Qualifying Sessions

The Inn’s qualifying sessions fall into one or more of the following categories:

1. Ethics, Standards and Values
2. Advocacy Skills
3. Legal Knowledge, Justice and the Rule of Law
4. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
5. Preparation for Pupillage, Career Development and Wellbeing

It is now a requirement that all students must complete at least one session from each of these categories and within these two interactive qualifying sessions must be completed. Booking priority for interactive qualifying sessions is given to those who are currently studying the Bar Course. Interactive qualifying sessions can only be completed in-person, they cannot be attended remotely. Students are strongly encouraged to complete their interactive sessions during their Bar Course as it may be difficult to secure places at these events at a later stage. Students must take part in all elements of each qualifying session to be credited.

Qualifying Session Rules for Transferring Lawyers

If you are a transferring lawyer who received approval from the BSB after 1st September 2020 you will be required to complete 10 Qualifying Sessions before being eligible for Call to the Bar. It is now a requirement that all transferring lawyers complete at least one session from each of these categories and within these, two interactive qualifying sessions must be completed. If you are a transferring lawyer and were approved by the BSB prior to 1st September 2020, the rules for your qualifying sessions will remain as highlighted in the letter issued by the BSB to you.

The Inn offers a variety of qualifying sessions. Please note the Inn operates a flat rate per qualifying session plus a small premium for events that include meals/accommodation. You can find the rates* and descriptions for the 2025/26 academic year below:

*Rates as of August 2025

There are four Legal Terms: Michaelmas, Hilary, Easter and Trinity. The Inn holds qualifying sessions during each Legal Term. The number of qualifying sessions in each term varies, with the Easter and Trinity Terms having the fewest events. Do plan ahead and think carefully about which qualifying sessions you wish to attend so that you do not need to fit a large number in at the end of the academic year. Please note that it is not possible to obtain all ten of your qualifying sessions in the Trinity Term.

Circuit Advocacy & Ethics Days

We will be delivering a series of interactive Advocacy and Ethics Days for students studying at providers outside of London. These sessions will allow students to attend within their circuit and gain two interactive Qualifying Session (QS) points, fulfilling the interactive QS requirement for Call to the Bar.

There will be four circuits, with providers grouped as follows:

·   Birmingham/Nottingham – Location: Birmingham

·   Manchester/Leeds/Liverpool – Location: Manchester

·   Bristol/Cardiff – Location: Bristol

·   Newcastle – Location: Newcastle

The Advocacy & Ethics Days will take place on Saturdays during the Hilary and Easter terms. Confirmed dates and locations will be communicated to students on circuit in advance.

Collaborative Qualifying Sessions

The four Inns of Court are working collaboratively to deliver a series of Collaborative Qualifying Sessions (QSs) focused on the Ethics, Standards, and Values theme for students on circuit. These sessions will complement each Inn’s standard QS programme and will appear in their respective term schedules.

These sessions will be non-interactive, and further details including dates, locations, and session content will be shared with students in due course.

Please note that these sessions are open only to current Bar Course students and Transferring Lawyers on circuit. Eligible students will be provided with access to book onto the Circuit QSs. We encourage all students on circuit to attend and gain QS points locally, while engaging with members of the regional Bench and Bar.

The Inn organises three residential weekends per year. Only students currently undertaking the Bar Course and transferring lawyers are eligible. It is recommended that you attend one of these weekends as they are a good opportunity to meet Benchers and barristers of the Inn in an informal setting.

Each weekend includes talks on different areas of law and advocacy, question and answer sessions with practising barristers, judges and pupils as well as advocacy and ethics workshops. These weekends are hard work and you are required to prepare for them and participate fully but they are also very useful and a lot of fun.

Due to their popularity, places on our residential weekends are assigned via ballot. The link to enter these ballots will be posted below and within the students’ newsletter. Students will be notified of the outcome once the ballot has closed and will be sent a booking link if they are successful.

2025/26 Residential Weekends:

Dining remains an important element of the social and collegiate life of the Inn. While dining on its own is no longer part of the formal qualification for Call to the Bar, the Inn still offers a number of opportunities for members to dine in the Hall throughout the year, as well as other social activities. These include Grand Day, Guest Nights, Sunday Luncheon, Family Day and the Garden Party. Some social events are only open to Benchers/barristers but the majority are also open to student members.  Details are advertised on our website and in the members’ newsletter.