,
17 tweets,
9 min read
Read on Twitter
Good evening students of @klshour! Thank you for having me on those shiny big screens. I'll be answering questions from 6pm. Just throw in the hashtag #KLSSecret and I'll do my best to offer whatever the opposite of wisdom is.
@klshour Righty. While I await live questions, I'll kick off by responding to some that have been submitted in advance. The first question is "How will Brexit affect family law?" Now, I'm going to disappoint you straight off, here... #KLSSecret
@klshour Not being a family law practitioner, I'm afraid I can't even attempt to make you any more enlightened. I haven't the foggiest. Sorry.
Right. Let's hope that I can do better with question 2.
"What do I need to do to become a commercial lawyer?"
Righty... #KLSSecret
Right. Let's hope that I can do better with question 2.
"What do I need to do to become a commercial lawyer?"
Righty... #KLSSecret
@klshour I can answer this one! The answer is commercial or chancery law. Basically the thing in the last question that I can't tell you how to do. That's where the money is, if that's what matters to you. FWIW, I hear it's not as fun as the low paid stuff.
@klshour Hi Shay. Good question. Do something in your spare time that interests you. It does not - repeat *NOT* - have to be law-related. Everybody who applies for legal jobs has done debating, mooting, public speaking etc. That's a given. Do something you enjoy...
...as when you're interviewed for training contracts or pupillage, your prospective colleagues will want to know that you're someone they will enjoy spending their working lives with. An intriguing hobby or interest will stand you out when interviewers are discussing candidates.
Another good one. It's tricky. I'm not gonna lie. And there are different views. Mine - for what little it is worth - is that it's better to get a 2:1 and actually enjoy your uni experience than spend 3 years in an isolation hole striving for a 1st.
Yes. Absolutely. There are lots of problems with the magistracy, not least how unrepresentative it is of the general population. If you think you have a perspective or life experience that would enrich a stale and pale institution, I'd urge you to apply.
Do not - and I cannot emphasise this enough - do NOT kneecap, poison, dismember or otherwise take out your "competition".
If, however, you disregard this advice and find yourself in need of defence representation, hit me up in my DMs.
If, however, you disregard this advice and find yourself in need of defence representation, hit me up in my DMs.
Hi Dale. As a mature student, you have one enormous advantage over most law grads - life experience. Highlight it. Show prospective employers what you know, outside of academia, that others may not; the experiences you've had and the things you've learned.
It depends. The Court of Appeal's definition is far narrower than mine. I tend to be of the view that a wrongful conviction is a pretty substantial injustice. But the CoA has been content to let obviously wrong convictions stand through its application...
...of this principle, which arises in appeals involving so-called "change of law" (where the CoA rules that it has previously been wrong about how the law should be interpreted). This case analysis by @Barristerblog shows how wrong the CoA approach can be: barristerblogger.com/2017/01/24/cou…
@Barristerblog I do, yes. I've written about this before here, which sets out my reasons in more detail than I can in 280 characters. It's a thorny subject, so probably best dealt with long-form than on Twitter. thesecretbarrister.com/2016/01/26/ano…
@Barristerblog Yes. Batman's utility belt alone renders him guilty of an offence of having an offensive weapon in a public place contrary to section 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 every time he leaves the house. Or Batcave. Whatever. The man's a crime wave.
@Barristerblog "Can a barrister have two significantly different areas of expertise, such as family and criminal law, or does it have to be one or the other?"
While many (like me) specialise in one area, many barristers have more than one specialism. "Common law" chambers actively encourage it
While many (like me) specialise in one area, many barristers have more than one specialism. "Common law" chambers actively encourage it
@Barristerblog I think there's a danger in deciding too early on one area of law. Many people stumble upon their passion by accident. If you're able to, explore as much of the law as you can before deciding to commit to a certain specialism.
@Barristerblog I'm going to start a new thread for the second half of the session, as I've managed to tag poor @Barristerblog into all of this and have no idea how to remove him. Sorry Matthew.
