"The interview panel has not recommended that you receive a scholarship." This time last week I'd just returned to the North East after a whirlwind couple of days in London. In 36 hours I'd travelled 600 miles, fought several battles with the Underground, watched my first ever West End show and made it through an intense scholarship interview at Gray's Inn. I didn't know for sure when I would find out whether I'd been successful or not, but results have been published on the Wednesday following interviews for the last three years, so I suspected that today might be the day. Dozens of people around the country will have opened an email from Gray's this morning offering them a scholarship, and that news will quickly make its way onto social media, LinkedIn included. If you're reading this and you're one of the lucky ones, congratulations, a scholarship from an Inn of Court is a huge achievement and you should be extremely proud. If, like me, you have been unsuccessful, I just want to say that you're not alone and ask that you keep going. I'm fairly new to LinkedIn, and the success stories on here are truly inspiring, but I think it's important to also share updates when we've been brave enough to try something new, even when it doesn't work out. We don't always get the job, the scholarship, the training contract and that's ok. I'm a 30-something former court reporter who decided last summer that she wanted to become a barrister. Fast forward nine months and here I am, a fully fledged PgDL student getting rejection emails from an Inn of Court. I'm proud of myself for throwing my name into the hat and giving it my best shot. I went to London with no expectations, but I did have hope and I still do. It's early days for me on my legal journey, and I've been warned time and time again about how difficult it is to get into the profession, but today's result won't deter me and if you've received a rejection recently, I hope it doesn't deter you either.
Tabitha Buck
4mo
Went to a scholarship interview and was thrown a curve ball when they asked me what my favourite book was and why? Tried to rack my brain for an alternative since the last book I read was fifty shades of grey and fumbled through an answer. Didn’t get the scholarship. Determination was not swayed and persisted my way through the BPTC and the gruelling pupillage rejections. Now in practice at a top Chambers on the NE circuit. My advice keep going and show your grit and determination.
Anna Morris KC
4mo
Keep going. I wasn’t successful in my scholarship application either, I was told in my interview that I was ‘naive’ and would ‘never make a career’ out of focusing on representing vulnerable people. Glad to be able to prove them wrong. You’ll get there. I had to change plans and work for longer before to be able to afford the step to the Bar but don’t give up.
Tanya Beck
4mo
Keep going!!!! What did you see in the West End? I love London 🙌🏼
Maria Beardsley
4mo
Appreciate this post, as do so many I’m sure, who have also received rejections this year. After enduring the Inn scholarship interview, just this once, you are forever changed and ready for the next one to come. This is not the end. I have also just finished my first time interviewing for an Inn Scholarship. When I walked out I thought to myself, I likely won’t be chosen, however, I feel more ready than ever to prepare for it next time around. Stay strong and stay focused— you got this!
Nicola C.
4mo
You inspire me every single day to be more. For my family but more importantly for myself. You are laser-focused, meticulous, driven and an utterly sensational human being. Proud to know you and cheering you on every step of the way 👏👏👏
Lydia Pearce
3mo
Hi Stacey, I was rejected for a bar course scholarship. I went back the next year and got it, message me if you want to chat (Northern criminal barrister)
Andy Lowe
4mo
Credit to you for posting this Stacey, a humbling story. In all honesty, LinkedIn can become mighty tedious sometimes when all you seem to see and read is one success story after another. They say there's no such thing as failure, only feedback. We've all had our fair share of it, some more than others, and to be honest it takes a lot of guts to publicise and share it. When one door closes, another one opens - I'm sure something good will come your way soon. Keep at it.
So glad that you haven’t let this deter you, Stacey. I didn’t get an inn scholarship and was advised that “without an inn scholarship, there is no point doing the Bar course or applying for pupillage.” I’m so glad that I didn’t listen and kept going. Feel free to DM me if you want to chat about the alternative options for funding the course. Wishing you all the best on your journey!
PhD law scholarship from ESRC - researching the legal and human rights framework relating to learning-disabled and autistic children and young people in Wales. Member of the Governance and Human Rights Research Group
3mo7 years go I made a similar journey to Inner Temple for a scholarship interview as a mother of a learning disabled child, who just wanted to change career and try to make a difference. The process was intense and unless you’ve been through it as we have, you just can’t explain to other people what it’s like to go through it. I didn’t get it and I wasn’t deterred - I went on to complete the Graduate Diploma in Law which led me into the LPC and an LLM. I volunteered through my studies on pro bono projects and some paid work on the infected blood inquiry too all helped to boost my c.v. I then applied for an ESRC scholarship to do a PhD in Law and was successful and I’m now half way through. I love that despite juggling my life with my three children and all the many problems we face with my eldest child, I can take hope in the work I’m doing that I might be able to make a difference in the world for him and others like him. The Inner Temple scholarship rejection made me more determined like it has made you more determined. You will carve out a path for yourself now - you may not even end up exactly where you thought you would at the start like me, but in the end you’ll be exactly where you should be. Good luck!