Scholarships: How to Apply and Succeed

With Bar Professional Training Course fees now reaching £17,350, scholarships from the Inns of Court have become increasingly important for aspiring barristers.

A scholarship is not essential, and many people reach the Bar without one, but securing funding can significantly reduce financial pressure, whether that burden would otherwise fall on you or on family members supporting your career.

This guide draws on personal experience to explain how to choose an Inn, navigate the application process, and perform well at an interview.

Choosing an Inn is the first major decision.

All four Inns offer support, training, and community, but each has its own culture and atmosphere. You cannot fully appreciate these differences without visiting them in person.

During an open day at Middle Temple, I received more practical career guidance in five hours than I had in years. Conversations with barristers, including John Cooper QC, covered everything from making the most of a year abroad to strengthening mini‑pupillage applications.

These discussions helped me understand how my experiences aligned with scholarship criteria such as motivation to succeed. Equally valuable were conversations with student members. One student had just returned from Middle Temple’s advocacy weekend at Cumberland Lodge and described how small‑group advocacy sessions had transformed her confidence on the BPTC. Her enthusiasm made it clear that she felt supported and valued by the Inn, and that membership had contributed to her success in obtaining pupillage.

As someone whose university friendship group consisted almost entirely of future solicitors, visiting Middle Temple made me feel understood for the first time. Everyone I met recognised the hurdles ahead and genuinely wanted to help me overcome them. This is what you are looking for on open days: choose the Inn where you feel supported, because that sense of belonging matters more than anything else.

The scholarship application process opens early in the academic year, and deadlines come quickly. In 2013, all Inns required applications by 1 November, with Middle Temple insisting on a hard‑copy submission, meaning your real deadline was late October.

Grey’s Inn and Lincoln’s Inn do not interview every candidate, so your application form may be your only chance to make an impression. Middle Temple and Inner Temple interview all applicants, but the form still sets the tone.

When writing the application, fit your experiences to the selection criteria and do not dismiss small achievements, as they often demonstrate qualities the panel values. Ask friends and family what strengths they see in you; they will remind you of things you have forgotten.

Completing the form over several days allows you to revisit it with fresh eyes and avoid rushed, half‑hearted answers. After submitting, ensure the Inn always has your current email address. Middle Temple, for example, requires applicants to reconfirm their interest in February. If you miss the confirmation deadline, your application is discarded.

Preparing for the interview requires the same level of focus as preparing for an exam. Middle Temple assesses four criteria: intellectual ability, motivation to succeed at the Bar, potential as an advocate, and personal qualities. Scholarship interviews often resemble pupillage interviews, so revising with example pupillage questions can be helpful.

When you arrive, be friendly and professional with everyone you meet. You are competing with the people around you, but do not let their nerves or dramatic post‑interview stories unsettle you. I met another applicant in the waiting room, and we talked through our motivations and areas of interest. A simple conversation helped calm us both.

Demonstrating intellectual ability can be supported by recent exam results. To show motivation, stay up to date with current legal affairs in your chosen area. If asked about a case you have not read, do not bluff. Panels see through it instantly. I admitted I did not know the defence used in a particular case but asked for a quick overview so I could offer an opinion. They appreciated the honesty and prompted me.

Advocacy potential can be demonstrated through examples from mooting, debating, or public speaking. I accidentally told the panel about being torn apart in my first moot in Australia, which they found amusing, but I immediately followed with recent successes and what I had learned. They were far more interested in my improvement than my early mistakes.

Personal qualities emerge naturally through your tone, eye contact, and the way you describe experiences. There is no universal formula; read the room and respond authentically.

Panels require an updated financial statement. If your circumstances have changed, explain them clearly and calmly. When my parents were divorcing, my form was full of question marks. The panel appreciated my attempt to plan despite the chaos, and a light‑hearted joke about dividing Tesco vouchers helped break the tension. The point is not humour; it is practicality under pressure, a vital skill for any barrister.

Overall, be smart, be prepared, and stay positive. If nerves wipe your memory the moment you walk in, a suit and a smile will carry you further than you think. Scholarship applications are demanding, but they are also an opportunity to reflect on your journey, clarify your motivations, and demonstrate your potential.

Whether or not you secure funding, the process itself builds skills you will use throughout your career at the Bar.