Wilberforce Chambers |

Members are recognised by the key legal directories as leaders in their fields. Instructions come f rom top UK and international law firms and professional services organisations, providing a complex and rewarding range of work for international companies; financial institutions; well-known names; sports and media organisations; pension funds; commercial landlords and tenants; and private individuals. Our clients demand high intellectual performance and client-care standards but in return the reward is a successful and fulfilling career at the Bar.

Areas of work

Practice areas include arbitration; commercial; insolvency; pensions; professional liability; property; and trusts, tax, probate and estates. Members are experienced in litigation as well as alternative dispute resolution, and instructions originate f rom across the UK and overseas.

Who should apply

We look to offer up to four 12-month pupillages. You should possess high intellectual ability, excellent communication skills and a strong motivation to do commercial chancery work. You need to be mature and conf ident, have the ability to work with others and analyse legal problems clearly, demonstrating commercial and practical good sense. Our policy is to offer pupillage only to those people we think have real potential to join us as tenants at the end of their pupillage, and we take great care in our selection process and put effort into providing an excellent pupillage. We have a minimum requirement of a 2.1 degree in law or another subject, and we have a good track record of taking on GDL students.

Pupillage programme

We operate a well-structured pupillage programme aimed at providing you with a broad experience of commercial chancery practice under several pupil supervisors with whom you will be able to develop your skills. We aim to reach a decision about tenancy after approximately 9–10 months, but all pupils are entitled to stay with us for the remainder of their pupillage on a full pupillage award.

When and how to apply

Applications for pupillage must be made through the Pupillage Gateway, the online pupillage application scheme, except where an applicant is exempt under the applicable rules. Visit www.pupillagegateway.com for full details of how the Gateway operates and to find our application form. Here you will also find the application deadline and schedule. We operate an initial long list general interview before selecting a shortlist of candidates for a more in-depth interview that aims to test legal aptitude by reference to a problem question.

Mini-pupillages

We encourage potential candidates for pupillage to undertake a mini-pupillage with us in order to learn how we operate, to meet members of chambers and to see the type of work that we do – but a mini-pupillage is not a prerequisite for pupillage. We run four separate mini-pupillage weeks (in November, March and July). Please visit our website for an application form and for further information.

Sponsorship/funding

We offer a generous and competitive pupillage award which we review annually with the intention that it should be in line with the highest awards available. The award is £75,000 for pupillages commencing October 2023 and is paid in monthly instalments. A proportion of the award (up to £30,000) can be drawn down during the Bar course year.