love, and not feel guilty that you are not working!  I am going to be making a conscious effort to do this more often.

I will also be sharing some of my top tips and some of things I do to switch off so keep an eye out for that soon.

Rebecca x

Motive

So for those of you that know me well, you know I love a boxset! I don’t get much time to watch TV or boxsets but very occasionally I try and catch up on programmes or the DVDs I have saved or bought.

For the first time in months, I have got into bed on a Friday night and put a new boxset on.  I bought it at Christmas from Amazon and I am excited to start watching it – it is crime related hence why it has made it onto my blog!

I am loving being in bed, with a boxset on – it is definitely one of my happy places! It is something I have done ever since I was about 15/16 and when I got into boxsets whilst I was recovering from Glandular Fever.

So what am I watching tonight?

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Well…. I am watching Motive..(Season 1) it looks amazing from the bio, the cover is also pretty good and I like the fact it was written by the same person that wrote Dexter and The Mentalist! They are two programmes I loved watching and the fact they are displayed on the front cover hopefully means good things!

I will write a quick update tomorrow morning on how it started and if I recommend it! But in the meantime feel free to click any of the links to see if it might be something you like, but the bio says “Feisty female homicide detective, Angie Flynn, matches wits with killers in this deadly, cerebral game of cat-and-mouse. Her team, with the help of the Coroner’s Office, must find their way through twisted, complicated and at times diabolical mazes on a quest to analyse the evidence and ultimately, to discover… the motive. Includes 13 gripping episodes from season one.” 

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I will share my thoughts tomorrow morning! If it is any good, it might be a long night.

Rebecca x