Charities Administered Icw the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple

The Charities Administered in connection with the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, rooted in the historic Inns of Court with scholarships dating back to 1876, is dedicated to providing financial support to aspiring barristers in England and Wales. Its core mission is to eliminate financial and structural barriers to the Bar, promoting excellence, diversity, and inclusivity in the legal profession through merit-based and need-based awards. Guided by values of accessibility, equity, and stewardship of historic endowments, it disburses over £1 million annually in scholarships, bursaries, and prizes—such as the Harmsworth Memorial Fund, Astbury Scholarship, Diplock Scholarship, and Chrystal Macmillan Prize—targeting outstanding candidates from diverse backgrounds, including those overcoming socioeconomic hardship, career changers, or underrepresented groups.

It exclusively funds individuals training for the Bar of England and Wales who are members or prospective members of Middle Temple, supporting Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) fees, advocacy training, educational events, and diversity initiatives. Beneficiaries include undergraduates, postgraduates, and those demonstrating academic merit or personal resilience, with no religious restrictions or geographic limits beyond UK Bar eligibility.

Organizations and unsolicited applications are not accepted; funding is limited to competitive individual scholarships applied for via the Middle Temple website, requiring online forms, references, and interviews. For the 2025-26 cycle, applications close at 16:00 on 2 May 2025 (references by 16 May), with interviews in late June and outcomes by 25 July. Distinctively, as a steward of century-old bequests tied to one of the four Inns of Court, it prioritizes a transparent, fair process fostering a socially representative Bar, excluding project or core organizational funding.