THE gift of the gab has helped a Wilmslow student clinch a world championship after triumphing at an international tournament.

Law student Claire Coleman, 40, from Irwin Drive, has been dubbed the best in the world with teammate Philippa Byrne, after beating 19 teams from universities across the globe when it came to client interviewing technique at the University of Nebraska.

The aspiring barristers, who currently study at Manchester’s Metropolitan University law school, took on the opposition through mock client-lawyer scenarios.

To qualify for the final, the pair initially fended off competition from 36 institutions to take the England and Wales title before earning a place in the prestigious final in the United States.

Philippa and Claire faced several rounds of judging over four days on small business rules and regulations.

Claire, a former Wilmslow High School pupil, said: “It was an intense tournament but well worth the effort and a fantastic feeling when they announced us as winners.

“Very quickly Philippa and I found the winning formula during the questioning and with feedback from judges we quickly absorbed it into our interviews.

“This is something the university teaches us, enabling us to assimilate large amounts of information and compose an appropriate response.”