Introduction
Joe started his career in the Judicial Appointments Division of the Lord Chancellor’s Department where he assisted with appointments to the High Court Bench, Circuit Bench as well as to the ranks of Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel) and Recordership.
He started his clerking career in the Temple in 1998 and quickly rose to the rank of First Junior.
In 2001 Joe made the move from London to Birmingham to join St Philips 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 merger with No.1 Fountain Court and the influx of over 20 members from No.3 Fountain Court. Since then, Joe has gone on to directly manage two further mergers. In 2010 he was appointed to the role of Chief Clerk, with responsibility for all practice groups and clerking generally.
Today, Joe is the Chief Executive and Director of Clerking with responsibility for the overall management and leadership of the administration, ensuring best practice throughout. His role encompasses: strategic business planning, risk management, regulatory compliance, governance, finance, operations, pupillage, recruitment, IT, HR, ESG, EDI, CSR, business development, marketing and practice development*.
*Practice and career development is hugely important to Joe who, in his 23 years at St Philips, has proudly seen through an unprecedented 52 full-time judicial appointments (1 Lord Justice of Appeal, 4 High Court Judges, 32 Circuit Judges, 7 District Judges and 8 Tribunal Judges); and the appointment of 23 King’s Counsel.
In 2023, Joe was appointed a Director and board member of Birmingham Law Society, the largest regional law society, representing c9,000 legal professionals and students in Birmingham and across the greater Midlands.
In April 2024, Joe was appointed a Trustee of Advocate, the Bar’s national pro bono charity.
– Member of the Institute of Barristers’ Clerks (IBC) Management Committee
– Member of the IBC Equality, Diversity, Wellbeing and Social Mobility Committee
– Regional Representative of the Legal Practice Management Association (LPMA) Executive Committee
– Member of the Bar Council Equality, Diversity & Social Mobility Committee’s Flexible Working Group
– Member of the Bar Council Remuneration Committee
– Director & Board Member of Birmingham Law Society
– Trustee at Advocate
– Trustee at Steps to Work
– President of the Birmingham Bar Clerks’ Mess
– Common Purpose Alumni
– IBC Conference Chair 2022
– Shortlisted for ‘CEO of the Year’ – Legal 500 Awards 2022
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.”
