Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation
At New Square we cover the full range of business and property law, from trusts and wills through commercial disputes, civil fraud, company and partnership, insolvency and real property. If you want to undertake pupillage at one of the leading commercial chancery sets, then New Square Chambers might be the set for you. We are ranked as leaders in our specialist fields, and our members appear in significant cases both in England and Wales, and offshore jurisdictions such as the Channel Islands, Bermuda and the Caribbean islands.
Pupillage at New Square Chambers is an intense, but rewarding and mentally stimulating experience. We aim to provide you with the skills and experience that you will need to build a fantastic career. We pride ourselves on a welcoming, collegiate and supportive atmosphere for our members and our pupils. You will be supported throughout your pupillage, both by virtue of our “open door” policy and through pastoral support from the pupillage team.
Structure of Pupillage
We offer up to two 12-month pupillage, terminable after six months by either Chambers or our pupil. Pupils undertake four “seats” of three months, each with a different pupil supervisor, in order to experience the full range of Chambers’ work. However, pupils will also be exposed to the practices of other members of Chambers, and are encouraged to undertake work for a number of other members of Chambers. Pupils typically undertake their own court work during their second-six alongside their regular work for members.
Financial and Other Support Available
Our pupillage award is £80,000, payable by monthly instalments throughout the 12 months of pupillage. Drawdowns of the pupillage award in the year prior to pupillage commencing are available upon request.
Travel expenses outside of London Zones will be paid by Chambers, as will the cost of all mandatory courses during pupillage.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
We are committed to increasing diversity and inclusion at the Bar through recruitment, and consider ourselves at the forefront of promoting diversity and inclusion at the Chancery Bar.
In the last few years we have implemented a number of policies and procedures with the aim of increasing diversity and inclusion. For example, we conduct an annual gender and race pay gap review for both staff and barristers, and have a judicial and KC appointments mentoring programme.
We run a number of initiatives specifically targeted to prospective pupillage applicants, including our Social Mobility Mini-Pupillage and an annual seminar programme. We strongly encourage applications from female, BAME, disabled and socially mobile candidates.
Please see our website for further information https://www.newsquarechambers.co.uk/about/equality-diversity/
To discuss any inclusion, diversity or accessibility issues relevant to your application please contact either James Saunders (James.Saunders@newsquarechambers.co.uk) or Jessica Powers (Jessica.Powers@newsquarechambers.co.uk).
How to Apply
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to New Square Chambers between 2 January 2025 and 6 February 2025 using the Pupillage Gateway application system to search for the relevant Pupillage Vacancy and selecting ‘Apply for this pupillage’.
In addition to the standardised Bar Council questionnaire, candidates will be asked to respond to the following questions from Chambers:
- What are the three most essential attributes of a commercial chancery barrister and how do you demonstrate each? Please ensure that you support your answer with references to your relevant experiences, skills and knowledge. (1,000 character limit)
- Why would you like to undertake a Chancery Commercial pupillage? (1,000 character limit)
- The most important part of being a lawyer is the law, do you agree? (1,250 character limit)
Other Relevant Information
We assess pupillage applicants in accordance with the criteria which we consider are necessary or desirable for pupils and prospective tenants to have, including but not limited to:
- Intellectual achievement
- We would generally expect candidates to have a 2:1 or above at undergraduate degree level and a "Very Competent” on the Bar Course (or equivalent)
- We welcome applications from candidates who have an atypical educational background, and encourage them to demonstrate other exceptional personal achievement and motivation when applying
- We, of course, take into account extenuating circumstances and would encourage you to provide details of relevant extenuating circumstances and to explain their relevance to your application.
- Oral advocacy skills
- Written advocacy skills
- Good communication skills, orally and in writing
- Analytical ability
- Interpersonal skills
- A commitment to the Bar
- A commitment to or interest in one or more of Chambers’ practice areas
- Focus and drive
- An ability to deal with conflict, stressful and difficult situation
- An ability to work independently
Attached documents
