The Big Picture
(or the best laid plans of mice and men...etc)
What I would like this to be is a step-by-step guide to the biggest adventure of my life. I hope then that future generations of students can take my thoughts/actions and be inspired by them to reach and attain their dreams.
What I have a feeling that this will become is a place where I can rant and let loose my frustrations and inhibitions in a rather impotent style...
In just over a months time I will begin my Legal Practice Course (LPC). For those not acquainted with law in England and Wales, this is one of the necessary steps to becoming a solicitor. The pathway generally runs;
And that's where the seeds of the adventure begin. Perceptive people will realise that this makes me just a weeny bit older than the vast majority of prospective LPC students. Most students on the course will have graduated this year from their respective universities-making them 21 or 22-I will be 42 (and look it...) and have serious doubts about;
In nothing useful of course but I do have it in abundance.
At this stage I'll give a little bit more background. Up until a few years back I'd never been motivated/inspired to have a career. I drifted into university then drifted out, spent a fair whack of time unemployed before falling into retail work. At various times, I've worked in very small (1 man) organisations and for flagship stores in national chains. At no stage did I ever feel that this was the career for me.
Then whilst working for WH Smiths I got involved in (at least for me) a slightly scary incident. I was dragged before an internal tribunal on a misconduct charge. The charge was no more than a malicious fabrication made by a work colleague with a grudge but the effects could have been far reaching. At the worst I could have been dismissed on the say-so of this witness.
Luckily I was friendly with an ex-barrister who had worked in local and national government and when I explained the situation to him he was horrified. Not for me in particular but for what he saw as an abuse of 'natural justice'.
In essence, I was alleged to have made a remark about the same member of management who would be hearing the case and deciding the verdict/punishment. This he saw as an abuse of power (nemo index in sua causa-no man shall be a judge in his own cause) and contrary to all of the principles of the 'Rule of Law'. These are simple ideas that should be adhered to so that every decision made by a figure in authority over another can be seen to be fair and just.
I listened closely to what he said. It was very interesting and made a lot of sense.
When the time came for my hearing, I was prepared and confident. With simple, honest and well reasoned arguments the case fell apart. This was aided considerably by the no-show of the only witness! How convenient that she became sick at just the week that the hearing was due...
In truth though, I was frightened by the whole affair and how easily things could get out of hand and sought protection by joining the union (RBA). As I learnt more about the union, I found out that there was no store representative and so I volunteered for that role. Surprisingly the moment I applied for a position that had been vacant for many years without any interest whatsoever then two others also decided to stand. Coincidentally, one of whom was the very person who had made the fabricated allegation about me!. There was a vote by in-store members which I won (just) and was duly elected.
During this time I taken in a little independent reading about law generally and that spark had been fanned to a small flame. I wanted to learn still more and so signed up for my first Open University course with the aim of discovering as much as I could. My preliminary course was no more than a primer in social sciences but I enjoyed it so much that I decided to undertake the full law degree after all. This comprised of the 4 basic courses that I took one after another.
Sadly, my ex-barrister friend passed on before I took my final exam. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him and dedicate this site to him.
What I would like this to be is a step-by-step guide to the biggest adventure of my life. I hope then that future generations of students can take my thoughts/actions and be inspired by them to reach and attain their dreams.
What I have a feeling that this will become is a place where I can rant and let loose my frustrations and inhibitions in a rather impotent style...
In just over a months time I will begin my Legal Practice Course (LPC). For those not acquainted with law in England and Wales, this is one of the necessary steps to becoming a solicitor. The pathway generally runs;
- Degree (usually law)
- LPC
- Training contract (or TC)
And that's where the seeds of the adventure begin. Perceptive people will realise that this makes me just a weeny bit older than the vast majority of prospective LPC students. Most students on the course will have graduated this year from their respective universities-making them 21 or 22-I will be 42 (and look it...) and have serious doubts about;
- being intellectually able enough
- fitting in
- any future employment prospects
In nothing useful of course but I do have it in abundance.
At this stage I'll give a little bit more background. Up until a few years back I'd never been motivated/inspired to have a career. I drifted into university then drifted out, spent a fair whack of time unemployed before falling into retail work. At various times, I've worked in very small (1 man) organisations and for flagship stores in national chains. At no stage did I ever feel that this was the career for me.
Then whilst working for WH Smiths I got involved in (at least for me) a slightly scary incident. I was dragged before an internal tribunal on a misconduct charge. The charge was no more than a malicious fabrication made by a work colleague with a grudge but the effects could have been far reaching. At the worst I could have been dismissed on the say-so of this witness.
Luckily I was friendly with an ex-barrister who had worked in local and national government and when I explained the situation to him he was horrified. Not for me in particular but for what he saw as an abuse of 'natural justice'.
In essence, I was alleged to have made a remark about the same member of management who would be hearing the case and deciding the verdict/punishment. This he saw as an abuse of power (nemo index in sua causa-no man shall be a judge in his own cause) and contrary to all of the principles of the 'Rule of Law'. These are simple ideas that should be adhered to so that every decision made by a figure in authority over another can be seen to be fair and just.
I listened closely to what he said. It was very interesting and made a lot of sense.
Somewhere within me a tiny spark began smouldering.
When the time came for my hearing, I was prepared and confident. With simple, honest and well reasoned arguments the case fell apart. This was aided considerably by the no-show of the only witness! How convenient that she became sick at just the week that the hearing was due...
In truth though, I was frightened by the whole affair and how easily things could get out of hand and sought protection by joining the union (RBA). As I learnt more about the union, I found out that there was no store representative and so I volunteered for that role. Surprisingly the moment I applied for a position that had been vacant for many years without any interest whatsoever then two others also decided to stand. Coincidentally, one of whom was the very person who had made the fabricated allegation about me!. There was a vote by in-store members which I won (just) and was duly elected.
During this time I taken in a little independent reading about law generally and that spark had been fanned to a small flame. I wanted to learn still more and so signed up for my first Open University course with the aim of discovering as much as I could. My preliminary course was no more than a primer in social sciences but I enjoyed it so much that I decided to undertake the full law degree after all. This comprised of the 4 basic courses that I took one after another.
Sadly, my ex-barrister friend passed on before I took my final exam. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him and dedicate this site to him.
Peter Lewis-a good man and a good friend. I miss him.
posted by Paul Salmon at
7:42 am
|
1 comments
