4 New Square

Areas of work

4 New Square is a leading commercial and civil set of barristers comprising 72 members, of whom 20 are Queen’s Counsel, with particular expertise and a high reputation in the area of insurance work and claims against professionals. Our other main areas of practice are chancery, commercial, construction and engineering, product liability, financial services and banking, human rights, administrative and public law.

In recent years we have consistently been rated in the two main legal directories (Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners) as well as in the top sets in the areas of construction and product liability, and as the top set for professional  negligence. We have won a number of Bar Awards, including the Chambers Bar Awards Professional Negligence Set of the Year 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and the Lawyer Set of the Year 2006. Jackson & Powell on Professional Negligence (the main text in this area) is written and edited by current members of chambers.

Chambers attracts a large amount of junior advocacy work which reflects the emphasis on developing pupils and junior tenants into experienced advocates to equip them for a successful career at the Bar.

Pupil recruitment

4 New Square is not part of the Pupillage Portal scheme. Pupillage applications should be made in accordance with the details on our website. Applicants should have at least a 2.1 degree. Each application is considered by at least two members of Chambers.

We strongly encourage students to apply for a mini-pupillage with us as we believe they provide a fantastic opportunity to get an understanding of the work done in Chambers and, perhaps even more importantly, an opportunity to meet members of Chambers and get a feel for the working environment here.

Mini-pupillages last for two days and, save in exceptional circumstances, take place in specific weeks in May, July, November and December of each year. Mini-pupillages do not involve formal assessment but we do record and provide you with some feedback on your likely suitability for pupillage in Chambers. Mini-pupillage application details can be found on our website.

Sponsorship/funding

We offer up to two 12-month pupillages. Each pupillage carries an award of £60,000, comprising a grant of £50,000 (of which up to a third may be drawn down in the BPTC year and £5,000 is paid immediately upon acceptance of the offer) and guaranteed second six earning of £10,000.

New tenants have a guaranteed income of £180,000 (net of chambers expenses), in addition to their pupillage awards, over the first three years of practice.