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 |
Dates |
Booking Opens |
|---|---|---|
|
Michaelmas 2024 |
Tuesday 01 October – Friday 20 December |
Wednesday 02 October |
|
Hilary 2025 |
Monday 13 January – Wednesday 16 April |
Monday 13 January |
|
Easter 2025 |
Tuesday 29 April – Friday 30 May |
Tuesday 29 April |
|
Trinity 2025 |
Tuesday 03 June – Thursday 31 July |
Tuesday 29 April |
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 2023/24 academic year below:
*Rates as of August 2023
|
Event |
Description |
Student Rate (Online Rate) |
Scholar Rate |
Credit (QS) |
|
Advocacy & Ethics Day |
Day long programme of advocacy and ethics sessions (interactive). |
£22 |
Free |
2 |
|
Advocacy Workshop |
Civil/criminal advocacy group workshop, with materials to prepare in advance (interactive). |
£11 |
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. |
£19 |
£8 |
1 |
|
Ethics Workshop |
Ethics group workshop with materials to prepare in advance (interactive). |
£11 |
Free |
1 |
|
Hybrid Lecture |
Lecture by a single speaker or panel, followed by questions and a reception. |
£11 |
Free |
1 |
|
Lecture & Domus |
Lecture given by a single speaker or panel, followed by questions and Domus Dinner (mixed seating plan with members of the Bench and Bar). |
£19 |
£8 |
1 |
|
Legal Research Training |
Training given by the Inn’s librarians on various legal research topics and techniques. |
£11 |
Free |
1 |
|
Local Qualifying Sessions (for Outside of London Students) |
Organised by the Bar Course Student Representatives and the link Bencher/barrister. Examples include advocacy workshops, lectures and Q&A panels. |
£11 |
Free |
1 |
|
Residential Weekend |
See further information in the “Residential Weekends” tab below (partially interactive). |
£114 |
£48 |
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. However, the weekends are heavily oversubscribed so the selection is by ballot.
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.
The residential weekends for 2024/25 are:
Cumberland Lodge, Windsor Great Park: Friday 25 – Sunday 27 October 2024
The ballot for Cumberland Lodge has now closed.
Scarman House, Coventry: Friday 08 – Sunday 10 November 2024
The ballot for Scarman House has now closed.
Weetwood Hall, Leeds: Friday 31 January – Sunday 02 February 2025
Ballot opens Friday 01 November 2024
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.
