Hmmm, I do take some of the claims with a pinch of salt. What does "trained barrister" really mean after all? You are entitled to call yourself a barrister once you have been called to the bar. It used to be that you were called to the bar after passing the BVC (the vocational exams), but prior to starting or completing pupillage (the on the job training). I believe it has now changed however, and you have to have completed pupillage first.

I presume that she must have at least completed the BVC, and perhaps pupillage (who knows?) But I also got the impression that she wasn't practicing as a barrister before she came to the apprentice. Wasn't her job description "international car trader".

And by the way, junior barristers frequently earn a pittance, particularly criminal barristers.

I'm just assuming. Although in my opinion it's common sense thinking that when allowing people onto a TV show , out of which any could end up working for the particular company , checking their employment background is actually neccessary.

She wasn't practicing as a barrister , she never did anyway. She got the qualifications but obviously chose to do the car business instead.

Kevin has 2 A levels and a food hygiene course. As well as Porsches and property. He must be a manager at Coutts.

And I would refer you to my reference about some companies overinflating people's titles. I worked for Natwest where I worked my way up from the clerical grade (which was where all school entrants came in) to the first management grade. The company I now work for has two "manager" grades below me, but they are not "managers" to the Natwest standard. So that may just be the same for the Halifax (not a reflection on your mother you understand).

Oh and as he joined Natwest from school, there is no way he managed a branch so young (not even an underperforming one).

If they get to the last three they will certainly go through the CVs with a fine-tooth comb. Some do get caught out at that stage.

But their CV's get checked before they are even chosen as certain quotes that are shown about them come straight from there.

I didn't say they didn't check them beforehand but they will go into them in far more detail if they get to the interview stage in the penultimate programme.

Ah , right ok , sorry.

Yes good point.

The likes of Paul (series 2) and Tre were certainly 'found out' at the interview stage. Even Michael got caught out by the 'good Jewish boy' comment on his CV the other week.

Well if they really do check their CVs, it seems that SAS didn't get Michael's jewishness checked beforehand did he.

damn you beat me to it.

I think that if he attended manager's meetings as the sole manager of the branch, then that would translate as him being a manager? HBOS may well have a different fast track system to RBS, and like I said, I know someone who actually worked with him so I am basing this on facts not opinions of another financial institution that I have no knowledge of!

I'm sure I've seen Kevin in a Halifax advert

And you have no knowledge of Natwest/RBS, so you are merely speculating as well. I know there are 7 grades from basic school entrant to Manager and there is no way they could have been jumped - and as he wasn't a graduate, he wouldn't have been fast tracked.

Oh and maybe just watch the use of exclamations, they portray a very angry message

That's why I used them. Sorry, did I not make that obvious enough?

OK if that's the way you want to be, then that's your prerogative. It's childish but hey it takes all sorts.

I didn't know they got paid 6 figure salaries in coffee republic. Maybe, just maybe, I should quit my vocation for this sweet deal.

Well do you think they actually asked him general knowledge questions about Judaism prior to that?


Theire weaknesses were exposed at that point , they still hadn't lied about their jobs.

I don't doubt Sara did the BVC - it's not hard to get onto, and you can call yourself a barrister afterwards, it's getting a pupillage that is difficult and apparently she never tried to get one but went straight into business...

I don't think there's any comparison between Nicholas and Sara's boardroom performances. Nicholas was allowed to put his case, which he did appallingly. Sara was putting over a good case, but Sir Alan simply kept telling her to shut up. I don't know what anyone expected her to do to defend herself in such a situation.

Um, hasn't it already been touched upon that Sara speaks about 5 languages - English not being her first? I think she can be forgiven a slip like that.

i thought the CV told us that she had abandoned her own career to move back into the family business because her brother's couldn't? Thats perfectly compatible with everything we have been told and its abetter Cv actually than pretty much anyone else.

What makes you think that people can speak perfect English coming out of the educational system or that the people teaching them can speak it either? There's much evidence to the contrary and potential teachers are earlier graduates of the same system they will teach in.

I doubt Sara has obtained a pupillage as she is only 25 - she has an LLB, LLM (which takes her to 22/23 yrs old at the least), and then the BVC (23/24)...so did she save her father's company in one year and do her one year pupillage?...hmmm she's lying about something.

She would have to obtain a position in a top-flight chambers to make really good money as a barrister. If she did do a pupillage, she probably worked in a local chambers doing criminal/legal aid work, and realised she wouldn't make anymore money than a mid-level civil servant. Hence, her move to 'international car sales'.

The Telegraph call her a 'trainee barrister'.