Introduction
Joe started his career in the Judicial Appointments Division of the Lord Chancellor’s Department where he assisted in appointments to the High Court Bench, Circuit Bench as well as to the ranks of Queen’s Counsel and Recordership.
He started his clerking career in 1998 at a well-known common-law set of chambers in London where he quickly rose to the rank of First Junior. In 2001 Joe made the move to Birmingham to join St Philips Chambers and within six months, and at the age of 25, he was appointed Senior Criminal and Regulatory Clerk where he went on to co-manage the mergers with No.1 Fountain Court in 2002 and No.3 Fountain Court in 2006. In 2010 he was appointed to the role of Chief Clerk, with responsibility for all practice groups and clerking generally.
Today Joe is Chambers Director and has responsibility for the overall management of St Philips, ensuring best practice throughout. His role encompasses: strategic leadership, client care, business development, practice development*, marketing, HR and management. He chairs various committees in chambers, including the management team, executive team and the strategy committee whose job it is to identify and proactively adapt to changes in legislation, funding and alternative business structures.
*Practice development is hugely important to Joe. In his 20 years at St Philips, he has proudly seen through the appointments of: 1 Lord Justice of Appeal, 4 High Court Judges, 25 Circuit Judges, 5 District Judges, 6 Employment Tribunal Judges; and 23 Queen’s Counsel.
- Institute of Barristers’ Clerks Conference Chair 2022
- Shortlisted for ‘Chambers CEO of the Year’ – Legal 500 Awards 2022
- President of the Birmingham Bar Clerks’ Mess
- Board and Council Member of Birmingham Law Society
- Member of the Bar Council Equality, Diversity & Social Mobility Committee’s Flexible Working Group
- Member of the Legal Practice Management Association
- Member of the Institute of Barristers’ Clerks
- Member of the Midland Legal Support Trust Fundraising Committee
- Advocate (formerly the Bar Pro Bono Unit) Pro Bono ‘Champion’ for St Philips
- Common Purpose Alumni
Hobbies include: golf, skiing, boxing and enjoying music of all varieties.
Testimonials
“Fantastic Service. Joe Wilson is very commercial, pragmatic, and always looking to assist clients either with work referrals or on service” Legal 500 2022
“Joe Wilson as head of clerking is excellent, commercial and personable” Legal 500 2021
“Joe Wilson is ‘a pleasure to liaise with and happy to go the extra mile to assist’.” Legal 500
“Joe Wilson leads an ‘excellent’ team, which is ‘responsive and understanding of time and fee pressures’.” Legal 500
“Joe Wilson presides over “a well-drilled clerks’ room” which is highly commercial in its approach.” Chambers and Partners
“Joe Wilson leads a very efficient and able clerking team. The clerks respond quickly, give sensible fee quotes and provide credible timescales in terms of when to expect work back.”
“They are a very good clerking team, led by Joe Wilson. They are flexible and friendly to deal with.”
“A very good clerking team, led by Joe Wilson. They are flexible, muck in and are friendly to deal with.”
“The clerks, led by Joe Wilson, are very good and very helpful. They respond promptly, they are flexible on fees and they don’t switch your barrister.”
“The clerks, led by Joe Wilson, are really, really good. They have a flexible approach and really value the relationship.”
“The dedicated clerks, led by Joe Wilson, are highly experienced and provide a personalised and professional service, as acknowledged in various legal directories.”
