Meet one of our Bar Course 2024 scholars: Georgina Tobolewska.
Know your weaknesses / vulnerabilities. Don’t be afraid of them. These may actually also be your strength.
Could you tell us briefly about your background, and why you chose to join Gray’s Inn?
I changed career into law after working freelance in the arts and briefly as a teacher. When I began this career move, my daughter was 2 years old. It was a huge financial commitment to change career, particularly because my income was essential to the household.
Honestly, I applied to Gray’s Inn because I thought it gave me the best chance of winning a scholarship of a significant value that would make a difference, on the basis of the funds they stated they could allocate to each scholar.
Since joining, I’ve enjoyed the small-scale collegiate nature of the Inn, and the extraordinary access to remarkable barristers. For example, as a BTC student I attended a regional dinner where I was seated at a small table that included Heads of Chambers and a former Chair of the Bar, who had been advising the government on the review of bullying and harassment at the bar.
What does this scholarship mean to you?
First, my GDL scholarship affirmed my potential as a barrister when I’d been working in a completely different field. The fact that I’d convinced established practitioners to invest in my future was a really important encouragement. I knew that pupillage was going to be really competitive and that it was going to be a big risk to invest in the GDL, then the BTC. Like many barristers, I’m naturally someone who is self-critical and has self-doubt. Winning the GDL and then the BTC scholarships helped put some of those doubts to bed.
The GDL scholarship helped pay for my fees to study on a part time basis alongside working. Looking back, doing the GDL part time was excellent because I also gained invaluable experience working in an employed barristers’ team (initially as a Legal Assistant and then I was able to undertake advocacy as an Advocacy Assistant).
The Prince of Wales BTC scholarship was a significant amount of money that enabled me to take the plunge to leave my job and undertake the BTC full time. By this stage, I’d been plugging away at my career change for four years (my GDL took me 3 years and I waited another year before starting the BTC). I was incredibly grateful to be able to get the BTC done within 9 months. I was aware that it was a huge privilege, and brought discipline to study, keeping a 9-5 routine (with very occasional Sunday study). I was still able to spend time with my family, and take my daughter to her busy sporting and social commitments during evenings and weekends. I was also able to devote a significant amount of time to pupillage applications and interviews – and got pupillage during my BTC. There’s no way I could have done this without the major scholarship that gave me the financial freedom not to work.
What’s the best advice you would you give to students applying for Bar Course Scholarships?
1. Think of it as a practice for pupillage interviews. That may help take some of the pressure off.
2. Enjoy your audience. The panel, who have years of wisdom and experience, are giving you their full attention. If you’ve been masking your intelligence under a bushel, now is your chance for your full spectrum of talent to be appreciated. Each question is an opportunity to show them what you know.
3. Know that the panel WANT you to show them your best. They want to give you the money.
4. It’s REALLY important to be aware that these are NOT chatty job interviews. In my experience, panels did NOT provide follow up questions so you must give full responses to questions.
5. Take your time. It’s never too slow. Have a glass of water and use drinking from it to slow down the interview if you need a break
6. It’s your opportunity to show the panel your unique skills and assets. Know what they are. Write them out in advance. What do you bring that makes you special? Be ready with examples. Be proud of yourself and the journey you’ve made.
7. Know your weaknesses / vulnerabilities. Don’t be afraid of them. These MAY actually also be your strength. E.g. you’re a parent; this means you’re excellent at multi-tasking and efficiency and you have life experience. Or English is your second language; this means you speak multiple languages and have overcome challenges.
