Aspiring barristers- choice of an Inn of Court
By Gemma Mootoo Rajah
All those intending to pursue a career at the bar must join an inn of court before embarking on their Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC). What exactly is an Inn and what purpose does it serve? Inns are responsible for calling students to the bar upon successful completion of the BPTC. In addition, the inns also organise the twelve compulsory sessions (essentially dinners) for qualifying and hence practising as a barrister.
The choice that many of you (including me) faced, is indubitably, which one inn to choose and why? What is it that makes Lincolns Inn, Grays Inn, Inner Temple and Middle Temple distinctive or more attractive? There is no substantive difference between the inns; indeed, each one of them welcomes bar students from any area of law. Reasons influencing people's decision to opt for a particular inn usually stems from knowledge of current members, the amount of annual awards and scholarships, personal experiences through law societies, traditions associated with the Inn, or not surprisingly because of the peculiarities of the inn's infrastructure.
Below are a few key facts which may give you a hint about the various inn's traditions; my call is that given that one can only join one inn, it would be preferable to visit them (all in central London within walking distance from LSE) and garner enough information to choose the inn that will suit you the most.
Gray's Inn
It is thought to have been in existence since 1388; membership list dates back to 1521; the gist of the inn is located in the Hall, and the site comprises a wide-ranging library, chapel, chambers and sixty residential flats; the inn can provide scholarships and awards to the total value of over £700,000 a year.
Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn possesses formal records which dates its legal activities from 1422; its name derives from Henry de Lacy, the third Earl of Lincoln; the Inn has a stunning architecture; a former member Lord Denning set up an exclusive society for those who hold scholarship or bursaries at Lincoln's Inn, scholarships for the academic session 2010/2011 will be over £1.1.m.
Inner Temple
History of Inner Temple began in the middle of the twelfth century when the Order of the Knights Templar constructed the Temple Church which still forms part of the site today; each building can be identified by the emblems sculptured on them-a Pegasus; Scholarships amount to about £1.14m each year.
Middle Temple
Middle Temple's history closely connected with Inner Temple, as both have their roots in the site created by the Order of the Knights Templar; Middle Temple' has records which date back to 1501; the inn is famous for holding the annual Rosamond Smith Mooting Competition; annual scholarships and awards amount to about å£1m as well as fifty Entrance Exhibitions (which cover the admission and call fees)
(For more information- please refer to Lawyer 2 Be)