- Address: Gray's Inn, London, WC1R 5NT
- Tel: 020 7831 8441
- Fax: 020 7831 8479
- Email: chambers@3vb.com
- Web: www.3vb.com
- Head of chambers: Mr Ali Malek QC
- Apply through: Pupillage Gateway
- Deadline date: Pupillage Gateway deadline
Overview
| Pupillages offered: | Up to 4 |
|---|---|
| Tenants: | 80 |
| Tenancies in last 3 years: | 8 |
| Mini-pupillages: | Yes |
| Minimum qualification: | High 2.1 honours degree or equivalent |
Description of chambers
Sitting comfortably and spaciously in a newly refurbished and expanded row of buildings in Gray’s Inn, 3VB is a large and highly regarded set of chambers, with its members being involved in many of the most important commercial cases of the day.
Areas of work
3VB is acknowledged to be one of the handful of top sets for general commercial litigation, banking and finance and civil fraud and is very highly regarded in a range of fields, including international arbitration, insolvency and company law, insurance, IT and telecoms, energy and natural resources, construction, media and entertainment and professional negligence. Members of chambers practise in the UK and internationally, in litigation in a range of jurisdictions such as the Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and Singapore and in international arbitration proceedings throughout the world.
Who should apply
3VB is looking for outstanding applicants from all backgrounds. There are no fixed requirements, but applicants are likely to have at least a high 2.1 from a good university in their undergraduate studies and will often have a first and/or a postgraduate degree. Applicants must also demonstrate strong written and oral advocacy abilities, which usually requires experience in mooting or similar activities, as well as a commitment to and understanding of the commercial bar, in part by having done mini-pupillages at 3VB or similar sets (although we appreciate that this will not always have been possible). Finally, candidates will have good temperament, integrity, commercial sense and motivation.
Pupillage programme
Pupils sit with four pupil supervisors for three months at a time. 3VB’s pupil supervisors are high achievers at various levels of seniority and so pupils are exposed to a range of cases and to top-quality expertise from which to learn their skills, all in a friendly and encouraging atmosphere. Pupils sit in the rooms of their pupil supervisor and share their daily professional life. Whilst they have to work hard, it is normally not expected that pupils should work in the evenings or at weekends. Pupils also undertake a number of advocacy exercises during the course of pupillage, usually one each term. During the practising six, pupils are given the opportunity to undertake advocacy on their own account, in order to start building up experience and earnings.
How and when to apply
3VB has traditionally used the Pupillage Gateway, for which applications should be made in January 2018, but this is under review. Students should check the position on 3VB’s website later this year.
Mini-pupillages
3VB accepts applications for short mini-pupillages which are assessed and an essential part of our pupillage selection procedure. We therefore strongly encourage those interested in 3VB to do a mini-pupillage prior to applying for pupillage. For further details on mini-pupillage and how to apply, visit the 3VB website.
Sponsorship details
The pupillage award is currently £65,000 per annum not including second six earnings. Up to £20,000 of this award can be drawn down during the year prior to pupillage.
