Posted By M.Lateef/London, Nov 5(IVNN): Aatif Ahmad Mehjoor, a Kashmiri living in England, has qualified as a barrister. He came to live in England in 1993, and studied law at London and Oxford Universities. Having completed his pupillage, he was given the full qualification certificate by the Bar Standards Board of England and Wales in October 2007.

Aatif has a keen interest in Kashmir affairs and writes regularly for Greater Kashmir. His analysis of the political situation in Kashmir benefit from his experience of living in Kashmir for extended periods, witnessing the beginning of the Kashmiri movement in 1989, and having contacts with Kashmiri leaders, intellectuals and professionals.

[Note: The barrister is a lawyer who has been admitted to "plead at the bar." That means that he or she has been called to the bar by the "benchers" of one of the four Inns of Court (Middle Temple, Inner Temple, Gray’s Inn and Lincoln's Inn) and, subject to pupilage requirements, is allowed to appear in court to argue a client's case. Prerequisites to call include attaining a second-class honours degree, attending the Inns of Court School of Law, or other validated Bar Vocational Course provider, for a one year term and passing the "bar final" exams. The call is followed by a one-year pupilage in chambers, where the novice lawyer benefits from association and attendance at court with an experienced barrister.

The requirements for admission to the Bar Vocational Course (BVC) are strict and the course itself is demanding. A pupilage is somewhat similar to an internship in the medical profession and allows the new barrister to observe and assist the "pupil master" in action and, hopefully, learn from the experience. ]