Épisodes

  • Episode 2 - Cracking the Code - Gaurav’s journey to the Specialist Tax Bar

    Episode 2 - Cracking the Code - Gaurav’s journey to the Specialist Tax Bar
    Oct 23 2025

    Welcome to Episode 2 of Bar Student to Barrister. In this week’s episode we meet Gaurav Sachanandani, now in his early years of practice at Burnell Chambers, situated on Middle Temple Lane in London.

    From starting his law degree at the age of 17, we follow Gaurav through Bar training, pupillage and into his early years as a specialist tax barrister, and even why studying does not always stop when you embark on full-time professional practice.

    And what else do we discover on the way?

    First, Gaurav dreamed of becoming an astronomer before even thinking about the law.

    And what excited his interest in becoming a lawyer? For that you’ll have to listen, but it’s something we suspect you’ll hear more than a few times in this podcast series, at least from those who are prepared to admit it.

    The complexity and intellectual challenge of tax law, and the ambition to build his practice as a respected expert, is perhaps at the heart of what drives Gaurav, but you will also discover that he is positive, enthusiastic, committed, determined, and no stranger to hard work.

    And why is ‘cracking the code’ used in the title of this episode? Again, you can find out before too long, but it’s something that Gaurav has been doing in multiple ways as he has pursued his ambition to become a barrister.

    In this episode you will also hear how Gaurav approached applying for pupillage to specialist tax and chancery chambers, what written exercises he was asked to carry out, and what happened during the interview process.

    There is also a cautionary tale for all prospective barristers – what might happen at the end of a pupillage interview when you are asked if you have any questions? Beware the danger zone! But as we find out, sometimes things happen for a reason.

    Gaurav also tells us what happens when you arrive on Day 1 of pupillage in a tax chambers, as well as how to cope when technical failure greets you in your pupillage professional ethics exam.

    And finally, even though he is a practising barrister, does Gaurav own a wig and gown? Find out in this episode.

    This is Gaurav’s journey to the specialist tax Bar. We hope you enjoy this episode. Please follow/subscribe on your podcast platform for future episodes.

    INFORMATION

    Burnell Chambers https://burnellchambers.co.uk/

    Gaurav’s profile https://burnellchambers.co.uk/barristers/gaurav-sachanandani/

    Gaurav on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaurav-sachanandani-73394a230/

    CONTACT

    Email: barstudent2barristerpodcast@gmail.com

    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/iccabar/

    LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/school/the-inns-of-court-college-of-advocacy/

    Website https://www.icca.ac.uk/icca-bar-course/bar-student-to-barrister-podcast/

    INDEPENDENCE

    Registration on the ICCA Bar Course confers no advantage inrelation to Inns’ scholarships or awards, Inns’ membership, Qualifying Sessions or Call to the Bar. For more information see the Policy on Independence between the Inns of Court and the ICCA.

    COPYRIGHT

    Inns of Court College of Advocacy (part of the COIC) © 2025. All rights reserved.

    Inns of Court College ofAdvocacy (part of the COIC) © 2025. All rights reserved.
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    58 min
  • Episode 1 – Training for the Bar – Jody’s journey to Criminal Pupillage

    Episode 1 – Training for the Bar – Jody’s journey to Criminal Pupillage
    Oct 16 2025
    Welcome to Episode 1 of Bar Student to Barrister. In our first episode we meet Jody Klaire, just starting pupillage in chambers specialising in criminal law, and we’ll hear more about her pupillage experience in coming episodes. How do you become a barrister?“In 2020 I went blind and deaf and I thought, ‘oh why not,I'll just become a barrister.’”Jody tells us all about her unique path to the Bar, from themusic industry and the police force, and as a writer, teacher and EDI trainer, towards criminal practice. She explains how her legal career was shaped whilst also confronting her own disabilities, as well as how many people inspired and helped her along the way.In this podcast we want to demystify the Bar and trainingfor the Bar, so we start at the beginning and explore Bar training.Jody also lets us know what attracted her from an interestin the law of trusts to a life of crime (as a field of specialist practice of course) and we find out what module Jody took at university, “just for fun!”In this episode, Jody raises some serious issues concerningtraining for the Bar with a disability. These matters have not been pushed to one side and will receive the full attention they deserve in the future. In fact, much of what you have heard in outline will be explored in far more detail in later episodes.Thank you for joining us this week. Please follow/subscribeon your podcast platform for future episodes.INFORMATIONThe Inns of Court are:Middle Temple https://www.middletemple.org.uk/Inner Temple https://www.innertemple.org.uk/Gray’s Inn https://www.graysinn.org.uk/Lincoln’s Inn https://www.lincolnsinn.org.uk/All of the Inns offer mentoring schemes and scholarships forBar and GDL (law conversion course) students.More information on becoming a barrister:Becoming a Barrister – Bar Council https://www.barcouncil.org.uk/becoming-a-barrister.htmlUnderstanding Bar Training – Student Guide – by ChrisKessling https://www.icca.ac.uk/icca-bar-course/understanding-bar-training/Bar Council Pupillage Fair 2025 https://www.barcouncil.org.uk/training-events/calendar/pupillage-fair-2025.htmlPupillage Fair North 2025 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pupillage-fair-north-tickets-990293563707Information on funding:Master’s Degree loans https://www.gov.uk/masters-loanFunding and Scholarships – Bar Council https://www.barcouncil.org.uk/becoming-a-barrister/i-am-a-university-student-or-graduate/student-funding-and-scholarships.html ICCA Bar Training Bursaries https://www.icca.ac.uk/icca-bar-course/fees-and-funding/bursaries/ Other organisations mentioned in this episode:Bridging the Bar https://bridgingthebar.org/Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar https://www.bdabar.org/ Inns of Court College of Advocacy (ICCA Bar Course) https://www.icca.ac.uk/icca-bar-course/School Exclusion Project https://www.schoolexclusionproject.com/Documents referred to:Bar Qualification Manual – Bar Standards Board (BSB) (SeePart 2 Academic Component for the Foundation of Legal Knowledge subjectshttps://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/training-qualification/bar-qualification-manual-new.htmlCONTACTEmail barstudent2barristerpodcast@gmail.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/iccabar/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/school/the-inns-of-court-college-of-advocacy/ Website https://www.icca.ac.uk/icca-bar-course/bar-student-to-barrister-podcast/ INDEPENDENCERegistration on the ICCA Bar Course confers no advantage inrelation to Inns’ scholarships or awards, Inns’ membership, Qualifying Sessions or Call to the Bar. For more information see the Policy on Independence between the Inns of Court andthe ICCA.COPYRIGHT© 2025 Inns of Court College of Advocacy (part of the COIC). All rights reserved.
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    57 min
  • Introducing ... Bar Student to Barrister

    Introducing ... Bar Student to Barrister
    Oct 1 2025

    How do you become a barrister?

    How do you train for the Bar?

    How do you apply for and secure pupillage?

    How do you develop a specialist legal practice?

    Welcome to from Bar Student to Barrister, the podcast on your journey into pupillage and beyond into the early years of practice at the Bar.

    In this podcast you will be hearing from many people who can tell you exactly what it feels like and looks like to become a barrister, to go through your training, including what is usually one year of pupillage, and then enter those early years of professional practice.

    The barristers’ profession, as well as training to become a barrister, can seem just a tad confusing at times, but as we move through the many episodes that follow, you will get to hear from many Bar students, from pupils and from practising barristers who will demystify the whole show. And if you have questions, just get in touch with us and we’d be delighted to provide answers.

    With Chris Kessling, barrister and Vice Dean of the Inns of Court College of Advocacy (ICCA), and Jody Klaire, ICCA Bar Course graduate, called to the Bar in 2025, and just starting pupillage! And a whole host of wonderful guests.

    Published weekly on Fridays, starting Friday 17 October 2025.
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    3 min