Middle Temple Midland Circuit Garden Party

This year, the Middle Temple Midland Circuit Society will be hosting a Garden Party in place of their usual Annual Dinner. The Garden Party will be held in the courtyard at the Hotel du Vin, Birmingham. This event will provide the perfect opportunity to engage with other Middle Templars on the Midland Circuit and for acquaintances to be made or renewed.

If you are living, practising, or studying on the Midland Circuit, please do join us and bring your guests for what promises to be a wonderful evening.

A Qualifying Session will be held shortly before the Garden Party. Students will need to attend the lecture in order to claim a QS. Further details on the QS can be found below.

Women in Family Law

Evelyn Bugeja and Sandamini Ethakada, two well-respected family practitioners, of St Philips Chambers in Birmingham, will give a cross-section of life as a family barrister. Evelyn (Called 1997) will take you through her 25 years of practice; how family law has evolved, practice on circuit and sitting as a recorder in the family court. 

Sandamini (Called 2018) will offer a fresh perspective on the family bar, speaking about her experience of pupillage, why she chose family law and how to prepare yourself for life as a family law barrister. Her route to the Bar was unorthodox as she was an international student from Sri Lanka who completed her BA in Law and her BPTC while on student visas and her pupillage on a work visa and will therefore be able to share her experiences and discuss the challenges of this particular route to the Bar.

Students and transferring lawyers need to attend the whole event in order to claim a Qualifying Session.

All members of the Inn. Guests also welcome.

If you  have any dietary requirements please ensure that you provide this information when you book tickets.  If you did not do so, please inform the Middle Temple Membership Department no later than 12:00 two working days before the event. 

If you are unsure about anything on the evening please speak to the events staff on duty.

Non-alcoholic alternatives will be provided on request.

Click here to see details of the QS Requirements and how to be credited with the QS for this session

Learning Outcomes:

After this session, students should be able to:

• Appreciate the breadth of practice on offer at the family bar.
• Understand how to maintain a consistent and ethical practice at the bar.
• Identify what chambers look for in family law applicants.

Links to the Professional Statement, wider workings of the Bar, administration of justice or a public interest matter

The QS will align with these elements of the professional statement:

• 1.2
• 4.1.1 / 4.2

Click here to view the BSB's Professional Statement

QS Feedback

If you have any feedback on a QS you have attended or have any suggestions for future sessions, please contact the education department on education@middletemple.org.uk

If you have questions about accessibility at the Inn or if you would like to request support, please email Laura Hacon.

The Inn is committed to improving access to all its services and encourages members to get in touch with suggestions and feedback on how we can improve. If you feel your experience using the website or attending one of our events could be improved, please email Laura. Your suggestions will be treated in the strictest confidence.