An exploration of the history of the Inn’s rebellious Vacation Parliaments, where barristers and students protested the policies of the Benchers with varying degrees of civility.
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The Inn, two decades into the twenty-first century, is a robust institution which looks to the future and respects its past. The conditions laid out by James I in the 1608 charter (confirmed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2008 with a second charter) – to provide education and accommodation for lawyers – remain at the core of the Inn’s mission, and it strives to serve and support its members at all points in their careers.
Exploring the complicated and challenging environment faced by Roman Catholics at the Middle Temple over the centuries, from state surveillance to emancipation, via the building of Hall, the Gordon Riots and a mysterious stained glass pomegranate.
Delving into the history of the monumental Victorian gothic revival library building that once overlooked Middle Temple Garden, from its construction to eventual destruction during the Second World War.
Casting the spotlight back 300 years on an eventful year in Middle Temple history, featuring such challenges as pirates, swindlers, abandoned children and exploding privies.
An exploration of the history of the Middle Temple Gate, the main entrance to the Inn from Fleet Street. Several versions of the gate have existed over the course of seven hundred years, providing the Society with the means to protect and maintain order within the Temple.
The Inn’s Bench Selection Advisory Committee (BSAC) were and are strongly of the view that under-representation of Benchers who are female and/or from more diverse backgrounds would, despite the best efforts of BSAC, remain a problem unless changes to the Inn’s Bench selection criteria were introduced. Following significant discussion, important recommendations were made to Parliament as to necessary changes to the Bench selection criteria with the intent to encourage a more diverse set of candidates to be considered by BSAC and Parliament and openly to promote the importance of a demonstrable commitment to diversity and inclusion in the profession but not, it should be stressed, to alter the fundamental and existing threshold for election.
BSAC determined that the solution to this under-representation is not to have quotas or positive discrimination, nor to remove the requirements of standing in the profession and/or contribution to the Inn but to: (a) widen the pool of potential candidates so that it includes those who are at least 10 years’ Call and (b) to include a specific requirement for the candidate to demonstrate a commitment to the promotion of diversity and inclusion in the profession.
Parliament approved the following recommendations at its meeting on 8 March 2023:
Firstly, to lower the Call threshold to be elected as a Bencher from 15 years’ Call to 10 years’ Call.
Secondly, to include a requirement in the selection criteria of a demonstrable commitment to the promotion of diversity and inclusion in the profession.
It is hoped that greater diversity on the Bench will encourage students, pupil barristers and junior tenants to see the success of the widest range of role models and act as an inspiration. Visible diversity is critical, and it is believed that the first amendment will enhance the diversity of the potential candidates to be considered first of all by BSAC as well as increase the contributions that those potential Benchers would make.
The second amendment is based on the clear conviction of BSAC that those who demonstrate a commitment to the promotion of diversity and inclusion issues will in part reflect a more diverse Bench but also be those Benchers who will be proactive in support of the Inn. A requirement of promoting and/or understanding the importance of diversity has long been a requirement for Judicial appointment and Silk and BSAC sees no good reason why it should not apply equally for election to the Bench at Middle Temple.
The form to nominate a candidate to become an Ordinary Bencher can be found here on the Inn’s website.
Any queries relating to the above, or to the nomination of candidates of any category to the Bench, should be sent to the Governance Manager, Lauren McHardy, at l.mchardy@middletemple.org.uk
The Bar in England and Wales is divided into six regions, which are more commonly known as ‘Circuits’. The Circuits provide important sources of support, advice and representation for barristers practising in those areas.
New evidence uncovered in the archive has revealed a long-elusive list of the Inn's original silver plate, and solved the mystery of its sale in 1649.