What are the Inns of Court?

The Inns of Court are the so-called “cradles of barristers”; they hold the exclusive right of “calling to the bar”. Anyone wishing to become a barrister must join one of the four Inns:

• Middle Temple

• Inner Temple

• Lincolns Inn

• Grays Inn

 

The Inns of Court, however, provide much more than a mere admittance and disciplinary service. They are a network and social club for barristers as well as a fantastic induction as the first point of contact in the journey towards becoming a barrister. The Inns provide scholarship awards and hardship funds (which will be discussed later in the section) as well as an unrivalled network opportunity through the social and educational activities such as dinners and moots.

 

When should I join?

You must check the Inns’ own scholarship and hardship rules which vary. Some Inns expect you to already be a member before you apply for any monetary assistance, whereas other Inns only expect you to join once you have received financial help.

 

Funding your BPTC

The Bar Practice Training Course is very expensive, and fees for this course range from £11,850 - £16,885. However, the Inns of Court can greatly assist in financing, indeed between them the Inns award over £4m in awards to students wishing to take the BPTC each year. The award is usually granted after an interview with the Inn, consult the Inn’s individual website for what the interview entails.

Aside from the Inns, there are other ways of financing your BPTC:

 

• You may be entitled a hardship fund, these are offered by the institution where you take your BPTC. These are discretionary funds which that help students who encounter unforeseen financial difficulties during the course of their studies

• A further way of financing the BPTC may be through a professional studies loan, these are offered by normal high street banks.

 

The Inns are not only useful for financial assistance but also advice on what is the best way to finance your BPTC.

 

INNS OF COURT

• Gray’s Inn

  Education Department, 8 South Square, London, WC1R 5ET

  Tel.: 020 7458 7965

  Website: http://www.graysinn.org.uk

 

• Lincoln’s Inn
  The Treasury Office, Lincoln’s Inn, London WC2A 3T
  Tel.: 020 74051393
  Website: http://www.lincolnsinn.org.uk

 

• Middle Temple
  Treasury Office, Middle Temple Lane, London, EC4Y 9AT
  Tel.: 020 7427 4800
  Website: http://www.middletemple.org.uk

 

• Inner Temple
  Treasury Office, Inner Temple, London, EC4Y 7HL
  Tel.: 020 7797 8250

• Website: http://www.innertemple.org.uk

 

If you want to take a self guided tour of all the Inns, it is well worth taking a look here http://www.london-footprints.co.uk/wkinnscourtroute.htm

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