Queen Elizabeth Building QEB - True Picture

Chambers profile

QEB is one of the premier family law sets in the country. We are particularly renowned for our experience and talent in matrimonial finance law, but with immense experience in all aspects of family law including: jurisdictional disputes, foreign divorces, pre-marital agreements, civil partnerships, injunctions both financial and domestic, private law child work, child abduction, Inheritance Act claims and disputes between former cohabitees.

QEB has been established for well over 100 years and is consistently rated as one of the top-ranking sets for family law. Members of QEB have been involved in many of the most important cases of legal principle, including: White, Sorrell, Miller, Spencer, Charman, Marano, Robson, Schofield, Jones, Z v Z (No 2), Petrodel v Prest, Mittal, Cooper-Hohn, SS v NS, Zimina v Zimin, Versteegh, Martin, XH v WH, Unger v Ul-Hasan.

QEB is well known for having supplied many High Court Judges of the Family Division including Lord Wilson who sat in the Supreme Court and Lord Justice Moylan who sits in the Court of Appeal.  

Pupil profile

The practice of family law is hugely varied and clients come from all walks of life. International and conflict of laws issues arise increasingly often. An ability to deal not only with complex financial disputes, often involving commercial issues, but also with child-related or other emotionally fraught and sensitive situations, is essential. We are looking for applicants with a strong academic record (minimum 2:1 law or non-law degree save in exceptional circumstances), good legal and analytical skills, and an ability to communicate sensitively with a wide range of people at a critical time in their lives.

Pupillage

QEB offers two pupillages each year. A 12-month pupillage at QEB offers top-quality training and very good financial support in a busy, friendly environment. Pupils have four pupil supervisors, but are also encouraged to work with other tenants at all levels to gain a broad experience of our work. Pupils are automatically considered for tenancy, and our new tenants are only recruited from our pupils. QEB’s reputation is such that where a pupil is not taken on, he/she is usually well placed elsewhere.

Chambers is a part of the Pupillage Gateway system. Applicants should apply in early 2025 for a pupillage beginning in September 2026. Please consult the Pupillage Gateway website for details of the timetable.  

Mini-pupillages

Applications for mini-pupillages are made by application form. Please consult our website at www.qeb.co.uk for full details