Pupillage Vacancy Information
About Authorised Education and Training Organisation
South Square is a highly respected and successful commercial set involved in complex and high-profile international and domestic commercial litigation. We are the market leader for restructuring and insolvency, and widely recognised for our work in banking and finance litigation, company law and civil fraud related disputes. Members are recognised as leaders in their fields in all the key legal directories and have acted in some of the most important commercial cases of the last decade. Chambers UK Bar Guide describes South Square as having “members with unrivalled talent” and “excellent in everything they do”. Our work extends beyond England and Wales, with members regularly appearing in courts and tribunals of international jurisdictions notably the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Structure of Pupillage
Pupils are welcomed into all areas of Chambers’ life and are provided with a structured programme designed to train and equip them for practice in a dynamic and challenging environment. Pupils sit with a number of supervisors for periods of six to eight weeks to experience a range of practices and work. There are seven formal assessments throughout the year with feedback given at the end of every six to eight weeks (seat). Pupils can expect reviews at three and six-month stages of pupillage. The reviews are conducted by the Head of Pupillage, Chambers' Director and Pupillage Manager. Feedback received from supervisors is discussed ensuring pupils are aware of their progress and if they're meeting the standard expected. In the event they are not, Chambers finds ways in which to better improve their upcoming seat and provide support if required. Pupils are also given a mentor throughout pupillage. Mentors are members not involved in the recruitment process, who have recently completed pupillage and have no bearing on tenancy decisions. Tenancy decisions happen on the ninth month of pupillage. It should be noted, pupillage is not run as a competition between pupils and Chambers’ approach is to recruit all pupils as tenants who meet the required standard. The minimum academic qualification is a 2:1 degree. Pupils are selected from a broad range of backgrounds and experience, whether recent university graduates or those seeking a second career at the Bar. Several of our members have degrees in law and some the BCL or other postgraduate qualifications. Others have non-law degrees and have gone on to take the GDL. A few have started their career in another sector before becoming a barrister.
Financial and Other Support Available
Pupils receive awards of £80,000 per annum (reviewable annually). £20,000 of the pupillage award may be paid in advance for living expenses during the BPC. As a junior tenant you would receive a number of benefits including: subsidised travel, conference fees, no rent during your first 15 months of tenancy and no receipts charge for the first two years. Assistance and training in financial planning and business development is also provided.
At South Square, junior tenants can expect to earn materially in excess of their pupillage award in their first year. As a broad guide, average income during the first 12 months of practice exceeds £150,000, for the second year of tenancy exceeds £250,000, and in the third year exceeds £300,000 (in many cases by a considerable margin).
Chambers also offers interest-free loans of up to £25,000 to new tenants to assist with any early cash flow concerns. The loan is repayable over the first 24 months of tenancy.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion are extremely important to the members and staff of South Square. Our Pupillage Committee and Diversity and Inclusion Officers work closely with external organisations including the Bar Council, COMBAR's Social Mobility programme, 10,000 Black Interns, the Black Talent Charter, the Women in Law Pledge, Bridging the Bar, Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar (BDABar) and Rare Recruitment, ensuring we remain at the forefront of developments in fair recruitment, diversity and inclusion, wellbeing, and the fair allocation of work.
How to Apply
Aspiring barristers are invited to apply to 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’.
Candidates will be asked to respond to the following question from Chambers:
1. What are your career goals over the next five years, and how will pupillage and tenancy at South Square help you achieve them? (200 Min / 400 Max Word Count)
Attached documents
