Old Square by name but certainly not old and square by nature, this chambers’ work puts its barristers front and centre of some of the most dynamic areas of law.
Old Square Chambers pupillage review 2026
The Chambers
Of course, it’s often the type of work they do that makes each chambers unique, but it’s not all that’s important: “I think the best way to describe our set is that it is an incredibly collaborative and supportive set of chambers,” chambers directorSarah Earl tells us. “Our practice areas are all about people and so is our management structure and style,” she says; “we very much focus on the development and training of pupils, making sure that their well-being is supported, making sure that we answer any questions they have – regular, silly or otherwise.”
“As you can imagine, there's quite a lot of alignment within those practice areas, and it means that they tend to have the potential almost to feed off of each other.”
Still, the set puts plenty of its identity into its work. In financial terms, about 40% of the work coming into Old Square is employment, 35% is personal injury and the remaining 25% clinical negligence, regulatory, professional discipline, investigations and a handful of others, Earl informs us. “As you can imagine, there's quite a lot of alignment within those practice areas,” she adds, “and there can therefore be a degree of cross over between them.”
The set is acknowledged in the Chambers UK Bar guide across all its primary practice areas (employment, personal injury, clinical negligence and professional discipline), with employment in London reaching the top-tier.
But what do these kinds of practices mean for the kinds of cases arriving on the clerks’ desks at Old Square? “There has been a surge in employment work, particularly post-COVID. As you can imagine, that contributed to an increase in employment claims,” Earl tells us. Going forward, “we’re expecting to see employment continue to increase over the coming months and years with the various introductions of sections of the new employment bill as they start to come into effect.”
The set is also seeing an increase in the amount of investigations work, “that's really closely aligned with the work that we do in employment discrimination and even regulatory and professional discipline,” Earl explains. Education is another growing area.
Continuing Old Square’s long tradition of working with unions, Oliver Segal KC recently represented Aslef and ten other independent unions against the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy over whether it was legal for an employment business to supply agency workers to carry out the duties of workers taking industrial action. On the personal injury front, Ben Collins KC represented the claimant in a case considering when a defendant can require a claimant to undergo genetic testing when they do not want to do so.
The Pupillage Experience
Pupils have four three-month seats, each with a different supervisor. The non-practising first six “will consist largely in assisting or following the supervisor's own practice,” James Chegwidden of the pupillage committee tells us; “we guarantee that our pupils will get exposure to our signature areas of experience,” meaning employment, personal, and clinical negligence. “Experience in one or two of our other areas is also to be expected,” for example, public law, professional disciplinary work or regulatory work.
“I thought it was really good that in the first six we had one supervisor in employment and one in PI, because those are chambers’ predominant areas of practice,” said one former pupil. Old Square tries to repeat this balance again during second six: “The reality is that lots of people in chambers do a mixture of both,” another recent pupil informed us, “so it wasn’t like it was completely siloed” during each seat.
In their first six, pupils will spend time on research and drafting skeleton arguments for live work, attending conferences to take notes and attending hearings. They also hone their skills by doing their supervisor’s recent dead work, such as pleadings and advice, then comparing their drafts to their supervisor’s. They may also get a taste of tasks like drafting chronologies for other members of chambers. All of the pupil’s work goes through their supervisor to avoid the pupil being overwhelmed by requests to help out other members.
The second six at Old Square is practicing and there is a reasonable balance between employment and personal injury matters. Personal injury, we heard, can be quite pupil-friendly, for example small claims and road traffic accidents. A second six pupil may do merits advice and quantum advice in their own name.
More broadly, “the vast majority of our pupils in their first year or two of practice are quite focused on maintaining a diverse practice between employment and PI. We do encourage that partly because of the work that's available, but also from a future-proofing perspective around individuals’ practices,” Earl explains.
“They're doing their own practice, but nonetheless they are guaranteed the constant mentoring and support on a daily basis of a supervisor…”
Pupils have three cases in court per week, but, as Chegwidden is quick to highlight: “They're doing their own practice, but nonetheless they are guaranteed the constant mentoring and support on a daily basis of a supervisor who will be with them in chambers and can also advise and assist them on their work.”
Chegwidden explains that there are three “streams” that contribute to the tenancy decision. Firstly, there are three formal assessments (consisting of both drafting and advocacy) which are assessed by the tenancy committee. The second factor is the supervisors’ reports (more on these in a bit). The third and final element is the summary of feedback from other members of chambers for whom the pupil has done individual pieces of work.
The tenancy committee considers these three “streams” and puts together a report for members of chambers who then vote. Of those three factors, “none of them are a deal breaker or a deal maker. They're all part of the overall pie,” says Chegwidden. “If there were problems, we were made aware of them well in advance and given an opportunity to improve on them,” a recent pupil informed us.
Chegwidden highlights Old Square’s high pupil to tenant conversion ratio: “We have taken on all ten pupils who have applied to become tenants” since he became joint head of the pupillage committee in 2021. “If we take a pupil on, it is in the expectation and hope that we can make them a tenant,” he adds; “they are not in a Hunger Games-style pupillage in which they need to essentially beat the other candidate to become a tenant.”
The three assessments take place at the end of each of the first three seats in December, March and June. Afterwards, the pupil has an hour with someone from the panel who takes them through the feedback and gives them pointers to help them do better next time. Pupils are given a few clear days in their diary before each to prepare. “The cases would always be just in that grey area that requires you to work really hard in your advocacy,” a former pupil shared, “they were fine, but a bit nerve-racking.”
Each supervisor writes a final report which they talk through with the pupil. In this report, pupils are graded on whether they met the standard needed for tenancy. When working for other members of chambers, feedback can come in the form of an email or a chat, “people would be really helpful and it was always useful feedback, both kind and constructive.”
What’s the approach to making mistakes? “I was told at the beginning that Old Square's ethos is very much that we want to see a pattern of improvement, like an upwards trend on a graph,” explained a former pupil: “I definitely felt that the message was ‘of course you can make a mistake; if you don't, you're learning. But try not to make the exact same mistake again, because that shows you haven't listened and that's much worse than making a mistake.’”
Standard hours are 9am to 6pm. “Sometimes I'd work outside of that, but I was never asked to. In fact, my supervisor would get cross with me!” shared one recent pupil. “But if you're asked to do some work for a KC, you're like ‘maybe I'll put in a couple of extra hours on a Saturday!’”
The Application Process
Initial applications are made through Pupillage Gateway: “The form is a chance for you to demonstrate your written advocacy and your persuasive skills,” advised a former pupil, “every part of that form is an opportunity for you to demonstrate why you're going to be a great barrister, so you want to keep things pithy, concise, relevant.”
There are two rounds of interviews, both involve a panel interview and an on-the-spot problem question for which candidates have a short amount of time to prepare. “There is no cap on the number of people we interview at round one and at round two,” says Chegwidden.
“We're looking for intellectual prowess, and so we need people that are in command of their law,” explains Chegwidden, who adds: “We are looking for their ability to communicate, not just in terms of legal pleadings, but the way that they would communicate with a client, for example.” Old Square likes to see evidence of candidates engaging with their community and “showing their ability to excel in areas other than law.” Chegwidden also suggests completing a mini pupillage at Old Square “which is not compulsory to become a pupil, but it is recommended.”
What was it like to go through the pupillage application process? “I was sure by the end of it that Old Square was sort of the place I wanted to go, because I found it one of the most transparent, well-run pupillage application processes,” revealed one recent pupil. “It was clear what was being asked of you in each of the rounds. There were no nasty surprises.”
“There's definitely not an identikit Old Square barrister. It attracts a wide range of people.”
“There is a pretty packed social calendar!” one former pupil shared. Social events include the Christmas party and more informal gatherings: “Sometimes our head of chambers will message and say does anyone want to go have a social lunch?” one former pupil told us, adding that the junior cohort also often get together for lunch. “There's definitely not an identikit Old Square barrister,” a former pupil told us, “It attracts a wide range of people.”
A Helping Hand…
“You feel part of a family,” enthused one recent pupil, “I go and ask KCs for advice on my work and they're always willing to give me time. I think that's really special and a really lovely part of chambers.”
Old Square Chambers
10-11 Bedford Row,
London,
WC1R 4BU
Website www.oldsquare.co.uk
About Chambers
We are a leading employment, professional discipline, personal injury, and clinical negligence chambers. The defining quality of Old Square Chambers is excellence. This is the standard we set for ourselves in the delivery of services to our clients, and the criterion by which we assess prospective tenants and pupils. Members regularly appear before the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the High Court, and the Employment Appeal Tribunal, in leading cases at the forefront of UK law. Chambers was recently recognised as Employment Set of the Year in Legal 500 (2023), Employment Set of the Year by Chambers and Partners in 2022 and Chambers of the Year at the British Legal Awards in 2021. Our members are regularly nominated for and receive awards in their specialisms including members recently being recognised as Employment Junior of the Year, Personal injury Junior of the Year, and Professional Discipline Junior of the Year.
Many of our members are recognised as leading juniors in their field whilst others hold part-time judicial positions, sit on specialist panels, act as mediators, and edit or contribute to leading practitioner texts. Our objective is to select a small number of pupils with the aim of recruiting our tenants from them. We have a strong retention rate and encourage pupils to be collaborative. Chambers is committed to equality and diversity, and we are proud to have a diverse membership which we continue to build upon. We actively engage in several access to the Bar initiatives. We are based in Bedford Row but operate nationally.
Our work
We are a leading chambers in employment law. Our work is balanced between claimant and defendant or respondent and includes the protection of individual rights. We work on behalf of trade unions, commercial organisations, the NHS, and local and central government. In employment we cover all the relevant areas including discrimination, collective action, individual rights, restraint of trade and human rights. Members regularly appear before the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the High Court, and the Employment Appeal Tribunal.
We also have a thriving practice in the field of professional regulatory and disciplinary work, especially in the healthcare sector, with members often appearing on behalf of high-profile doctors (such as the British Cycling and Team Sky Doctor) and in the High Court seeking injunctive relief. Members also regularly act for dentists, nurses, solicitors, and athletes before their respective regulators.
In personal injury we have an excellent profile spanning all types of litigation, for both claimants and defendants. Particular areas of strength include, catastrophic injury, fatal accident claims, criminal injuries compensation, military claims, disaster, and multi-party litigation.
In clinical law, we have a number of expert practitioners encompassing all disputes affecting and involving the medical, dental, pharmaceutical, and nursing professions, with particular strength in obstetric and neonatal injuries, catastrophic brain injury, delay in diagnosis, and sports injury claims.
We also have a thriving inquests and inquiries practice. Members have worked on most of the high-profile inquests and inquiries over the last three decades, most recently including the Alder Hey Inquiry, Grenfell Inquiry, the Paterson Inquiry, the Leveson Inquiry, the Infected Bloody Inquiry and inquests into the London Bridge and Westminster terrorist attacks. Much of our work involves the use of European jurisprudence.
Who should apply
Chambers offers up to two funded pupillages each year. Each pupil will participate in a non-practising first six and a practising second six. In most instances, pupils will have 4 pupil supervisors in total over the 12-month period. They will sit 3 assessments during their pupillage. In June/July of the pupillage year, a decision will be taken as to whether the pupils will be offered tenancy at the conclusion of their training period. Chambers have an excellent retention record for pupils joining Chambers after pupillage, and in the last 3 years, 6 pupils out of 6 have been taken on as full members. Pupils do not compete against each other and are assessed separately against both regulatory standards of competence and our recruitment criteria.
We are committed to ensuring all our recruitment and selection processes are fair and that protected characteristics are safeguarded.
We use the following criteria to shortlist applications:
•Intellectual ability– The score for this criterion is based on the academic qualifications on the CV and/or other evidence of intellectual abilities, such as from the individual’s work experience. A minimum of a 2.1 is preferred.
•Written and persuasive argument skills– This criterion is assessed on the basis of the content of the application form.
•Potential and motivation to be an advocate– We ask for candidates to be able to demonstrate experience of public speaking (e.g. mooting, debating, other public speaking), representation work or indications of potential in this area.
•Commitment to Chambers’ fields of practice– This criterion is assessed on evidence in the application form as to the candidate’s preferred areas of practice as well as the reason given for why they are applying to Old Square in particular. It is not necessary for a candidate to show interest in all core/growth areas to achieve the highest scores.
Our shortlisting and interview process
Old Square Chambers accepts applications via the Pupillage Gateway.
Our shortlisting process is undertaken shortly after applications close and is subject to the above mentioned criteria. Applications are anonymised for this process. We encourage applicants to consider the contents of their applications bearing this in mind, to avoid referencing any protected characteristics unless strictly necessary. Shortlisting of applications usually takes 3 – 4 weeks.
On conclusion of the shortlisting process, we will contact all applicants, advising as to whether they have been invited for a first-round interview, or if their application has not been successful.
Our process usually consists of two interviews, which we undertake in person save for exceptional circumstances (such as difficulties with public transport or applicants residing abroad).
Offers to prospective pupils are then made in line with the Chambers Gateway timetable.
Feedback can be provided to unsuccessful interviewees. We do not provide feedback to individuals who are not shortlisted to attend interviews.
Pupillage programme
Pupils are offered generous funding. Pupils will experience a wide variety of court and paperwork. There is also the opportunity to work closely with silks on complex and sometimes high-profile cases.
Our current pupillage award, for recruitment of pupils from October 2025 onwards, is £70,000, (including guaranteed minimum earnings of £10,000 during the second six, payable at the conclusion of the same). A draw down system facility of up to £20,000 is available for the BTC on acceptance of an offer of pupillage, subject to references.
Mini pupillages
Chambers offer 3-day mini pupillages during specific weeks in June, July and September. We apply the same shortlisting criteria to mini pupillages as we do pupillages, and applications are anonymised for this process. The application process is outlined on our website and is published in January of each year.
Our mini pupillages are not assessed, and they are not a requirement to apply for pupillage with us.
Funding to assist with travel costs is available on application for mini pupillages. Please see our application process details on our website in January for details.
Access to the Bar as a profession
Chambers are committed to further improving access to the Bar as a profession. Amongst our many Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, those specifically related to access to the Bar as a profession include:
- Funded/part funded work experience scheme, aimed at 16 – 18 year old students - Funded/part funded mini pupillage scheme, aimed at students who are in at least their second year of university and can demonstrate an interest in law and specifically, our practice areas
- Bristol Student Union Student Group sponsor
- Sponsorship of several university prizes relating to our practice areas, which include monetary awards and mini pupillages
- Participants in the Bar Council’s Black Intern Scheme annually
- Gold partner of ‘Support Through Court’– this initiative is twofold as it not only supports the charity in its mission to improve on access to justice for individuals without representation, but is directly aligned with their student volunteer programme to allow mentee relationships and raise awareness of the Bar and how to access it as a profession
- A number of members independently volunteer for mentor schemes with the Inns and social mobility programmes, together with attending schools to present to students
- Competitive grants with a high draw down facility to assist students in achieving the BTC on successful application for pupillage
Corporate Social Responsibility
Beyond our Access to the Bar initiatives, Chambers also have in place a number of broader social responsibility commitments, that focus on everything from sustainability to more general wellbeing.
Just some of our initiatives in Chambers are:
- Chambers have a dedicated Equality Diversity and Wellbeing Committee.
- We have in place a mentoring scheme allowing any member of Chambers, regardless of seniority, to seek and be allocated a mentor to assist them in progressing their professional development.
- Chambers are an accredited London Living Wage employer, which is extended to all of our subcontractors.
- We have trained mental health first aiders amongst both the staff and membership, and members of the Committee are available to all members, staff and pupils to assist and support as required.
- We offer various signposting to sector specific resources to assist members and staff with any challenges they may be facing.
- Chambers have a parental leave policy in place to assist members with financial challenges faced when taking parental leave.
- We have several informal WhatsApp groups specifically focused towards individuals with health concerns that affect their practices, and individuals with caring/parental responsibilities.
- We provide free feminine care products in Chambers, that are sustainably sourced from an organization who match what we spend by donating products to those that cannot access them.
- A number of our members provide Pro Bono services via Advocate
Under the heading of sustainability, Chambers also have the following in place:
- All energy suppliers to Chambers are green suppliers
- We use recycled products wherever possible and avoid single use products
- We encourage all members, current and those joining us, to move towards paperless working solutions and where this isn’t possible, to take extra care as to what they print and in what format so as to reduce the environmental impact
- Any merchandising we undertake is with a view to sustainable products that can be reused
- Our facilities in London have sensor lighting in all common areas, LED light fittings (low energy) and thermostatic radiators with central boiler control to reduce wasting natural resources
Pupillage contact
Sarah Earl, searl@oldsquare.co.uk
Social media
Twitter/X: @OldSqChambers
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/old-square-chambers/
This Firm's Rankings in
UK Bar, 2026
Ranked Departments
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All Circuits
- Independent Investigations (Band 2)
- Industrial Relations (Band 1)
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London (Bar)
- Clinical Negligence (Band 4)
- Employment (Band 1)
- Personal Injury (Band 3)
- Professional Discipline (Band 3)
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Western (Bar)
- Employment (Band 2)
- Personal Injury (Band 2)