barrister

yekrab

open to discussion on barristers,

quality of life;
outlook on life;
personality;
personal qualities.

partyguinness

The younger ones/newly qualified are a bit up their own arses and have a fantastic sense of self importance.

Can be very naive because they qualify younger and are detached from the real world...not as cynical or hard nosed as solicitors.

Any barristers here?

Nice people generally..:)

McCrack

partyguinness I'm not on the bar side but come on now I dont think that comment is fair. Any devils or newly qualifieds I've had business with have been fine and certainly not as you describe. I find the younger barristers to be very friendly, in no way aloof or have any sense of inflated self-importance and are keen (presumably to get repeat business).

Maybe it's only the ones I've met..but I certainly cant generalise the couple of thousand (I dont know the nos. of practicing barristers) young members of the Law Library the way you have.

Tom Young

I'm at the Library and I can say that the vast majority of younger Barristers are actually most collegiate and helpful, regardless of who you are. In every intake there are always a few who might come across the wrong way.

If I was to address the OP's discussion point:

Here goes:-

Quality of life: Excellent, hard work at the beginning, social and potentially profitable.

Outlook on life: Most are driven, hard workers, highly optimistic, congenial, collegiate and fun.

Personality: Open minded, Highly Motivated, Outgoing, Confident, Tenacious, Voracious, Detailed, Clear, Sociable and Accurate.

Personal qualities: Confident, Able to speak clearly, Clean, Being as thorough as possible, Strategic and Tactical, Broadminded and Problem solvers.

There are a myriad of skills which make a good advocate, it's not all about oration.

I've noticed a few things: 1. The adrenaline rush of being on ones feet in a case; 2. The satisfaction of winning a case; 3. The requirement to pick yourself up and move on if you loose or get a (inevitable) blasting from a judge or senior; 4. Manners are a fundamental part of the Bar - Forget them and forget it (manners to colleagues, Judges, clients, the public); 5. Colleagues are always willing to help, regardless of the issue, if they can't they know someone who can; and 6. Sometimes saying less, but clearly gets you what you want - brevity and clarity are talents I wish more had!

Tom

Lawstud

Tom Young wrote: »

I'm at the Library and I can say that the vast majority of younger Barristers are actually most collegiate and helpful, regardless of who you are. In every intake there are always a few who might come across the wrong way.

If I was to address the OP's discussion point:

Here goes:-

Quality of life: Excellent, hard work at the beginning, social and potentially profitable.

Outlook on life: Most are driven, hard workers, highly optimistic, congenial, collegiate and fun.

Personality: Open minded, Highly Motivated, Outgoing, Confident, Tenacious, Voracious, Detailed, Clear, Sociable and Accurate.

Personal qualities: Confident, Able to speak clearly, Clean, Being as thorough as possible, Strategic and Tactical, Broadminded and Problem solvers.

There are a myriad of skills which make a good advocate, it's not all about oration.

I've noticed a few things: 1. The adrenaline rush of being on ones feet in a case; 2. The satisfaction of winning a case; 3. The requirement to pick yourself up and move on if you loose or get a (inevitable) blasting from a judge or senior; 4. Manners are a fundamental part of the Bar - Forget them and forget it (manners to colleagues, Judges, clients, the public); 5. Colleagues are always willing to help, regardless of the issue, if they can't they know someone who can; and 6. Sometimes saying less, but clearly gets you what you want - brevity and clarity are talents I wish more had!

Tom

Indeed, not a whiff of self importance???;)

Tom Young

No, not really. Just being honest. I'd not place myself in too many of the above categories. I just think that they fit!

yekrab

tom, good answer, good answer.


got some more questions for u:

1) are you a barrister; if so
what did you think of the bar exam?
2) why be a barrister in general?
3) why do law?

Tom Young

tom 'the moderator who can kick you out' young

- Are you seeking to be kicked out? I can do that. Was it necessary or relevant for you to tag this message in this fashion?

I don't believe so.

I have got some more questions for you: [edited crappy typing.]

1) Are you a barrister;

Answer: Yes.

What did you think of the bar exam?

Answer: The Bar exam was relatively alright ok. The toughest part was the five days of exams in a row. Generally similar but not identical to the FE1's (possibly easier), but then again some papers were totally different in focus, content and structure.

2) Why be a barrister in general?

Answer: Because I like: litigation, problem solving, negotiation, advocacy and conflict resolution. And I love Law.

3) Why do law?

Answer: I can't answer this question for you. I have one primary degree, and a masters from unconnected disciplines. My answer might be in answer 2 above.

yekrab

sorry Tom forgot you were a big man. this is just for u

http://www.lawlibrary.ie/members/results.asp?letter=Y

partyguinness

Ha ha Tom, the rose tinted view must be spectacular.;)

What about the poverty for the first years?

Rubbish wages or lack thereof at the start?

The extra work they have to do just to make ends meet? Tutoring, lecturing, setting up grind schools?

Significant no. of newly qualifieds on the dole and completely dissillusioned?

Too many at the bottom starting out and not enough work?

Solicitors engaging barristers less and less by conducting their own applications?

Surely you should address the difficulties that the newly qualified face?

Tom Young

I was taking it that we all knew those issues. I was answering the questions directly and as put.

What about the poverty for the first years?

It's abject, and it's hard and everyone is on notice of it.

Rubbish wages or lack thereof at the start?

As above.

The extra work they have to do just to make ends meet? Tutoring, lecturing, setting up grind schools?

Yes, I am also doing extra work and alot thereof.

Significant no. of newly qualifieds on the dole and completely dissillusioned?

They should not be on the dole, dissillusioned is not my problem. Everyone is on notice of the situation down at the Bar.

Too many at the bottom starting out and not enough work?

Survival of the fittest. Yes, I agree.

Solicitors engaging barristers less and less by conducting their own applications?

Solicitors always have had audience in the Superior Courts. I have no particular problem with this.

Surely you should address the difficulties that the newly qualified face?

I wasn't asked. There are a pile of pre-existing threads on this.

Tom

partyguinness

Oh no I agree. Not trying to bait you.

They were the questions as put down. What do you think the future holds? Will the branches merge? Are there too many qualifiying?

Tom Young

Barristers should be about the law, solicitors more focussed on the facts with the law.

Not so many coming in, in the next few years.

No problem, I know you weren't baiting. I was addressing your points as best I could.

Fusion here wouldn't work, also as the market is too small - my view.

The UK is a bloody mess with respect to this.

Tom

Dliodoir

Tom Young wrote: »

Fusion here wouldn't work, also as the market is too small - my view.

The UK is a bloody mess with respect to this.

Tom

How so? My understanding (having given the UK system a lot of research) is that the solicitor advocate thing hasn't really taken off so much, there is very much still a clear division between solicitors and the self-employed Bar. And I certainly prefer the way the Bar is organised over there...I would die of happiness if I got into a UK chambers, that's my ultimate goal...

PS what point is that yakreb dude attempting to make ?

hullaballoo

yekrab wrote: »

sorry Tom forgot you were a big man. this is just for u

http://www.lawlibrary.ie/members/results.asp?letter=Y

I find your affrontery downright inappropriate. It's clearly stated in the forum charter that you should take any issues with moderators to PM or the Feedback forum. For this post and also your post here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=58886971&postcount=38, you can sit out posting on this forum for five days.

@everyone else - remember not to feed the trolls.

Planxty

hullaballoo wrote: »

affrontery

EFFRONTERY