Pupillage

Wilberforce Chambers is a leading Chancery and commercial Chancery set with particular expertise in trusts, fraud, insolvency, property and commercial disputes. Its barristers act in complex and high-value cases in the UK and across the common law world, covering both contentious and advisory work.

The Chambers has a broad practice across areas of Chancery and commercial law, allowing pupils to gain experience of disputes that often involve several overlapping areas of legal expertise. Members regularly act in cases involving complex legal and factual issues and provide advocacy, advice, drafting, arbitration and mediation services.

The Pupillage

Wilberforce offers up to four 12-month pupillages each year.

The pupillage is structured to give pupils a broad introduction to Chambers' practice. During the year, pupils sit with at least five different pupil supervisors, allowing them to experience different areas of work and different approaches to practice.

Pupils share the day-to-day professional life of their supervisors and work closely with other members of Chambers, including junior tenants and silks. The aim is to develop both the technical and practical skills required to establish a successful practice at the Chancery Commercial Bar.

Pupils are not in competition with one another for tenancy. Each pupil is assessed on individual ability and performance, with Chambers offering pupillage with the intention of recruiting successful pupils as tenants.

Work During Pupillage

Pupils are given substantial exposure to real legal work throughout the year.

Their work can include:

• Preparing pleadings and opinions.

• Undertaking legal research and analysis.

• Drafting written advice.

• Preparing for conferences and hearings.

• Attending conferences with supervisors, solicitors and clients.

• Attending court with supervisors and other members of Chambers.

• Working with junior tenants and King's Counsel.

• Developing an understanding of the practical and commercial aspects of a barrister's practice.

Pupils receive regular feedback from their supervisors and their workload is monitored throughout the year. They also have opportunities to work with a range of members rather than relying exclusively on their immediate supervisor.

Practice Areas

Wilberforce has particular expertise in the following areas.

Commercial: Complex commercial disputes, contractual issues and commercial Chancery matters.

Civil Fraud: Fraud, asset recovery and disputes involving allegations of dishonest conduct.

Insolvency: Corporate and personal insolvency, restructuring and related disputes.

Pensions: Pensions disputes and advisory work involving pension arrangements and obligations.

Professional Liability: Claims and disputes concerning professional advisers and other professionals.

Property: Property disputes and related Chancery matters.

Trusts: Contentious and non-contentious trusts work, including complex trust disputes.

Tax: Tax-related Chancery and commercial matters.

Probate and Estates: Disputes concerning estates, succession and probate.

The breadth of the practice means that cases frequently involve more than one specialist area. Pupils therefore have the opportunity to develop a broad understanding of Chancery Commercial practice while identifying the areas in which they may eventually wish to specialise. Recent pupils who became tenants have gained experience across Chambers' principal specialisms, including commercial dispute resolution, civil fraud, insolvency, pensions, professional liability, property, trusts, tax, probate and estates.

What Wilberforce Looks For

Wilberforce identifies seven principal qualities when selecting pupils:

High intellectual ability: Candidates should demonstrate strong academic achievement or other evidence of intellectual ability, including relevant achievements from previous careers where applicable.

Written and oral communication: Candidates should be able to communicate clearly, accurately and persuasively in both written and spoken forms.

Interest in Chancery Commercial work: Applicants should demonstrate a genuine interest in the type of work undertaken at Wilberforce and a considered reason for pursuing a career at the Chancery Commercial Bar.

Maturity and confidence: Candidates should be able to approach difficult problems with composure and demonstrate the confidence necessary to engage constructively with clients, colleagues and opponents.

Ability to work with others: Barristers work closely with clients, solicitors, clerks and other members of Chambers, making effective working relationships important.

Legal analysis: Candidates should be capable of identifying issues, analysing legal problems and developing coherent arguments.

Practical and commercial sense: Wilberforce looks for candidates who can apply legal reasoning to practical problems and understand the commercial context in which disputes arise.

Academic Requirements

Wilberforce has a minimum requirement of a 2:1 degree, whether in law or another subject.

A law degree is not required. Chambers has a strong record of recruiting candidates from non-law backgrounds and candidates who have undertaken the GDL.

The recruitment process is designed to avoid disadvantaging candidates who have only recently begun their legal studies. Academic achievement is considered alongside other evidence of intellectual ability and potential.

Application Process

Applications for October 2028 pupillage must be made through the Pupillage Gateway, except where an applicant falls within an applicable exemption.

The recruitment process consists of three main stages:

1. Application form.

2. Long-list interview.

3. Short-list interview.

Stage 1: Pupillage Gateway Application

The Gateway application window opens on 4 January 2027 and closes on 28 January 2027.

Wilberforce assesses applications for evidence of intellectual ability, written and oral communication skills, and interest in and commitment to the Chancery Commercial Bar.

Candidates are encouraged to provide detailed information about their academic achievements and other evidence of intellectual ability. The written application itself is also an opportunity to demonstrate clear, concise and well-structured written communication.

Applicants should explain why they are interested in Chancery Commercial practice and why Wilberforce is particularly suited to their career ambitions. Chambers does not expect candidates to demonstrate their interest solely through multiple mini-pupillages. Academic interests, other experiences and wider interests can also provide evidence of commitment to this area of practice.

RARE Contextual Recruitment

Wilberforce uses RARE Contextual Recruitment as part of its selection process.

Providing contextual information is voluntary, and candidates are not disadvantaged if they choose not to provide it.

Contextual information can be considered where candidates are closely matched for remaining interview places. Wilberforce also generally reserves a number of additional first-round interview places for applicants identified through the contextual recruitment process.

The system is intended to help Chambers identify candidates with strong potential who may otherwise be overlooked when academic and other achievements are considered without contextual information.

Stage 2: Long-List Interview

Candidates selected for the first interview attend a 20 to 25-minute interview with two members of Chambers.

Candidates are given a problem question approximately 30 minutes before the interview and are asked to discuss it with the panel.

The exercise is not intended to test detailed legal knowledge. Instead, Wilberforce is interested in how candidates:

• Identify the issues raised by a problem.

• Form a view supported by logical reasoning.

• Explain their reasoning clearly and analytically.

• Respond to challenges from the panel.

• Consider alternative arguments.

• Adapt their position when presented with new information.

• Demonstrate practical and commercial awareness.

The approach is intended to reflect the type of reasoning and adaptability required in legal practice, including responding to questions from a judge.

There are generally 36 first-round interview places, with a further four to six places potentially offered through the contextual recruitment process. Approximately 12 to 15 candidates progress to the shortlist interview.

Stage 3: Short-List Interview

The second interview lasts approximately 35 to 40 minutes and is conducted by a panel of up to four members of Chambers.

Candidates are given a more complex problem question than the one used at the long-list stage.

The interview continues to assess the candidate's ability to analyse legal and practical problems, construct arguments, respond to challenges and adapt to new information. Detailed knowledge of specific cases or legal provisions is not the primary focus of the exercise.

Successful candidates receive offers of pupillage through the Pupillage Gateway in accordance with the national timetable.

Pupillage Assessment

Wilberforce uses continuous assessment throughout pupillage rather than a separate formal assessment at the end of the year.

Pupils are assessed against a common standard while recognising that expectations develop as the pupil gains experience. Work produced early in the year is assessed in the context of the pupil's stage of development, with increasing expectations as pupillage progresses.

Supervisors provide detailed feedback and guidance throughout each seat. There is also direct oversight from the Head of the Pupillage Committee around the halfway point of the pre-tenancy assessment process.

Pupils have a junior barrister mentor who is not involved in the formal assessment process and can provide confidential informal support throughout the year.

Advocacy Training

Pupils undertake a small number of advocacy assessments during pupillage.

These exercises are assessed on a pass/fail basis and are primarily intended as training exercises. They allow pupils to experience the realities of early-years Chancery Commercial advocacy and receive feedback on their performance.

The emphasis during pupillage remains on developing practical skills and gaining experience rather than competing against other pupils.

Working Hours and Wellbeing

Wilberforce recognises that pupillage can be demanding and aims to provide an environment in which pupils can perform at their best.

Except in exceptional circumstances, such as an urgent hearing or trial, pupils are expected to work between approximately 9am and 6pm and are not expected to work at weekends.

The Chambers also provides pastoral support through the pupil mentor and wider support structures. Wilberforce received a Bar Council Wellbeing Certificate of Recognition in May 2024 for its work supporting wellbeing within the profession.

Pupillage Award

For the 12-month pupillage commencing in October 2028, Wilberforce has confirmed a pupillage award of £85,000.

The award is paid monthly. Up to £35,000 of the award can currently be drawn down during the BPTC year.

Wilberforce also pays for compulsory courses required as part of Bar training.

Tenancy

Wilberforce offers pupillage with a view to tenancy and aims to have a tenancy available for every pupillage offered.

There is no fixed limit on the number of pupils who can be offered tenancy. Pupils are not competing against one another for a limited number of places. Instead, each pupil is assessed on individual ability and performance.

The tenancy decision is normally reached after approximately nine to ten months of pupillage.

Pupils who are not offered tenancy remain entitled to complete their full pupillage on the full pupillage award. Chambers also provides assistance to pupils who are not retained in finding alternative pupillage and tenancy opportunities.

Recent retention has been particularly strong. In October 2026, four new pupils began pupillage at Wilberforce, while two pupils who completed their pupillages joined Chambers as tenants.

Support for New Tenants

Wilberforce provides financial and practical support to new tenants as they establish their practices.

During the first year of practice, new tenants do not pay room rent and only pay general expenses on income received above £75,000. Property-related expenses are capped during the second and third years.

New tenants can also draw up to £15,000 against fee notes issued during their first year. This is an interest-free loan repayable to Chambers over a period of up to two years.

New tenants join the juniors team, where experienced practice managers and clerks assist them in developing their practices and managing their workloads. Chambers also operates work allocation policies intended to provide new tenants with a fair opportunity to establish their practices.

Equality, Diversity and Access

Wilberforce is committed to equality and diversity throughout its recruitment and practice.

Chambers uses objective selection criteria and trained interviewers as part of its pupillage recruitment process. Candidates with disabilities can contact Chambers confidentially to discuss reasonable adjustments to the application and interview process.

Wilberforce also operates a Bar Access Programme and participates in initiatives designed to widen access to the Bar, including work with the Sutton Trust, the Legal Social Mobility Partnership, Pegasus and Bar Placement programmes.

Chambers is also recognised through the Chancery Bar Charter for Fairness and has received recognition for its commitment to fairness in areas including work allocation, career development, marketing and earnings.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for Wilberforce Chambers Pupillage 2028 is:

28 January 2027

Applications open on 4 January 2027 through the Pupillage Gateway. The Gateway vacancy can be browsed from 23 November 2026, with interviews taking place during the February to May 2027 period and offers being made on 7 May 2027.

How to Apply

Candidates should apply through the Pupillage Gateway and should use the application to demonstrate intellectual ability, communication skills, analytical ability, practical judgment and a genuine interest in Chancery Commercial practice.

Wilberforce does not require applicants to have completed numerous Chancery mini-pupillages. Candidates can demonstrate their interest through academic study, legal experience, other relevant activities and their reasons for wanting to develop a career in Chancery Commercial practice.