My new article about the hard life of foreigners 
Is it because I'm not from round here? >>
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
About Me
Finished the BVC, got called. No pupillage yet. Please read about my adventures in pursuit of a career at the Bar.
View my complete profile
Links
- A girl walks into a bar...
- A Law Student's Ringbinder
- Aimless Wonderer
- Alan Plawtridge
- All About Law
- All About Law Blog
- Asp Bites
- Bar Boy
- Bar or Bust
- Barmaid
- Binary Law
- Charon QC
- Common Law Girl
- Criminal Law and Evidence
- Curious Black Cat
- Family Lore
- Gingsperation
- Head of Legal
- Jamie Spencer
- Lacklustre Lawyer
- Lacunae
- Law & Life
- Law Actually
- Law Minx
- Law Mum
- LawDent
- Legal Lass
- Lost London Law Student
- Medically Brunette
- Nearly Legal
- Obiter
- Paranoid Pupil
- Poonam
- Pupil Bean
- Ramblings of a Scottish Student
- Reductio Ad Absurdum
- Rowena Meager's Property Law Blog
- Simon Myerson QC on Pupillages
- Templar
- The Barrister Blog
- The Uni Looney
- The Wanderings of a Law Student
- This Side of the House
- UK Law Students
- White Rabbit
- Will I be Barred?
Comments
Topics
- Articles (3)
- Assessments (28)
- Blogging (22)
- BVC (59)
- Dear Reader (62)
- Humour (58)
- Inns of Court (14)
- Job Search (21)
- Legal Week (15)
- Life (99)
- Marshalling (4)
- Mini-Pupillages (5)
- Miscarriage of Justice (22)
- News (2)
- Photos (5)
- Pupillage Applications (104)
- Studies (17)
- Thoughts (115)
- Wed Design (1)
- Work (72)
Other Stuff I Read
12 comments:
I hope this isn't going to be a hard-luck story! :p
In an increasingly mobile/global world and with plenty of Russians being in London/UK, not just in person but in a commercial context, I would have thought that being fluent in Russian (or any major language such as Spanish, Cantonese etc) could only be a positive attribute.
Android, I am the author of the (far too wordy) reply to your Article. I thought I'd make my presence known here, should you have any questions.
Well done on the article, by the way--it's an issue that merits tackling, even if I don't entirely agree with your conclusions.
Fellow Foreigner, you're not Evil Genius from SR, are you?
Thanks for your comment on Legal Village; I'll reply to it on there.
Michael, not yet. :P
Anon, I hope you're right!
Interesting article Andro.
I am a little confused about which side of the fence you ultimately find yourself on. Are you answering yes or no to the question posed at the beginning of the article? When I got to the end, I thought you were saying no - your accent whilst perhaps not helpful didn't really affect your pupillage chances. However, I was very surprised when I looked back and saw that you said you were also willing to lose your accent tomorrow!
I would like to hope that accent has nothing to do with it.
Even within the UK accents are so varied (don't get me sorted on the various divides). I don't have an accent - instead my accent is a horrible mangle of everything which will be in no way beneficial. I grew up in Northern Ireland so I talk fast, combine that with living in north west England, Midlands and south west and you get a mess.
That said being half deaf I need an accent to be familiar before I can understand it so different accents make me uncomfortable. That said your heritage should be something you are proud of. Meet any irish or northern irish person, they wouldn't loose their accent for anything - not just because they like it, but it gives a sense of identity/belonging.
Lackie, thanks for reading the article. In the end, I kind of concluded that your origin has nothing to do with it, so I'm stuffed - it must be my CV! :D I take your point - my arguments were a bit undecisive.
Travisthetrout, I agree. I also think it would be pretty boring if everyone spoke in the same manner. :D
I think you should leave a voice clip on your blog so we can listen to your accent.
I did a podcast with Charon not so long ago
Undecisive (sic) - not great coming from an aspirant barrister methinks. But are you not missing a trick ? In a process where you have to get noticed (and once is enough) why not actively promote the Russian aspect. It's not just the language but also the cultural understanding and the ability to relate to clients.
There will be very few applicants with your profile and I think you need to be more confident in selling your distinguishing features. A marketing person would call them unique selling points. I would love to be bi-lingual. One day when I finally master English, I am going to try another.
I have mentioned that on my CV and in applications, but I think that as the people on LV suggest, it's probably my academics. If I had a First, I'd at least get some interviews!
Hiya Andro,
An excellent and well considered piece for the village, as befits your customary and incredibly HIGH standard.
With respect to the possession of an accent issues on that front vs 'Recieved Pronounciation' are very much alive and kicking unfortunately. Makes my Blood BOIL.
Hope all's well with you and that you are starting to get some positive news through the portal. I have all my fingers crossed for ALL of us....
Post a Comment