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Our Benchers

The Benchers of Lincoln’s Inn form its governing body (known as Council), which is responsible for the oversite of the Inn’s functions.

The Officers of the Inn are elected annually from within the pool of Benchers. Each Officer serves a one-year term and progresses through the sequence of offices year by year. The roles are Keeper of the Library, Keeper of the Black Book and Dean of the Chapel, and Keeper of the Walks, before ultimately serving as Treasurer.

The Treasurer is the head of the Inn and presides over its affairs during their year of office.

For information on how we elect our Benchers and who is eligible, please visit the Becoming a Bencher page of this website.

Officers of the Inn

Elspeth Talbot Rice KC (a barrister with long brown hair tied back, wearing spectacles, a white shirt and black jacket). She is in front of bookshelves in the Lincoln's Inn Library

Mrs Elspeth Talbot Rice KC

Treasurer

Bench date: 20/11/2012

Call date: 16/10/1990

Headshot of Michael Todd KC, hea wears a dark suit jacket, white shirt and red tie. He has thick grey hair and classes with a thin metal frame

Mr Michael Todd KC

Keeper of the Library

Bench date: 14/11/2006

Call date: 28/07/1977

Susanna McGibbon, smiling while seated at a round white table in GLD offices. She wears a bright blue suit jacket over a black top with blue flowers, in front of a green and glass partition.

Dame Susanna McGibbon DCB KC (Hon)

Keeper of the Black Book & Dean of the Chapel

Bench date: 18/05/2021

Call date: 27/11/1990

Andrew White KC, in front a shelves of black leather bound books. He has white hair, glasses, wears a suit and tie and is smiling

Mr Andrew White KC

Keeper of the Walks

Bench date: 13/05/2003

Call date: 24/07/1980

New Benchers

Headshot of Mark Harper KC. He is smiling, wearing glasses, and a striped tie.

Mr Mark Harper KC

Bench date: 19/05/2026

Call date: 14/10/1993

Headshot of Paul Jarvis KC against a brown backdrop. He is wearing a red tie and suit.

Mr Paul Jarvis KC

Bench date: 19/05/2026

Call date: 22/11/2001

Mr Ian Park

Bench date: 19/05/2026

Call date: 09/10/2003

Headshot of Clare Strickland wearing a black suit and smiling.

Miss Clare Strickland

Bench date: 19/05/2026

Call date: 12/10/1995

All Benchers

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