About the Scheme
The Middle Temple Mentoring Scheme is designed to provide timely, focused, and structured support to allow post-Call members to achieve a specific project or goal. Post-Call members may wish to cultivate a new practice area, move chambers, switch from the employed Bar to the independent Bar or vice versa, return to the Bar, or apply for judicial or other positions. They may be returning from time out of practice (a “returner”) or switching practice areas (a “mover”). Each scenario presents its own set of challenges.
We aim to match mentees with mentors who have the necessary skills and experience to help them reach their identified goal. The primary aims of the scheme are to promote social mobility and to ensure the Bar retains its best people.
What is required from Mentees?
Mentees will be asked to summarise what they hope to achieve from mentoring. Typically, this will be a goal or career opportunity. Mentees will also be expected to provide an estimate of a timeframe. The scheme will seek to facilitate the mentoring relationship and match mentees to mentors.
The scheme is open to any member of the Inn from any background at any stage of their career, from completion of pupillage or in-house training as an employed barrister through to retirement. Please note that the scheme is not open to student members (who may want to investigate the Inn's Link Scheme).
What is required from Mentors?
Mentors’ invaluable experience and skills can be a powerful force in shaping the modern Bar, and helping members achieve their goals. The mentoring scheme is designed to be focused, project-specific, and time-specific. Relationships can be forged and maintained by email, telephone, Zoom, Teams and in person. The mentoring period will initially be based on the timeframe set out in the mentee’s application and can be extended at the mentor’s discretion until the project is complete.
How to apply
To apply to be a mentor or a mentee, please download and complete an application form and send to mentoring@middletemple.org.uk