Inner Temple Benefactors Scholarship Fund

The Inner Temple Benefactors Scholarship Fund, established by declaration of trust on 30 March 1988, is a specialist charity advancing legal education for members of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple training as barristers in England and Wales. Rooted in the Inn's historic role as a primary gateway to the Bar, its mission promotes access to the profession based on merit, irrespective of financial background, through scholarships and prizes. Core values emphasize excellence, meritocracy, diversity, and inclusion, employing contextual recruitment to assess potential in light of applicants' circumstances, fostering social mobility and international legal understanding.

It funds individual scholarships for key barrister training stages, including Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) up to £13,000, Bar Course (£3,000–£20,000), minimally funded pupillages (Benefactors’ Pupillage Awards), Disability Awards up to £15,000 for disabled aspiring barristers, and international placements to study foreign judicial systems. Beneficiaries are law students, early-career barristers, and Inner Temple members from the UK or overseas, with annual awards exceeding £1.8 million across 100–140 grants, targeting financial barriers at critical entry points.

Eligible applicants are qualifying individuals (not organizations), primarily in England and Wales, with some overseas study support; no income or size restrictions apply. Applications occur via online forms in fixed annual rounds (e.g., Bar Course deadline 7 November 2025 for 2026 entry; GDL/pupillage in May; interviews by March), involving shortlisting, references, and means assessment—no rolling or late submissions.

Exclusively for barrister training costs, it excludes other legal professions, organizational projects, core funding, or unrelated initiatives. Distinctive for its Inn-specific focus, rigorous contextual assessments, and alignment with sector diversity goals, it stands out as a merit-driven enabler of Bar access.