That’s it then. I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet.
Three lots of results to wait for – one in June, two in July.
After the Advanced Crime exam, I had a walk up to Ede and Ravenscroft and looked in the window. I will need to buy a shirt and bands for Call, but I’m not going to tempt fate and purchase them just yet. No harm in looking though.
The emotions were running a little high last week and on the train back home best friend rang and I’m ashamed to say that I sobbed. Not really sure why, but probably something to do with being tired. It was very embarrassing and I sat dabbing away tears and pretending to sneeze so that it looked like I had hay fever – I don’t think anyone on the crowded 5.30 was fooled!
Best wishes to everyone who has finished, or is about to finish BVC.
I wonder if we'll get any pupillage interviews?
14 comments:
My Dear BM,
VERY WELL DONE!! You have ridden the emotional rollercoaster of the BVC and not only survived, but triumphed!
It is a strange feeling, finishing; you feel a bit spent and a bit at a loss as to what happens next, beyond call, that is. I have no doubt that interviews, and other good things, will soon come your way!
PS: tip: for call, rather than buy a shirt and bands buy a bib/collarette; its a false front that fits comfortably over the upper chest and neck ( by virtue of a bit of velcro) they are quite pretty, and a fraction of the price! ( it also means that, if you are being called in sweltering weather, you can get away with a scoop necked tee shirt under your jacket and no one is any the wiser!)
BM, I am sorry to hear that you broke down in tears, but I have a feeling that I know why.
It wasn't the pressure, or the releif. Not the end of the course, not missing your class mates, or those wonderful lecturers at BPP.
It was the thought of all that DIY you can no longer put off, and that front door that needs painting/varnishing.
For call I will be wearing a bib. Anything that catches my dinner from spoiling my shirt is good with me. Not sure I will wear a low slung t-shirt beneath, but maybe I will just for a laugh.
Swiss
PS, Well done, and as soon as I finish at CofL you won't have my homework to do either
Minxy - I don't remember feeling like this when finishing LLB, I guess it's because BVC is more of a roller coaster and much more 'personal'.
I've seen the collarettes on the net and wondered if they look ok?
As ever Minxy, your words of support are much appreciated.
Swizz - The thought of DIY makes me want to re-do BVC. Front door is being ignored. And as for the garden!
You'll be finished at CoL before you know it and will be too busy with pupilage interviews to bother with any domestic chores. God luck on the very last little bit, than seems a slog, but is over in the blink of an eye.
Nah, don't go for the collarette thingy. Bar totty look better in the collar and bands. Just saying, like. How's the swooshing practice coming along. Probably best not to practise in the garden; your neighbours will think you have finally flipped.
Swizzle, I'd recommend the plastic bib with a tray at the bottom. Nifty for catching the stray sausage and mash when young Swiss decides he won't be opening his mouth wide enough for the choo-choo to enter the tunnel.
Swooshing practice is coming along well BB. I'm currently doing the long stride, followed by the dramatic turn, accompanied by an arrogant toss of the head - bloody wig keeps flying off, so have had to tie it with a bit of string under my chin - don't think it spoils the overall effect too much:-)
Is it just me or has no-one got their Ethics results yet?
Anon - I haven't received my PE results either. The waiting is unpleasant!
I know there's nothing I can do to change the result, but I just want to know! Hopefully we will get something today, but I can't believe there's no information as to when they will be arriving.
Barmaid, thank you so much for sharing your story with us, especially those who are toying with the idea of starting the BVC/BPTC. Congratulations to you on making it over the hump!!
Overall, would you say it was worth its weight in gold? That is, to study at BPP? I'm trying to decide between there, CoL and Nottingham, but after reading your blog, I'm not quite sure anymore!
Hello LSB - After writing my blog, I'm not sure anymore:-)
I can only speak from my own experience, as a BPP part-timer. BVC is a very strange course - unpredictable and very frustrating at times. One thing I can say, BPP know how to dish the work out, there's loads of it. As far I'm aware CoL do less work, not sure about Nottingham, have heard mixed reports.
I suppose my answer is this:
If I went back 2 years and had to choose a provider again, I'd probably choose BPP. In the long run it doesn't make that much difference. The 3 providers that you mention are all well established. Perhaps if you want a provincial tenancy, you might be better opting for Notts (and the cost of living will be cheaper too); however, if you want to work in London, I'd opt for a London provider - you will make valuable contacts through the people you meet during BVC and if you intend to seek pupillage in London, you'll be better off studying there.
As you mention Nottingham, I assume that you will be full time? You need to look at what's available outside of law school with regard to pro bono opportunities. There's plenty in London, but I'm not sure about Notts. Pro bono is equally, if not more important than choice of provider. When it comes to applying for pupillage, some decent pro bono can make all the difference to an otherwise run of the mill CV.
Hope this helps and good luck:-)
Thank you, barmaid! I'm actually an international student and intend on completing my pupillage overseas. I'm just trying to decide which institute offers the best vocational training based on academics, approach to teaching, student activities, etc. BPP seems quite rigid in its approach to teaching and I don't quite fancy the closed book approach. It seems like lots of the material is force-fed and the atmosphere rather cutthroat. That said, I appreciate your feedback and this blog as it really shows how fantastic their teaching.
I think I've narrowed down my choices to BPP (Leeds) and Nottingham, with City a close third.
But enough about me and my plans. I'm just glad to see you've got this far and I'm certain you'll make a great barrister! Please don't stop blogging after your call! Good luck, Barmaid (even though I don't think you need it!)
(((BIGHUG)))
P.S. I know you're a tennis fan! Hope you don't miss the Nadal-Soderling and Schiavone-Stosur matches this weekend!
LSB - it's difficult for me to comment on the atmosphere at BPP, as I think it's completely different for part-timers. Most of us were/are down to earth and there isn't the cut-throat mind set that you speak of. My time at BPP was mostly during weekends, so I had very little contact with the full-timers, but do understand what you are saying:-)
Seeing as you are an international student (to which I presume the pro bono stuff doesn't matter), I can only offer the following advice, which is little more than gossip:
Leeds BPP have a higher failure BVC rate than Holborn, but Leeds is a very popular and vibrant city, so this will be important if you place emphasis on having a good time, as well as/instead of studying;
Nottingham is a smaller city, quite a nice place imo, and (apparently) the BVC at Notts is structured quite differently to BPP. Have heard mixed reports about their BVC, so cannot offer anything definite.
I think City as a close third is probably about right - I'll say no more.
Perhaps one or two students will chip in with their personal knowledge of Leeds and Notts?
I am at City, part time, but I have met some of the full timers too. There are a *lot* of international students at City. I don't know how it compares to the other providers, but they seem to be a very switched on about some things related to international students.
City is a university, as is Nottingham. BPP is a professional education provider. The universities have things like sports clubs, a wider range of student societies and pastoral support. Most BVC students don't make use of any/all of these things, but they're there if you want them.
City University also has halls of residence. BPP, to my knowledge, does not. I would think that arriving to guaranteed accommodation is a big advantage for an international student.
My understanding is that BPP pushes its students a *lot* harder than City or College of Law. I don't know as much about the out of London providers. The pushiness is a good thing (you work harder and maybe get more out of it) and bad (sometimes they seem to make things harder just to show they're pushing students, not because students gain out of it).
The best example of the latter is multiple choice tests. City gives you two multiple choice tests, one civil and one criminal. You learn the civil rules, take the civil test and then forget it. Then you learn the criminal rules and take the criminal test. At BPP both tests are combined. So not only do you have to learn the civil rules and the criminal rules, you have to keep both in your mind at the same time. Surely in practice you'd mainly deal with one or the other. So this feels to me like being-difficult-for-the-sake-of-it rather than being difficult to help students learn more.
The biggest downside for me about City has been the library hours. The main uni library has pretty good opening hours, but the law school library, which has the paper texts you'll need, is much more limited. Particularly at weekends. My experience of BPP (London, not Leeds) was that the library hours were much better.
For anyone with no work or family commitments, and no geographical limitations, I would look at Nottingham. A nice location and the school has a good rep. At Inn functions, the Nottingham students always impress and, moreover, have that rare quality of being the only students that will sing the praises of their provider without being sarcastic.
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