Inner Temple

Inner Temple. The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple is one of the four professional associations for barristers and judges in England and Wales, collectively known as the Inns of Court. Located in the Temple area of London, between the City of London and the City of Westminster, it is a historic institution responsible for the training, selection, and governance of barristers. Its rich history, distinctive governance by senior members known as Benchers, and iconic estate of buildings and gardens make it a central pillar of the English legal system.

History

The origins of the Inner Temple date to the medieval period when lawyers began congregating in the precincts of the Temple Church, originally established by the Knights Templar. Following the dissolution of the Order of the Temple in 1312, the area was granted to the Knights Hospitaller, who leased the premises to lawyers. By the 14th century, it had emerged as a distinct society, with its early members including notable figures like Geoffrey Chaucer. The society was severely damaged during the Great Fire of London and later rebuilt, with its hall reconstructed after being destroyed in the Blitz of World War II. Throughout its history, it has played a key role in legal education, a function formerly shared with the Inns of Chancery and now centralised through the Bar Standards Board.

Structure and governance

The Inner Temple is an unincorporated association governed by its senior members, the Benchers or Masters of the Bench, who include distinguished judges and barristers. The governing body, known as Parliament, is chaired by the Treasurer, an annually elected senior Bencher. Major decisions concerning property, finance, and discipline are made by this body. The Inn's administration is managed by the Under Treasurer and a professional staff, operating from offices within the estate. The Inn maintains close working relationships with the other Inns of Court, the General Council of the Bar, and the Judiciary of England and Wales.

Buildings and gardens

The Inner Temple estate encompasses a collection of historic and modern buildings centered around Inner Temple Lane and Crown Office Row. The Inner Temple Hall, rebuilt after World War II, and the adjacent Inner Temple Library are focal points for members. The estate also includes the Elizabethan Middle Temple Lane and the iconic Temple Church, which is shared with the Middle Temple. Notable chambers buildings include Paper Buildings and Hare Court. The Inn is renowned for its gardens, particularly the Inner Temple Garden, a tranquil space overlooking the River Thames that features in Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part 1.

Membership and call to the bar

Admission as a student member requires a degree and completion of the vocational component of training, the Bar Professional Training Course. Students must complete a prescribed number of qualifying sessions, which include dinners, lectures, and advocacy exercises, before being eligible for call to the bar by the Inn. The ceremony is presided over by Benchers, often including a High Court judge. After call, barristers remain members for life, subject to the Inn's disciplinary jurisdiction. The Inn also elects distinguished lawyers and non-lawyers as honorary Benchers, such as former Archbishops and members of the Royal Family.

Notable members

The Inner Temple has counted among its members many pivotal figures in English legal and political history. Notable barristers and judges include Sir Edward Coke, a towering figure of English common law, and Lord Denning, a transformative Master of the Rolls. Fictional members include Bridget Jones's Mark Darcy. Historically, members have held high office, such as William Pitt the Younger, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Literary connections are strong, with former residents including Charles Dickens and Henry Fielding.

Category:Inns of Court Category:Buildings and structures in the City of London Category:14th-century establishments in England