Choosing the Right CBSE School A Comprehensive Guide for Parents
BLS Full Manifesto
1. Who Am I?
Hello!
My name is Javaria and I am a second year Law LLB student. I am one of the many UECC students
(University of Exeter: Cornwall Campus) transferring to Streatham due to the big law school merger.
During my two eventful years in Cornwall I have been actively involved in the following societies:
Lyonesse Law Society - Junior Bar Chair
Expedition Society - Cultural Events Officer
Exploration Society - PR Manager
Debt Literacy Project
Mock Trial Internal Competition
2nd year internal mooting competition
FXU RAG Treasurer
Children in Need RAG Team
Changing Preconceptions: Expedition to Pakistan – Team Leader
As you can see I have experience in roles of responsibility and know exactly how to plan and organise
events. From large scale expeditions in foreign countries to Lincolns Inn, I have experienced every
level of event planning and management. The issue the law society in Cornwall has always faced has
been the location, resources and funding. Due to this it has always been difficult to organise on
campus events but as the law school merges we can combine contacts and ideas strengthening the Bar
opportunities at Exeter.
Aside from my involvement in societies, I am a self professed coffee addict, cook (I can make donuts!)
and massive fan of popcorn, T.V, cricket (hey I’m Asian), hockey and the sea. Although most
importantly-I am an aspiring barrister.
2. Now Why Should You Vote For Me?
With my experience I know exactly what will and will not be feasible to plan for the next year. I am
brimming with ideas for 2013/14 and am confident with executing each one. Below is an assortment of
the ideas I have in line if voted in as Bar Group Chair:
Inn of Court Tours and Dinners:
Before joining the Bar you must join an Inn. There are 4 Inn of Courts and they are all situated
in London: Lincolns Inn, Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Grays Inn. You will be a member
of your Inn for the rest of your life, your Inn can provide you with invaluable advice, contacts
and scholarships to help your proceed in your legal studies. Therefore choosing the right Inn
for you is a crucial step. Visiting the Inns is an excellent way to start your research, every year
the Inn of Courts hold tours and dinners, some exclusively for students. I have already
networked and created contacts within each Inn and know exactly how to organise these
events and what they are like. Therefore I can plan these trips effectively and efficiently.
Bar Aptitude Test:
The recent inclusion of the Bar Aptitude Test has left a lot of students worried especially due
to the hefty £150 price tag. With the route to the bar already riddled with expenses it is
another undue burden to take with 3rd year finals, graduation, pupillage forms and the BPTC
to get through. I propose to begin training classes specifically in doing the Bar Aptitude Test
with a practice exam in relevant exam conditions. This will at least give students the
confidence in passing the test or alert them to more training without having to pay for the test
and then being shocked. It is important to note if you do fail the Bar Apt Test you will have to
wait 30 days till the retake and it will incur another £150! Also you cannot start your BPTC
without doing the Bar Apt Test so it is highly important to pass it in time.
Judicial Networking Event:
Most students fear The Judge. As an ominous figure who writes increasingly complex and
baffling judgements, a clear stereotype emerges refusing to be changed. Having completed
two marshalling work experiences with one of the highest ranking criminal court judges and
a county court judge in charge of administration for London, Kent and Sussex, I have plenty
of experience and contacts within the judiciary. I can tell you from first-hand experience the
judiciary that I have been exposed to are nothing like what we all imagine, not all are born
with a shiny silver spoon to bash about like a gavel. I hope to distil this image people have of
the judiciary by organising a judicial networking evening. In a relaxed environment you will
be able to talk to these genuinely charismatic characters and find out about what their
example of the perfect advocate is- trust me they always have an answer for that question.
Who knows maybe you will leave with a marshalling opportunity as well under your belt!
3. Student Past and Present Bar Talk
In my experience some of the best advice you can gather is from students going in to the Bar
and those who have just stepped in. By arranging talks with a range of students it will allow
you to find out what challenges they face right now, how they are overcoming or overcame
them. It will educate you on a more relevant and present day level something a lot of bar
activities fail to achieve.
Advocacy Training
We all know advocacy is the most important skill for a barrister to have under his/her belt. It
is something every judge, barrister and lecturer (Dr Osuji) rants about all the time! But there
is truth in it. Advocacy is your tool, a tool which you can hone and sharpen making it better
and more effective. Everyone can improve their advocacy skills. I hope to organise events for
all levels of confidence. By bringing in judges, barristers, solicitor advocates, lecturers and
students alike I would establish classes which help you practice advocacy skills and improve
them.
National Mock Trial Competition
One of the best ways of practicing advocacy is by participating in mock trials. Unlike the
highly substantive law based moots, mock trials are focused on evidentiary law. It is more
reflective of life in the courts. I would establish a cross campus internal mock trial
competition involving aspiring actors to be defendants and victims. I will also enter Exeter in
to the National Mock Trial Competition just so we can prove to the UK we are the number 1
law school!
Barrister Events
No Bar Group can be without barrister networking evenings and chamber open days. I will
organise trips and events on campus which integrate local and national chambers with
Exeter. Networking is an exceptional way of gaining mini-pupillages and contacts so the
more that can be organised the better for the students at Exeter. I will also make sure that
these events provide the wine for all those who drink it and also provide non-alcoholic drinks
as well from experience last year not even water was available!
BPTC Provider Talks
With the price of the BPTC at an all time high (it’s a staggering £17500) I believe that you
should know exactly what you are paying for and how the providers differ. The best way to
do that is through events with providers-let them show you!
Masters
With more and more students undertaking a masters after their law degree before completing
the BPTC, I would like to open access to these positions through online pages and/or a
booklet. Because every little helps!
4. GDL/Non Law Lawyers
The Bar opens its arms to students from all degrees and walks of life. The only requirement is
that they complete the GDL and then progress through the usual route of Bar Aptitude test
followed by the BPTC. I would like to communicate more with students going through this
route by creating events solely for them and by organising GDL provider talks so they can
grasp their route in to the law effectively.
I am the only student from Tremough that is running for a position on Bracton. It is what makes me
different from all other candidates. I have experience from a different campus; experience which I
believe will be highly beneficial for Bracton Law Society. BLS works as a team, each with a specific
role but a team none the less so to integrate one student that can bring something different to the table
can only be an excellent thing.
As you can see from what I plan to do in the upcoming year I have a wide range of activities which
will benefit you only if you:
Vote Javaria!
Feel free to message me on:
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/javaria.burki
Facebook Page - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vote-Javaria-For-Bar-Group-Chair-
BLS/361416503971377
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RiaBurki or @RiaBurki
N.B:
Due to logistics and time constraints it will be impossible for me to campaign in person on campus
(Streatham) therefore my campaigning is limited to Facebook. Therefore if you trust my campaign
and like my ideas then I urge you to share my page on Facebook and spread my campaign by word
of mouth. My ideas can only turn to reality through votes! Also think about it my campaign won’t
drive you crazy =]
Also it seems that the possibility of me attending hustings is very slim. If we establish a video call
then I will be able to attend. Please bear in mind I am located on a different campus and my
inability to attend is not reflective of my suitability for Bar Group Chair 2013/14.