There are four Inns of Court. It is mandatory to be a member of one of the Inns to become a barrister. The Inns provide advocacy training, pupillage help, and links with the legal profession.

The Inns
The Inns are as follows:

Inner Temple,
Lincoln's Inn,
Grey's Inn,
Middle Temple.

They are all very similar and provide pretty much the same function, but all have their little quirks, so you should look around before you make a decision.

Joining an Inn
To join an Inn, you must complete a form and get references to support that you have the requisite qualities to become a barrister. You must also pay £85.

The Qualifying Sessions
At every Inn there are qualifying sessions. Before you are called to the bar, you must complete 12 qualifying sessions. These can take the form of anything from lectures, dining sessions (which are always good banter) and advocacy weekends.

Scholarships
Each Inn has a scholarship scheme for the BVC and CPE year. It's worth checking out the details of each so you can assess the likelihood of you getting a scholarship from the inn.

USEFUL LINKS:
www.graysinn.org.uk
www.lincolnsinn.org.uk
www.innertemple.org.uk
www.middletemple.org.uk