The Inns of Court or “Inns” are professional membership associations for barristers in England and Wales. The Inns are mostly non-academic societies which provide collegiate and educational activities and support for barristers and students. They all provide the use of a library, lunching and dining facilities, common rooms and gardens. There are four Inns: Lincoln’s Inn, Gray’s Inn, Inner Temple and Middle Temple, all based in London.

You must be a member of an Inn before you start the vocational component of training for the Bar. The deadline for applying is at least 12 weeks prior to the start of the vocational component of training. Where the vocational component is split into two parts, membership must be applied for 12 weeks prior to the start of Part 2. Transferring lawyers should contact their chosen Inn for more information about when they should join.

It is up to you which Inn you choose to join, though you can only join one Inn. Your choice of Inn does not affect the area of law in which you practise or your choice of pupillage or tenancy. You may wish to visit or contact the Inns in order to help you make your choice. All four Inns provide a similar range of services, including scholarships to students on the GDL and students undertaking the vocational component of training. Information about the different scholarship requirements, including deadlines for application, are available on the Inns’ websites.

You must apply directly to your chosen Inn for membership with an Admission Declaration, which enables the Inn to identify any issues which may call into question whether you are a fit and proper person to practise as a barrister. More information about joining an Inn and the role of the Inns can be found in the Bar Qualification Manual.  

Qualifying sessions

During the vocational component, you will be required to attend qualifying sessions with your Inn. Qualifying sessions are intended to complement and build on your academic and vocational training. They may include lectures, dinners, advocacy courses, moots and residential weekends, and will cover one or more of the following categories:

  • Ethics, Standards and Values
  • Advocacy Skills
  • Legal Knowledge, Justice and the Rule of Law
  • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; and
  • Preparation for Pupillage, Career Development and Wellbeing

Once you have successfully completed the vocational component, your Inn will Call you to the Bar. You must be Called to the Bar in order to complete the pupillage / work-based learning component of training, and the Inns of Court are the only institutions with the power to Call a person to the Bar.

Information for students on the fit and proper person checks is available on this webpage.

Last updated 24 Sep 2024