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• Wilberforce

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  A leading set in commercial chancery practice, Wilberforce Chambers was established in 1959 and has since built up a formidable reputation in not only Chancery Court, but also in the Queen’s Bench division and Appellate Courts. It frequently represents international clients in Hong Kong, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Singapore among others.
  
  Some of the recent cases in which the chambers has been involved include Equitable Life, the X Factor dispute on format, Charman v Charman, Mars v Nestle and the action brought by High Court judges against the Department of Constitutional Affairs on taxing of pension benefits of the former.

  Most tenants and trainees consider Wilberforce a friendly, open and congenial place to hang their hats at. The total strength of chambers is about 70 which helps in maintaining the happy atmosphere. There is no rigid hierarchy in place, and pupils are encouraged to participate and contribute in most matters relating to chambers.
  
  Pupils’ work timings largely depend on their supervisor’s work, though after-hours and weekend work is very minimal. The set has developed a very formidable reputation in handling chancery and other commercial matters & it is important to research out thoroughly its activities before you apply for pupillage.
  
  For all future barristers who thrive on intellectual conundrums and do not mind plunging into a mind-boggling sea of facts and legal principles to come up with the one gem which justifies your argument before a judge; Wilberforce Chambers is the place to be.

  Wilberforce Chambers covers a wide area of legal practices, and is considered exceptionally good at Chancery and general commercial work.
  
  The areas in which they provide litigation expertise are: arbitration & alternative dispute resolution, property, professional liability, pensions, private clients/trusts/taxation, company & commercial, banking & finance, IP & IT matters, financial services, insolvency, international & offshore matters, and regulatory & public law issues.

  Wilberforce offers two pupillages each year to candidates who have a minimum 2:1 degree in law or any other discipline. The set looks for individuals with outstanding intellectual abilities, not merely through book learning but also in having a quick and flexible brain to assess any situation or problem, strip it down to the basics and then build up a coherent, logical and brief argument in favour or against the issue at hand.
  
  Excellent communication and negotiation skills are a given, with sound commercial awareness and an aptitude for advocacy and commercial chancery work also crucial. Other important qualities are confidence, enthusiasm, a creative lateral thought process, controlled aggression, strong oral and written advocacy capabilities, and flexibility to blend and work as part of a team with common goals.

  Two pupillages are offered each year, lasting for 12 months and divided into 2 sixes. Pupils are assigned to four different pupil supervisors during the course of the pupillage and the work-cum-training schedule with each supervisor will be comprised of assisting case load activities of the supervisor, helping to research and draft opinions and arguments for cases under the supervisor’s guidance.
  
  You will also attend meetings with solicitors and clients, attend court with supervisors or other Chamber members to whom they’re temporarily assigned and interact and work with junior barristers and silks.
  
  You will also liaise and coordinate with chamber clerks on regular office routines, information resources and other infrastructure available in chambers as well as regularly overseeing work and feedback by supervisors or other members of Chambers.
  
  Decisions to offer tenancy are made in the last quarter of the pupillage, however pupils stay on & complete the rest of the term under pupil status and regular funding. In addition, monies earned by pupils during the second six are paid to them in full without any cut to the chambers’ coffers.
  
  Mini-pupillages are offered in three batches during the year, each batch is aimed at a specific set of students and around 7 places are available in each batch. The batches are conducted in the months December, June & July and are structured as: (i) Session 1 – between 3rd and 5th December for final year law & CPE students; (ii) Session 2 – between 10th and 12th December for final year law & CPE students; (iii) Session 3 – between 7th and 9th July for second year law and final year non-law students.
  
  Each session lasts for 3 days and the trainees are assigned to a member of chambers who will be the supervisor for that mini-pupil. Activities during the session will include shadowing of the supervisor at work, interacting with other members of chambers to get an idea of the work system and culture at chambers and at the Bar in general.
  
  Mini-pupils will also get to attend court hearings, meetings with clients, researching material on helpful resources for the future and attending discussions and formal group meetings covering issues important for a barrister to know.

  An annual stipend of £40,000 is paid to pupils in instalments; of this an amount up to £13,500 can be released when the pupil is undergoing the BVC course. All expenses incurred by pupils in attending compulsory training courses prescribed by the Bar Council are also reimbursed.
  
  The selection process consists of two rounds of interviews; the first is conducted by two members of chambers and the second interview with as many as four members of chambers.

  Wilberforce is not registered with OLPAS and conducts its own recruitment process. Application forms can be downloaded from the set’s website at: http://www.wilberforce.co.uk/pupillage.
  
  The last date for submitting completed forms is 1 February. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews beginning in last week of February and those clearing the first round will attend a second round of interviews in the first week of March. The two selected candidates for pupillage will receive their offers by 31 March.
  
  Applications for mini-pupillages should be submitted as per the following schedule: (i) Session 1 – by 9 November& confirmation of place by 19 November; (ii) Session 2 – by 9 November & confirmation by 19 November; (iii) Session 3 – by 1 June and confirmation will be made by 18 June.

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