Heather, who goes by Heather Mary Joan on TikTok, is currently concluding her bar course exams with the University of Law<\/a> in Manchester, after completing the LLB.<\/p>\n Her frustration is palpable, especially when she lists her impressive experiences. From securing competitive mini-pupillages, winning numerous scholarships, and holding a first class degree \u2014 it is easy to justify Heather\u2019s disappointment and goes to show how competitive the process is.<\/p>\n As she says, \u201cwhat else can I do?\u2026 I\u2019ve really put myself out there.\u201d<\/p>\n For context, the Bar Council states<\/a> there were 671 pupillages advertised and 3,408 applicants on the gateway in 2023\/24. Like Heather, successful candidates generally hold a first class degree and had completed mini-pupillages. <\/p>\n \u201cWhen you\u2019ve worked so hard and you feel like you really deserved it\u2026 it\u2019s then just very disheartening, and you think maybe you\u2019re not good enough\u201d, Heather says in the frank video, which she describes as \u201craw\u201d.<\/p>\n On interviews, she says: \u201cYou come out of some interviews feeling elated, like \u2018wow, I\u2019ve smashed that\u2019 \u2014 and then you don\u2019t get through. And then you come out of others and you think, \u2018wow that was terrible\u2019 \u2014 and you get through\u2026 So I think that will be my one big takeaway: you just do not know how you got on, ever.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m trying to pull out the positives,\u201d Heather adds in a hopeful note, \u201cnext year is going to be better because I know exactly what\u2019s coming \u2013 first round, second round. Ugh, but I just wanted it so bad. And I know there will be so many people out there who feel the exact same as me. And, you know, I feel you.\u201d<\/p>\n As she says, \u201cI told you from the very start that I was going to do warts and all. So here are the warts.\u201d But Heather quickly finds the silver lining to share with fans: \u201cI can now just enjoy my wedding planning. A year I can spend some time with my little boy.\u201d Adding, \u201conwards and upwards\u2026 To the next [pupillage] gateway \u2014 January 2026 \u2014 here we come!\u201d<\/p>\n Reaching out to candidates feeling the same disappointment, Heather ends by saying:<\/p>\n \u201cI wanted to show you all every aspect of this, because it\u2019s not easy. And I think for people who want to come into this career and think: it\u2019s so easy, oh yeah, I\u2019ll do this, I\u2019ll do that, and get pupillage \u2013 it\u2019s not the case. This is the reality. And I hope that this has shed some light on the process and I hope it has given somebody else a bit of comfort, that they\u2019re not the only person going through this. There\u2019s quite a few of us over here that are distraught today!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n
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\u2018Onwards and upwards\u2019<\/p>\n
On 9 May, dubbed pupillage offer day, aspiring barristers were informed whether they had been successful in securing a coveted training spot within chambers. After documenting her experience in the highly competitive process, aspiring barrister Heather shared the disappointing news that she had been unsuccessful in a video that has since gone viral with over 120,000 views.<\/p>\n In the post, Heather notes that this year she gained an impressive 12 first round interviews, which are awarded to the best candidates after a paper sift. She was successful in converting three into second round interviews \u2014 typically the final stage before decisions are made.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, not all second round candidates gain a pupillage offer. As Heather notes, \u201cMy thought process was always: it only takes one. Just one to believe in you. So, when they don\u2019t believe in you, you\u2019re like \u2013 should I believe in myself?\u201d Realistic but gutted, she adds, \u201cyou probably were fantastic, but that somebody, maybe, was just that bit better. But when is that going to be me?\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.legalcheek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/TikTok.jpg\")
A TikToking bar student has drawn praise on social media for her \u201craw\u201d account of the challenges aspiring barristers face in securing pupillage.<\/strong><\/p>\n