Pupillage

New Square Chambers is a leading Commercial Chancery set based in Lincoln's Inn, London. Its members advise and represent clients in a broad range of business and property disputes, including matters with significant commercial, financial and international dimensions.

The Chambers has particular expertise in commercial litigation, civil fraud, company and partnership disputes, insolvency, property, trusts, wills and estates, and offshore and international work. It also has experience in alternative dispute resolution and matters involving charities and not-for-profit organisations.

New Square's members act in significant cases in England and Wales as well as offshore jurisdictions. The Chambers combines specialist Commercial Chancery expertise with a broad litigation practice, giving pupils exposure to different types of commercial and property disputes during their training.

The Pupillage

New Square normally recruits one pupil each year, but for the October 2028 intake it will recruit up to two pupils.

The pupillage lasts 12 months and is divided into four seats of approximately three months each. Each seat is undertaken with a different supervisor, giving pupils the opportunity to experience different areas of Chambers' work and different approaches to legal analysis, drafting and advocacy.

Pupils are encouraged to undertake work for members other than their immediate supervisors. This gives them a broader understanding of Chambers and allows them to develop relationships with barristers across different levels of seniority and areas of practice.

The pupillage includes a practising second six, during which pupils can receive instructions and appear in court in their own cases. This provides an opportunity to develop practical advocacy skills while working under appropriate supervision.

Real Legal Work

Pupils are exposed to real commercial and Chancery work throughout their pupillage.

Depending on their supervisors and the matters being handled, pupils may undertake legal research, draft written advice and litigation documents, assist with pleadings, analyse evidence and attend conferences, hearings and other proceedings.

The second six provides a particularly important opportunity to move from observing and assisting more senior practitioners to handling matters independently. Pupils can be instructed on their own cases and appear in court, allowing them to develop practical advocacy and case-management skills.

Practice Areas

New Square's principal areas of practice include:

Commercial Litigation: Complex commercial disputes involving businesses, shareholders, contractual arrangements and other commercial relationships.

Civil Fraud: Fraud claims, asset recovery, tracing and related commercial disputes.

Company and Partnership: Company law disputes, shareholder litigation, partnership disputes and associated commercial matters.

Insolvency: Corporate and personal insolvency disputes, restructuring-related litigation and asset recovery.

Property: Real property disputes and other property-related commercial litigation.

Trusts, Wills and Estates: Trust disputes, contentious probate, wills and estate disputes and related private client litigation.

Offshore and International: Commercial and Chancery disputes involving offshore jurisdictions and international elements.

Alternative Dispute Resolution: Mediation and other forms of dispute resolution alongside conventional litigation.

Charities and Not-for-Profits: Disputes and advisory work involving charities and other not-for-profit organisations.

The breadth of these areas allows pupils to develop a strong foundation in Commercial Chancery practice before deciding which areas they may wish to develop further as junior tenants.

What New Square Looks For

New Square places ability above background when assessing candidates.

The Chambers generally expects applicants to have obtained, or be predicted to obtain, a first-class or upper second-class undergraduate degree and a Very Competent result on the Bar Course or equivalent. Candidates with an atypical educational background are encouraged to demonstrate other evidence of exceptional achievement, ability and motivation. Genuine and relevant extenuating circumstances are also taken into account.

New Square assesses candidates against a range of qualities relevant to successful practice at the Commercial and Chancery Bar.

These include:

• Oral advocacy skills.

• Written advocacy skills.

• Clear oral and written communication.

• Analytical ability.

• Interpersonal skills.

• Commitment to a career at the Bar.

• Commitment to or interest in one or more of Chambers' practice areas.

• Focus and drive.

• The ability to deal with conflict and stressful or difficult situations.

• The ability to work independently.

• Teamwork, adaptability, problem-solving and other professional skills.

Candidates should use their application to provide specific evidence demonstrating these qualities rather than relying on general descriptions of their abilities.

Academic Background

New Square does not require candidates to have followed a conventional educational route.

Candidates with an atypical educational background are not automatically disadvantaged. The Chambers encourages such candidates to provide evidence of their intellectual and academic ability through other achievements and experiences. Relevant extenuating circumstances are also considered.

The Chambers' recent recruitment has included both traditional law graduates and candidates who entered the profession through other academic disciplines and subsequently converted to law.

Application Process

Applications for the October 2028 intake must be made through the Bar Council's Pupillage Gateway. New Square does not normally accept applications made outside the Gateway, except where a reasonable adjustment requires an alternative method.

The 2028 application window opens on 4 January 2027 and closes on 28 January 2027.

New Square's recruitment process involves two rounds of interviews. Successful candidates receive their offers through the Pupillage Gateway on 7 May 2027.

Application Assessment

New Square uses objective recruitment criteria when assessing applications.

Candidates are assessed against the qualities required of pupils and members of Chambers, including intellectual and analytical ability, written and oral advocacy, communication, commitment to the Bar, interest in Chambers' practice areas, interpersonal skills, focus, drive and the ability to work independently.

The Chambers also places importance on applicants demonstrating how their previous experiences have developed skills relevant to practice at the Bar.

New Square's recruitment process recognises that strong candidates may have developed these qualities through academic work, employment, extracurricular activities, professional experience or other significant achievements.

Interviews

The recruitment process involves two interview stages.

Candidates who progress through the initial application assessment are invited to the first interview. Those who perform strongly can then progress to the second interview.

The interviews are designed to assess the candidate's intellectual and analytical ability, communication and advocacy skills, motivation for the Bar, interest in Chambers' areas of practice and broader suitability for life as a barrister.

Successful candidates are notified through the Pupillage Gateway and receive their formal offers in accordance with the national timetable.

Pupillage Award

New Square Chambers offers a £80,000 pupillage award for the October 2028 intake.

The award supports pupils throughout the 12-month pupillage and provides financial security while pupils undertake their training and develop their advocacy and legal skills.

The practising second six also provides pupils with the opportunity to be instructed and appear in court on their own cases.

Support and Training

Pupillage at New Square is demanding but is structured around close supervision and support.

Pupils benefit from an open-door policy, allowing them to seek guidance from members of Chambers beyond their immediate supervisors. The pupillage team also provides pastoral support throughout the year.

The four-seat structure means that pupils work closely with several different supervisors and are encouraged to gain experience from a broad cross-section of members.

This approach is intended to help pupils develop the technical legal knowledge, analytical ability, drafting skills and advocacy experience required to build a successful Commercial Chancery practice.

Mini-Pupillage

New Square offers both assessed Social Mobility Mini-Pupillages and ordinary unassessed mini-pupillages.

The Chambers' Social Mobility Mini-Pupillage programme offers up to 10 assessed places to candidates from socially mobile backgrounds. The placement can last for up to five days and includes written and oral advocacy assessments. Candidates who perform well are guaranteed a first-round pupillage interview in the next recruitment round for which they are eligible.

Since the programme began in 2020, New Square has welcomed 36 prospective pupillage candidates through its Social Mobility Mini-Pupillage programme. The Chambers reports that a number of candidates have subsequently secured first-round interviews because of their performance during the assessed mini-pupillage.

New Square also offers a limited number of unassessed mini-pupillages, ordinarily lasting two days and generally taking place between November and January. A mini-pupillage is encouraged but is not a requirement for applying for pupillage.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

New Square is committed to improving equality, diversity and inclusion at the Bar.

The Chambers operates an internal EDI Committee and participates in wider Bar initiatives designed to improve representation and access to the profession. It was also the first Chancery set to establish a dedicated Social Mobility Mini-Pupillage programme.

The Chambers operates an equal opportunities policy and uses objective recruitment criteria. Reasonable adjustments are available for candidates who require them during the application and assessment process.

New Square also has policies supporting parental and long-term leave.

AI and Applications

New Square has adopted a specific policy on the use of artificial intelligence in pupillage applications.

Candidates may use AI tools to proofread or edit their applications. However, AI must not be used to generate substantive answers or content. Application responses must be the candidate's own work.

The Chambers reserves the right to automatically reject an application where it detects AI-generated answers.

Candidates applying for the 2028 intake should check the final Gateway advertisement for the precise wording of the application questions and any updated AI guidance.

Tenancy and Career Development

The structure of pupillage is designed to prepare pupils for practice as Commercial Chancery barristers.

Pupils gain experience across multiple practice areas and work with different supervisors before developing their own practice during the second six. The ability to appear in court on their own cases gives pupils early practical advocacy experience.

New Square has a strong record of retaining pupils and supporting successful candidates in developing their practices at the Bar. Recent Chambers announcements show former pupils progressing to tenancy after completing their pupillage.

Application Deadline

Applications for New Square Chambers Pupillage 2028 open on:

4 January 2027

The deadline is:

28 January 2027

Applications must be made through the Pupillage Gateway. New Square's current recruitment information confirms that the October 2028 intake will comprise up to two pupils and that successful candidates will receive offers on 7 May 2027.