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.

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 in October 2025 can be found on the Pupillage Gateway.

Chambers also offers five-day mini-pupillages carrying an award of up to £750, and two-day unfunded mini-pupillages. See the chambers’ website for further details www.southsquare.com/join-us/pupillage/.

Pupils receiving awards of £75,000 per annum (reviewable annually). £20,000 of the pupillage award may be paid in advance for living expenses during the 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.