Academia Has Nothing To Do With It Now

One of the great things about Kings Inns is that it's almost like a new beginning.
Everyone starts off on the same level. Since no one knows each other, they know nothing about each others past academic performances. Obviously everyone there is intelligent. The entrance exams were not easy. But therein lies the extent of your knowledge. Indeed, if there is someone who you were lucky enough to have been acquainted with already, and whom you always regarded as a bit dim, then Kings Inns brings with it a new opinion of that person.
In fact, you begin to realise that academic grades mean absolutely nothing in the real world. Although, I could have told you that ages ago! It doesn't matter if you got a First Class Honours in your degree ( I didn't!). The list of factors that 'matter' has been completely re-written and reformed; and, if you think that you're going to breeze through just because you were top of your class at University, then think again.
We've left the world of academia behind. Now it's all about professionalism. It's about how well you cope under pressure. It's about your attitude, about your social skills, and more than anything, its about your how good you are at accepting criticism. The addition of this latter point may seem confusing; but, let me explain. Attending Kings Inns marks the beginning of many years of being ripped to shreds. It marks the start of a career where you can expect to be emotionally torn to pieces on a daily basis. Judges don't have regard for your feelings. If they feel that you're presenting your case sloppily, they will tell you to get your unprofessional rear end out of their courtroom. They might even tell you to employ a stylist. Well, ok, maybe not. But, it's always a possibility.
Unfortunately, there are some people who just cannot take criticism. Interestingly enough, those are the people who think that having a First Class Honours degree actually means something in this course.
I wonder how long it'll take for them to figure out that it doesn't? Probably the same length of time it takes them to learn to accept being criticised.