South Square’s work is mainly focused on financial and banking issues. We are the market leader for restructuring and insolvency, and widely recognised for our work in banking and finance litigation. Members also specialise in commercial litigation, company law and civil fraud related disputes. South Square’s work has a significant international focus and members regularly appear in the courts and tribunals of international jurisdictions, notably the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Chambers look to recruit up to three high calibre pupils with a strong academic record and the potential to become an outstanding commercial barrister. 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. A number of members have degrees in law, some have taken non-law degrees and then sat the CPE/GDL, and others have started their career in another sector before becoming a barrister.

Members of the Pupillage Committee are involved in the initial paper Sift. Successful applicants are then invited to a remote first-round interview. First-round Interviews are split into three parts and last 15-20 minutes. Second-round interviews are in-person and last 30 minutes. A problem question is given to candidates 30 minutes prior to interview.

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. 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 deadline for pupillages commencing October 2026 can be found on the Pupillage Gateway.

Each year we offer 40 two-day mini pupillages. As a mini pupil you will be placed with a junior member of chambers and see the breadth of work which we take on. You will also have the opportunity to visit the Commercial Court and, time permitting, meet a few other members for lunch in hall.

Our mini pupillages are not assessed. They are designed for candidates to gain an insight into the life of a junior barrister at South Square, the work that they do, and the culture of chambers.

Travel expenses of up to £100 are available for public transportation, against suitable receipts. An additional £20 per day will be given to contribute towards other costs.

We offer mini pupillages between April and July, September, and November each year. A mini pupillage is not a requirement for prospective pupils at South Square, but if you are considering a career at the Commercial/Chancery Bar we recommend visiting one or two sets that practice in this area.

Please send a CV and covering letter via e-mail ([email protected]) to the pupillage administrator. If you are studying law as an undergraduate, we suggest that you visit during your last year of the course. If you have not studied law as an undergraduate, we would expect you to have started your conversion degree before applying for a mini pupillage with us.

Applications for mini pupillages between April-July 2025 must be received by 14 February 2025. Applications for mini pupillages between September-November 2025 must be received by 11 July 2025.

Diversity and inclusion are extremely important to the members and staff of South Square. We are committed to increasing the diversity of chambers and strongly encourage applications from members of diverse and under-represented groups. We are proud of our pupillage programme offering a stimulating and inclusive work environment. Our Pupillage and Diversity and Inclusion Committee work closely with external organisations including the Bar Council, 10,000 Black Interns, the Black Talent Charter, COMBAR, Women in Law Pledge, and Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar, whilst utilising Rare's Contextual Recruitment System to ensure we remain at the forefront of development in fair recruitment.

Pupils receiving awards of £80,000 per annum (reviewable annually). £20,000 of the pupillage award may be paid in advance for living expenses during BPTC. As a junior tenant you would receive a number of benefits including; subsidised travel and conference fees, no rent during your first 15 months of tenancy and no receipts charge for the first six months, subsidised membership of key professional associations for the first two years and assistance and training in financial planning and business development.

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 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.