Law students are encouraged by visiting family barrister Hugh Merry to apply for the Bar
One of the UK’s ancient Inns of Court attended an outreach event at the University of Portsmouth’s School of Law to encourage students to aim for the Bar.
The visit to Portsmouth Business School by some of the country’s most prominent lawyers was a coup for the School.
The event was sponsored by one of the UK’s four Inns, the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, and was attended by judges and barristers on the Western Circuit.
Judge Mark Sutherland-Williams talks with law students
The Inns are professional associations for barristers and judges in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, a lawyer must belong to one of the four Inns.
School of Law lecturer Bernard Davis said: “This is the first outreach event of its kind and is an accolade for Portsmouth.
“Modern universities are under represented at the Bar because more traditional universities have historically provided an ample supply of well qualified recruits.
“But things are changing now with the recognition that the modern universities also have academic talent and students with the essential personal qualities needed to complement academic excellence. Both are required to be successful in practice.”
The drinks and talks reception was, Bernard said, all about the future, about inspiring young student lawyers they can aim for the highest positions in their career.
He said: “A number of former students have won scholarships to the Inns and one has secured a pupillage, which is a bit like winning the Pools. This is very impressive for a relatively new Law School and we have other promising candidates following this lead.”
Dawn Hyland, from the Crown Prosecution Service, talks with a law student
All barristers have to be a member of one of the Inns, all of which are in London. If they practise at the independent Bar, they also become members of the “circuit”, or geographical region where they practise. Portsmouth is in the Western Circuit.
After graduation, would-be barristers must first take the one-year Bar professional training course and attend 12 training events at their Inn. They must then complete 12 months’ pupillage, attached to a practising barrister, before they are fully qualified to practise on their own.
The four Inns of Court have a rich history going back to the 14th century and are Temple Inn, Gray’s Inn, Middle Temple and Lincoln’s Inn.
