Sam Hastings, 23, is studying hard as he trains to be a criminal barrister. He spoke to beyondoxbridge about his course and experiences.

What kind of barrister are you training to be, and why?
I'm training to be a criminal barrister. While it is the worst paid area of the bar and currently under attack, it is, in my opinion, the most exciting. Criminal courtrooms are host to the most varied characters, the most poignant speeches, and the most exciting events of any at the bar. Crime has the most generic appeal of any area of the law; very rarely do I see someone reading the latest thriller about a breach of trust...

Did you always want to be a barrister?
No. The first trial I saw was when I was 16. I found the whole experience really exciting, but entry into the profession was surrounded by mystique, and I assumed that i couldn't afford the training costs.

Did you go straight into law school after leaving university?
Negatory. I worked in India for a business process outsourcing company, started up a sports based social networking website, and ended up training to be a derivative trader. That was only for four months, to pay for my law conversion. I found my two financial jobs totally unsatisfying, and I couldn't make any money out of t'interweb.

Tell us about the course you are on...
It's called the Common Professional Examination (CPE), and is also known as the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). It's a one year course for graduates interested intending to become lawyers.

What are the best and worst elements of the course?
Um... it's a lot of work. On the good side, it's over in 9 months. You have to be proactive during the CPE year to embellish your CV, because getting a pupilage is VERY competitive.

What kind of people have you met there? Has it been fun?
Having done physics as an undergrad, lawyers seem to be a little more socially active than physicists. There is also a far greater proportion of women on the course (50:50). Having said that, because the course costs £7,000 people are there to work, and most students are very serious about doing well.

Has the course affected your desire to be a barrister, either positively or negatively?
The course itself has had no effect. I am still resolved to become a criminal barrister. The extra curricular activities such as mooting and mini-pupillages in which i have participated have encouraged me that I have made the right choice.

You have been doing a mini pupilage recently. What does that entail?
Yes, I recommend anyone thinking about the bar does at least one before paying any money to join a course. The subject matter of a mini varies largely depending on what kind of set (chambers) you do it at. Criminal sets usually take their mini-pupils to watch a trial at the crown court. I recently saw a murder trial at the Old Bailey which was exciting - watching the cross examination of the defendant at a murder trial is never dull.

Do you have a full pupilage lined up? What percentage of people do?
No I don't (but hopefully I will by the end of August). The deadline for the Online Pupilage Application System (OLPAS) is at the end of April, that's when I will find out if I've got any interviews... Only those on my course who have applied early have pupilages. I would say that roughly 30% of those leaving the CPE this year, who applied, will get pupilages. And this is the highest proportion of any conversion course I know of.

Is it daunting working towards such a competitive profession?
Yes, very. Next (Brent). I'm constantly doubting my abilities, but don't tell anyone.

Do you have any tips you could pass on to wannabe barristers from what you have learned so far?
Do as much debating and mooting as you can. This looks great on your CV, develops precisely the skills you need for success at the bar, and will make you more confident at interviews….