Pupillage

7 King's Bench Walk, commonly known as 7KBW, is a leading set of commercial barristers specialising in complex commercial litigation and arbitration. Members advise and represent clients across a broad range of commercial disputes, including matters involving banking and finance, civil fraud, commodities, construction, energy, insurance and reinsurance, international disputes, professional negligence, shipping and transport, and technology and media.

Chambers also has expertise in areas including aviation, entertainment and sport, injunctions, jurisdiction and conflicts of laws, mediation, offshore and international disputes and product liability.

The pupillage is designed for candidates with the potential to develop into highly successful commercial barristers. 7KBW places particular emphasis on intellectual ability, analytical ability and advocacy, while also looking for determination, resilience and a genuine commitment to a career at the Commercial Bar.

The Pupillage

7KBW offers up to three 12-month pupillages each year.

The pupillage provides broad exposure to commercial practice. Pupils work on live cases and assist with the preparation of trials and applications, giving them an opportunity to see how legal analysis and preparation translate into advocacy in court and arbitration.

Pupils can expect to work on matters involving different areas of commercial law and to gain experience of the preparation required for complex disputes. The emphasis is on developing the practical skills needed to become an effective commercial barrister.

Work Undertaken by Pupils

Pupils undertake a diverse range of work during the year.

They assist members of Chambers with the preparation of trials and applications and attend court and arbitrations with their pupil supervisors. This allows pupils to observe live advocacy and understand how written preparation is used in actual proceedings.

Other work includes:

• Drafting statements of case.

• Researching legal issues.

• Writing opinions.

• Attending conferences with solicitors, clients and expert witnesses.

• Assisting with the preparation of cases for trial and applications.

• Observing and supporting advocacy in court and arbitration.

The aim is to ensure that pupils develop the practical skills that they will use throughout their careers at the Commercial Bar. Regular feedback and discussions of their work form an important part of the training.

Four Pupil Supervisors

Each pupil can expect to sit with four different pupil supervisors during the year.

Moving between supervisors gives pupils exposure to different areas of commercial practice, different types of cases and different approaches to legal analysis and advocacy.

Pupils also undertake work for members of Chambers other than their supervisors. This gives a wider group of barristers an opportunity to assess their work and allows pupils to gain experience of the broader practice at 7KBW.

At the same time, the pupil supervisor acts as a gateway for work allocated to the pupil, helping to ensure that workloads remain reasonable and that pupils have sufficient time to complete their work properly.

Training and Support

Training at 7KBW is designed around the development of effective commercial barristers.

Pupils receive ongoing supervision and feedback throughout the year. Supervisors help pupils improve their written work, legal analysis and advocacy while providing exposure to the work of established members of Chambers.

7KBW also provides pastoral support that is separate from the assessment process. The approach to pupillage is intended to support pupils in succeeding and developing the skills required for tenancy.

What 7KBW Looks For

7KBW assesses candidates against five broad areas.

Intellectual Ability

Chambers places significant emphasis on intellectual ability, which will generally be demonstrated through strong academic achievement.

Relevant evidence can include:

• Excellent undergraduate or postgraduate achievement.

• Other academic achievements or recognition.

• Professional or other evidence of intellectual ability.

• Exceptional achievement in challenging circumstances.

7KBW does not require applicants to have studied commercial law before applying. The Chambers recognises that many candidates, particularly non-law graduates, may not have had the opportunity to study the areas in which it practises.

Analytical Ability

Candidates should demonstrate the ability to process substantial amounts of information and identify the important issues within complex material.

7KBW looks for the ability to distinguish useful material from irrelevant information, analyse problems in depth and consistently, and maintain a high level of attention to detail.

Written and Oral Advocacy

Candidates should demonstrate strong written analysis and presentation together with the potential to develop into effective oral advocates.

Clarity of expression, persuasive communication, responsiveness and resilience are important elements of the assessment.

Temperament and Interpersonal Skills

7KBW looks for candidates who demonstrate commitment to hard work and the ability to perform under pressure.

Candidates should also be able to work independently and as part of a team, while showing an understanding of the needs and concerns of others.

Commitment to the Commercial Bar and 7KBW

Candidates should demonstrate a genuine interest in and commitment to a career at the Commercial Bar and a particular interest in 7KBW.

The Chambers also considers the potential for candidates to contribute more broadly to Chambers, including through activities such as client talks and marketing.

Academic and Legal Background

7KBW places considerable weight on academic and intellectual achievement, but commercial law knowledge is not required at the application stage.

The Chambers recognises that candidates may come from different academic backgrounds and that non-law graduates may not have studied the areas of law in which 7KBW practises.

The selection process focuses on intellectual and analytical ability and the potential to become a successful commercial barrister rather than requiring applicants to demonstrate detailed knowledge of commercial law before pupillage.

Recruitment Process

Applications for pupillage commencing in September 2028 are made through the Pupillage Gateway. The application window opens in January 2027.

The selection process consists of two interview rounds. Not every applicant will be invited to interview.

First-Round Interview

The first-round interview lasts approximately 10 minutes and takes place online through Microsoft Teams.

Candidates receive a problem electronically shortly before the interview and are asked questions based on that problem.

The exercise is not intended to test legal knowledge, and candidates are not expected to undertake legal research before the interview. The assessment is designed to test the candidate's ability to analyse a problem and respond effectively under time pressure.

Second-Round Interview

The second-round interview takes place in person.

It includes an advocacy exercise and a broader discussion of the candidate's application and achievements.

Candidates receive the advocacy exercise approximately one week before the interview and must prepare and submit a skeleton argument before attending the interview.

Candidates invited to the second round are also offered a non-compulsory online session explaining the interview process and providing an opportunity to ask questions.

Contextual Recruitment

7KBW uses the Rare Contextual Recruitment System as part of its recruitment process.

Applicants complete a contextual information questionnaire when submitting their Pupillage Gateway application. This allows relevant background and circumstances to be taken into account when assessing candidates against the Chambers' selection criteria.

7KBW's recruitment process is designed to assess candidates fairly regardless of their background.

Tenancy

7KBW does not operate a fixed quota for new tenants each year.

Pupils are assessed on their ability and potential as commercial barristers, rather than competing for a predetermined number of tenancy places.

The Chambers' stated aim is for as many pupils as possible to succeed and join Chambers as junior tenants. Pupils also undertake work for members beyond their immediate supervisors so that a broader assessment can be made when tenancy decisions are considered.

Pupillage Award

The current published pupillage award is £90,000.

Pupils can draw down up to £30,000 of the award in advance.

The current published figure should be checked against the final 2028 Pupillage Gateway advert if Chambers updates its remuneration package before applications open.

Equality and Diversity

7KBW welcomes applications from talented and ambitious candidates regardless of background.

Equality and diversity form part of the Chambers' approach to recruitment, with contextual recruitment used to help ensure that candidates are assessed fairly in light of their circumstances.

Candidates who are unable to apply through the Pupillage Gateway because of a disability can contact Chambers to discuss an alternative method of application that is, so far as practicable, equivalent to the standard Gateway process.

Mini-Pupillage

7KBW operates a separate mini-pupillage programme designed to give prospective applicants an opportunity to experience life at the Commercial Bar and at Chambers.

Mini-pupillage offers exposure to intellectually demanding commercial work and is intended to help candidates understand what practice at 7KBW involves.

The current mini-pupillage programme has three application rounds, with deadlines generally falling on 1 March, 1 July and 1 December for placements in the corresponding periods. Applications are assessed on merit, and an unsuccessful mini-pupillage application does not affect a subsequent pupillage application.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for 7KBW Pupillage 2028 is:

28 January 2027 at 11:59pm

Applications open on 4 January 2027 at 11:00am and must be submitted through the Pupillage Gateway.

How to Apply

Candidates should prepare their Pupillage Gateway application in advance and submit it during the January 2027 application window.

Applicants should review 7KBW's selection criteria carefully and ensure that their application demonstrates intellectual ability, analytical ability, written and oral advocacy, resilience and interpersonal skills, together with a clear commitment to the Commercial Bar and 7KBW.