Pupillage

Ten Old Square is a specialist Chancery set based at Lincoln's Inn in London. Chambers has particular expertise in private client, Court of Protection, partnership and LLP, property and commercial Chancery work, together with related areas including trusts, estates, insolvency, tax, professional negligence, charities, offshore and international disputes, and alternative dispute resolution.

The Chambers is relatively small, allowing pupils to work closely with experienced barristers and gain exposure to a broad range of Chancery practice. Members act in significant cases and include practitioners recognised in the leading legal directories.

The Pupillage

Ten Old Square generally offers one pupillage each year. The pupillage lasts 12 months and is structured around four three-month seats, with pupils sitting with a different member of Chambers during each period.

The structure allows pupils to experience different areas of Chancery practice and work with several supervisors. Pupils may also undertake work for other members of Chambers during the year.

The focus throughout pupillage is on developing the skills required for successful practice at the Chancery Bar. Pupils work closely with their supervisors and are given opportunities to observe and participate in real legal work.

Work During Pupillage

Pupils can expect to work on a broad range of active cases and may assist with work undertaken by their supervisors and other members of Chambers.

Typical work includes:

• Legal research and analysis.

• Preparing chronologies and case summaries.

• Drafting opinions and other written advice.

• Preparing statements of case and witness statements.

• Drafting skeleton arguments and position statements.

• Preparing non-contentious documents.

• Preparing oral submissions and cross-examination.

• Preparing for hearings, conferences and mediations.

• Attending hearings, conferences and mediations with members of Chambers.

Where possible, pupils attend court and other hearings with their supervisors or other members of Chambers. The Chambers' pupillage policy specifically provides for pupils to work on active cases and to gain experience of the practical aspects of a barrister's work.

Practice Areas

Ten Old Square's practice includes a broad range of Chancery and commercial work.

Contentious Trusts and Estates: Disputes concerning trusts, estates, probate and related private client matters.

Private Client: Non-contentious and contentious work involving individuals, trusts, estates and succession.

Court of Protection: Property and affairs work and disputes concerning vulnerable individuals.

Partnership and LLP: Disputes involving partnerships, LLPs, partners and business relationships.

Property: Property disputes and related Chancery matters.

Commercial and Business Disputes: Commercial disputes involving companies, businesses and contractual relationships.

Insolvency: Insolvency-related disputes and asset recovery.

Professional Negligence: Claims arising from professional advice and services.

Tax: Tax-related Chancery and private client matters.

Charities: Advice and disputes involving charities and charitable structures.

Offshore and International: Cross-border and international Chancery disputes.

Arbitration, Mediation and ADR: Alternative dispute resolution in Chancery and commercial matters.

Second Six

The second six months provide opportunities for pupils to undertake work of their own while continuing to receive supervision and training.

The emphasis remains on learning rather than generating income. Ten Old Square's pupillage policy does not guarantee a minimum amount of paid work during the practising period. Where appropriate, pupils may undertake their own work, including pro bono matters, but priority is given to ensuring that the pupil obtains the experience necessary to meet the relevant Bar Standards Board competences and Chambers' tenancy requirements.

This means that the second six is designed primarily as a continuation of structured training rather than as a requirement for pupils to generate a particular level of billings.

Advocacy and Training

Pupils receive practical advocacy training throughout the year. This can include advocacy exercises, mock courtroom exercises and opportunities to observe experienced barristers conducting hearings.

The training programme is designed to develop the practical skills required for practice at the Bar, including legal analysis, written advocacy, oral submissions, preparation for hearings and professional judgment.

The emphasis throughout the year is on learning. Ten Old Square does not use standalone formal pupillage assessments as part of its normal training structure. Instead, pupils receive feedback and evaluation from their supervisors, including through regular discussions and written reviews.

What Ten Old Square Looks For

Ten Old Square assesses applicants against four principal areas.

Intellectual Ability

The Chambers considers academic qualifications and other evidence of intellectual ability. A minimum 2:1 degree is desirable, although academic qualifications are considered alongside other evidence of a candidate's ability.

Written Skills

The application is assessed for the quality of the candidate's written communication. Candidates should be able to identify the important issues, organise their reasoning effectively and express complex ideas clearly and accurately.

Potential and Motivation to be an Advocate

Ten Old Square looks for evidence of potential as an advocate. Relevant experience can include mooting, debating, public speaking, representation work or other activities demonstrating the ability to communicate and argue effectively.

Commitment to Chambers' Practice Areas

Candidates should demonstrate a genuine interest in the areas of law practised at Ten Old Square and explain why they are particularly interested in joining the Chambers.

Applicants do not need to demonstrate an interest in every one of Chambers' practice areas. A clear and well-reasoned interest in particular areas can be sufficient.

Application Process

Applications for the October 2028 pupillage are made through the Pupillage Gateway.

Stage 1: Pupillage Gateway Application

Applications open on 4 January 2027 and close on 28 January 2027.

Ten Old Square undertakes a shortlisting exercise after applications close. Applications are assessed against intellectual ability, written skills, potential and motivation to become an advocate, and commitment to Chambers' areas of practice.

Stage 2: First-Round Interview

Candidates who perform strongly at the application stage are invited to a first-round interview.

The interview is conducted before a panel of up to three members of Chambers and lasts approximately 20 minutes.

Candidates are asked questions based on their application and are also given a short legal problem shortly before the interview. The exercise is intended to assess how the candidate approaches and analyses a legal problem rather than simply testing memorised legal knowledge.

Stage 3: Second-Round Interview

Candidates who perform strongly at the first interview progress to a more extensive second-round interview.

Before the interview, candidates receive a piece of written work to complete. The final interview also includes a debate question and general questions concerning the candidate's application and suitability for practice at the Bar.

The Chambers' recruitment process normally takes place across two rounds of interviews during March and April.

Stage 4: Pupillage Offer

Successful candidates receive offers through the Pupillage Gateway in accordance with the national timetable.

For the 2028 cycle, the national Gateway timetable provides for offers on 7 May 2027.

Pupillage Award

The latest published pupillage award is £75,000.

Up to £18,750, representing one quarter of the award, can be drawn down during the year before pupillage.

The award is designed to provide financial support during the pupillage year, allowing the focus to remain on training and development rather than income generation.

The £75,000 figure is the latest published award and should be checked against the final 2028 Gateway vacancy in case Chambers updates its funding arrangements.

Tenancy and Career Development

Ten Old Square's pupillage is designed to provide a route into practice at the Chancery Bar.

The relatively small size of Chambers means that pupils work closely with established practitioners and can gain exposure to a broad range of Chancery work. Training also continues after pupillage, with junior barristers able to develop their practices across Chambers' specialist areas.

Mini-Pupillage

Ten Old Square offers non-assessed mini-pupillages, generally lasting two days. Mini-pupils sit with a member of Chambers and observe the work undertaken, with opportunities to attend court or conferences.

Candidates must normally have completed at least the first year of a law degree or have applied for or obtained a place on the GDL or an equivalent course.

Chambers normally offers around nine mini-pupillages each year. Applications are accepted during three windows:

1 to 31 October for mini-pupillages in January or February.

1 to 31 March for mini-pupillages in May or June.

16 June to 15 July for mini-pupillages in September or October.

Ten Old Square also operates an access mini-pupillage scheme. Three reserved places are offered each year to candidates meeting the relevant access criteria, and candidates who complete an access mini-pupillage are guaranteed a first-round pupillage interview when they subsequently apply for pupillage.

Chambers can contribute towards UK travel expenses for eligible mini-pupils whose normal residence is outside Greater London where travel costs would cause financial difficulty. Additional financial assistance may also be available in exceptional circumstances.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Ten Old Square is committed to widening access to the Bar and operates an equal opportunities policy covering pupils, tenants and mini-pupils.

Chambers has reviewed its recruitment processes through initiatives including reverse mentoring and fair recruitment and unconscious bias training. It also participates in external access initiatives including Bridging the Bar, the Inner Temple Pegasus Access and Support Scheme and the Middle Temple Access to the Bar Scheme.

Ten Old Square is also signed up to the Chambers UK Diversity and Inclusion Charter.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for Ten Old Square Pupillage 2028 is:

28 January 2027

Applications open on 4 January 2027 and must be submitted through the Pupillage Gateway. The pupillage runs from October 2028 to September 2029.

How to Apply

Candidates should apply through the Pupillage Gateway and should tailor their application to Ten Old Square's specialist Chancery practice.

Particular attention should be given to demonstrating intellectual ability, strong written communication, advocacy potential and a genuine interest in Chambers' areas of practice. Candidates should also explain clearly why Ten Old Square is an appropriate set for their intended career at the Bar.