Qualifying Session Programme
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.
|
Term |
Legal Year Term Dates |
Booking Opens |
|---|---|---|
|
Michaelmas 2025 |
Wednesday 01 October – Friday 19 December |
Monday 6 October |
|
Hilary 2026 |
Monday 12 January – Wednesday 01 April |
Thursday 08 January |
|
Easter 2026 |
Tuesday 14 April – Friday 22 May |
Tuesday 14 April |
|
Trinity 2026 |
Tuesday 02 June – Friday 31 July |
Tuesday 14 April |
|
Michaelmas 2026 |
Thursday 1 October – Monday 21 December |
Wednesday 30 September |
Types of Qualifying Sessions
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
|
Event |
Description |
Student Rate |
Scholar Rate |
Credit (QS) |
|
Advocacy & Ethics Day |
Consists of both an Advocacy and Ethics Workshop held on a Saturday at the Inn or on Circuit. |
£26 |
Free |
2 |
|
Advocacy Workshop |
Civil/criminal advocacy group workshop, with materials to prepare in advance (interactive). |
£13 |
Free |
1 |
|
Debate Dinner |
Dinner with a seating plan, followed by a debate on a legal topic with four student/pupil speakers and floor speeches. |
£28 |
£15 |
1 |
|
Ethics Workshop |
Ethics group workshop with materials to prepare in advance (interactive). |
£13 |
Free |
1 |
|
Online / Hybrid Lecture |
Lecture by a single speaker or panel, followed by Q&A. |
£13 |
Free |
1 |
|
Lecture & Domus |
In-person lecture given by a single speaker or panel, followed by questions and Domus Dinner (mixed seating plan with members of the Bench and Bar). |
£28 |
15 |
1 |
|
Residential Weekend |
See further information in the “Residential Weekends” tab below (partially interactive). |
£138 |
£60 |
6 |
Residential Weekends
The Inn organises three residential weekends per year. Only students currently undertaking the Bar Course are eligible and transferring lawyers. 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.
Due to their popularity, places on our residential weekends are assigned via ballot. The link to enter these ballots will be posted on our website 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.
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.
2025/26 Residential Weekends:
Moor Hall, Maidenhead: Friday 24 – Sunday 26 October 2025.
Ballot open. To enter, please click here.
Deadline 09:00 on Wednesday 24 September.
Scarman House, Coventry: Friday 28 – Sunday 30 November 2025.
Ballot open. To enter, please click here.
Deadline 09:00 on Monday 27 October.
Weetwood Hall, Leeds: Friday 30 January – Sunday 01 February.
Ballot open date tbc
Dining Customs
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.
