Inn for the Long Call: Choosing Your Inn of Court

Before starting the Bar course, you must become a member of an ‘Inn of Court’. What does that mean and why is that important to you?

What is an Inn of Court?

An Inn of Court is a professional association for all Barristers in England and Wales (think of it like the four houses in Harry Potter!) The purpose of the Inns is to oversee the training of those who wish to become Barristers as well as providing supervisory and disciplinary functions over existing members.

There are four Inns of Court and they are all based in London:

• Gray’s Inn - Home - graysinn.org.uk

• Lincoln’s Inn - The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn

• Inner Temple - The Inner Temple

• Middle Temple - Home | Middle Temple

So, what does this mean to you?

All students must become a member of one of the Inns before beginning the Bar course – that means selecting the Inn and paying a registration fee.

Picking which Inn to join is just a matter of personal preference. For me, I chose Gray’s Inn because it was the smallest Inn and had a powerful reputation in Family Law. Do your research, each Inn will offer different opportunities and scholarships (shhh more on scholarships in the next blog…) Remember, once you become a member, you are a member of that Inn for life and so you cannot switch.

Once you have picked your Inn, the Bar Standards Board requires you to complete ten Qualifying sessions[1]. These are workshops which cover one of the five themes:

• Ethics, Standards and Values

• Advocacy Skills

• Legal Knowledge, Justice and Rule of Law

• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

• Preparing for Pupillage, Career Development and Wellbeing

  
  

The sessions are mandatory and are required to be Called to the Bar. Each Inn may have their own requirements (for example, Middle Temple require you to complete at least six sessions in person rather than online[2]).

Choosing an Inn of Court is more than a box to tick – it is the first chapter in your journey to the Bar. Each one is unique and it is about finding the right fit for you.

[1] As of 2025

[2] As of 2025