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Selborne Chambers

2 Pupillages
46 Tenants
12 Tenancies in last 3 years

We offer up to two 12-month pupillages and provide the opportunity to work across the commercial chancery spectrum.

More info

Head of chambers

Mr Ian Clarke KC


We are a leading set of barristers specialising in commercial and chancery work. We strive to achieve the best outcomes for our clients by offering high-quality advocacy and advice which gets straight to the point. We provide advocacy and advice for every level of civil court and tribunal in England and Wales, as well as in domestic and international arbitrations and mediations. Much of chambers’ work is done in London, though members frequently advise and appear for clients in foreign jurisdictions (including Bermuda, the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the Channel Islands, Gibraltar, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Isle of Man, Bangladesh, Israel and the USA).

Our tenants regularly appear in the County Courts, First-tier tribunal (Property Chamber), the High Court, the Upper Tribunal, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. They commonly appear in or preside over mediations and arbitrations, including international arbitrations, often applying foreign law. Pupillage at Selborne Chambers equips our pupils with the necessary skills and awareness to face with confidence the various challenges which arise in the second six months of pupillage and the early days of tenancy. It is the intention of chambers to recruit a junior tenant each year, ideally from its own pupils.

Arbitration; civil fraud and asset recovery; commercial; commercial and partnership; insolvency; landlord and tenant; media and entertainment; mediation and ADR; professional negligence; real property; trusts, probate and estates.

We offer pupils with exceptional intellectual ability and commercial awareness the opportunity to work across the commercial chancery spectrum.

The interview process for pupillage will consist of two rounds. The first round may include questions on a legal problem in addition to general questions about the applicant.

A pupil in chambers will undertake a structured pupillage encompassing all principal practice areas. It is envisaged that pupils will spend time with three or four pupil supervisors, each with varying types of practice. Accordingly, a pupil will be exposed to a variety of work within the commercial chancery spectrum. Pupils will be asked to prepare fully for and attend conferences and hearings with their pupil supervisors, produce written pleadings and opinions and undertake legal research, often under considerable time pressure. In addition to working with and for a pupil supervisor, pupils can expect to spend time with other members of chambers before all levels of Courts and Tribunals. Unlike in many commercial and commercial chancery sets, our pupils can expect regular court appearances and instructions in their own right during the second six months of pupillage. Typically, these include small claims and fast track trials, possession hearings, winding up petitions, case management conferences and interim applications, as well as advisory and drafting work. Pupil supervisors will ensure that all pupils are fully supervised and supported whilst undertaking their own work. Chambers also provides its own advocacy training in addition to that provided by the Inns of Court.

All applications for pupillage must be submitted through the Pupillage Gateway which opens in January 2024. We will be following the Pupillage Gateway timetable for applications.

Undertaking a mini-pupillage is the best way to find out about the day-to-day life of a barrister in private practice. It is hoped that a mini-pupil at Selborne Chambers will have the opportunity to experience both court and chambers-based work, with a number of members. Applicants for a mini-pupillages should be, at least, in the final year of their law degree or, alternatively, about to undertake or in the process of undertaking their law conversion. Owing to the considerable number of applications we receive, the following deadlines will apply: 30 June for mini-pupillages between 1 September and 31 December 31 January for mini-pupillages between 1 April and 31 July. Submissions should be made from our pupillage page on our website.

We are committed to the promotion of equality and diversity across all aspects of our practice. Equality of opportunity is essential for the maintenance of high standards and the provision of a quality service to clients. It also ensures a harmonious working environment for members of chambers, pupils and staff. We adopt best practice equality and diversity procedures in our recruitment which involves the use of objective selection criteria in accordance with the recommendations of the Equality and Diversity Rules of the Code of Conduct and legislative requirements. Applicants with a disability are encouraged to contact chambers in confidence if there are any reasonable adjustments that may be made in relation to their applications.

A pupillage award of £60,000 is offered to all pupils. The award is payable in monthly installments and up to £20,000 of the award may be drawn down during the BPTC year.

Practice Areas

Extra info

10 Essex Street, London, WC2R 3AA
Phone: 020 7420 9500
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.selbornechambers.co.uk
Mini-pupillages: Yes
Minimum qualification: 2:1 degree or equivalent