Bar Course Scholarship Application

Information for Applicants

Please read the following information carefully before you complete the application form.  At the end of the application form you will be asked to confirm that you have read and understood the below information. 

General

The Middle Temple interviews every applicant for a scholarship who has applied for a place on the Bar course and satisfies the criteria for applications.  Both the written application form and the interview will be marked.

The name of the school you attended will be redacted.  If you consider that it is relevant to indicate the type of school you attended, there is an 'Additional Information Box' at the end of the application form where you will be able to provide such information.   Elsewhere on the application form you will be able to indicate any school achievements that you wish to refer to.

Decisions on who receives a scholarship are made on merit as outlined by these criteria:

• Intellectual ability: the ability to conduct legal research and give written advice, as demonstrated by performance in school and university examinations, the application form, the interview and, where appropriate, other experience.
   
• Motivation to succeed at the Bar in England and Wales: demonstrated by knowledge of the profession and the Courts in England and Wales, and steps taken to acquire the personal skills required of a Barrister.  This can include but it not limited to court visits (in person or online), mini         pupillages, mooting, etc.    We recognise that opportunities to demonstrate motivation will be different for different people and so it is important that you should include any information which you consider demonstrates your motivation (this could include overcoming personal, family, educational and/or financial difficulties in your journey to the Bar to date).
   
• Potential as an advocate: the ability to make and respond to arguments effectively, both orally and in writing.
   
• Potential to succeed in a career as a barrister:  self-reliance, the ability to work independently where required and as part of a team; the capacity to work effectively with clients, colleagues, and staff. 

Finances

In determining the size of individual awards, interviewing panels take applicants’ individual financial circumstances into account, although it is highly unlikely that the scholarship will cover the full cost of your year attending the Bar course.  The size of individual awards will not be published.

Please note the following:

1. You can only apply to one Inn.  You do not need to be a member of the Inn at the time of application, but you will need to join before being paid any scholarship which you may be awarded.
    
2. Full-time students must apply in the Sept-Nov of the year before they start their course. Part-time students can apply for a scholarship in the Sept-Nov of the year before they start the first year or before they start the second year.  For those on the Two-part course (currently only offered by ICCA) applications can be made before they begin part one or before they begin part two.  If an award is made before the start of the part-time course, half of the award will be paid in each year.  Applications cannot be made once the full-time course, the second part of the two-part course, or the second year of the part-time course has begun.
    
3. You must complete the whole of the form (unless a section is clearly optional).  If any mandatory sections are left blank, your form will not be considered by an interview panel, and you will not be invited for an interview.
    
4. Middle Temple scholarships are awarded on merit. Scholarships are only available for those who intend to undertake pupillage at the Bar in England and Wales and who intend to practise at the Bar in England and Wales. 
    
5. You will be asked to make certain declarations at the end of the application form.  Misrepresentation of information in the application form and/or false declarations are viewed seriously by Middle Temple and may lead to consequences. 

Overview of Relevant Dates

If you do not receive one of the emails detailed below it is your responsibility to contact us.  If you change your email address, please make sure you let us know.

The Application

To make your application, please complete the form below.

Please follow the instructions on the application form carefully.  Do not submit a CV, certificates, or any other documents with your application – they will not be passed on to the interview panel. Do not send or include any links in your application form.  These will not be accessed by the interview panel.   Please do not send applications by post or email - applications sent in this format will automatically be rejected.

You will receive confirmation of receipt of your application by email.  If you do not receive an email within 2 hours of submitting your application, please contact us. Please check your spam folder before contacting the Inn.  It is your responsibility to ensure your application is submitted on time.  If in doubt, contact the Scholarships Officer at scholarshipapplications@middletemple.org.uk

The Financial Means Form

Prior to your interview you will be asked to complete a financial means form. You will be required to submit this up to six weeks prior to interview. Even if you do not have a shortfall and are not seeking any funds, you need to submit a blank form and inform the scholarships officer that this is the case.

The References

Two references are preferable to support your application, one of which should be from an academic referee. If you left higher education some time ago, a reference from e.g. an employer will be accepted in lieu of an academic reference.  Your second reference can be provided by any referee of your choice (other than from a member of your family), it can be a second academic reference if you choose.  If you have difficulties obtaining an academic reference before the closing date, please contact the Scholarships Officer.

At https://www.middletemple.org.uk/education-training/scholarships-prizes/major-scholarships you will find an information sheet for you to send to your referee(s).  The link contains information for your referee to upload their reference.  Academic referees should write your reference in accordance with the information sheet.  References from employers should address the criteria on which scholarships are awarded.

Once you submit your application you will be sent a link via email within one week which you must then send to your referee(s). The link contains instructions.

No award will be paid out unless at least one academic (or equivalent) reference has been received.  It is your responsibility to ensure that your reference(s) are provided – we do not contact referees on your behalf. 

The Interview

All candidates who satisfy the application criteria and have applied for a place on the Bar course will be interviewed. You will be asked to provide proof that you have applied for a place on the Bar Course prior to interview.  If you have received an offer of a place on the course, you do not need to accept it in order to be interviewed.  If you have not applied for the Bar course, you will not be interviewed.

During the interview, please do not provide additional documents or links to documents (with the exception of an updated finance form) as the panel cannot consider additional material. You are permitted to bring in your own notes to the interview for your own reference.

Interviews will be held during the above dates and on those dates only.

Equal opportunities statement

Middle Temple is an inclusive organisation and actively promotes equal opportunities for all. Middle Temple is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for students throughout the Scholarship Application process, in line with our Statement of Values. We aim to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly, irrespective of sex, race, religion and belief, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, and social background. We welcome applications from all candidates, and selection for scholarships are based on scholarship requirements and merit alone.

Reasonable Adjustments

Middle Temple endeavours to make the Inn and its services as accessible and inclusive as possible and is committed to making sure that its selection methods are fair to everyone.

Reasonable adjustments may be made. It should be noted that the need of any one person for reasonable adjustments to be made may vary over time; it is therefore important for those requiring adjustments to communicate with the Inn as the need arises, and for the Inn to respond promptly and appropriately.

Applicants can ask for reasonable adjustments for any part of the process. The Inn will formally request notification of any reasonable adjustments after the application form has been submitted. This will be your opportunity for you to inform the Inn of any adjustments you may need because of a disability or long-term condition.

Travel expenses

In case of in-person interviews: The Inn is prepared to reimburse reasonable travel expenses for candidates travelling from outside the M25 to attend the interview, up to a maximum of £75 per candidate.  Further details are available on the Middle Temple website.  Expense claim forms will be available in the interview waiting room.  Tickets/receipts must be provided.

Please note that before you can complete the scholarship application form, you must first complete a short form to provide your name and contact details.  If you have not already done so, click here to provide this information.