THE HONOURABLE SOCIETY OF GRAY’S INN How to join the Inn

THE HONOURABLE SOCIETY OF GRAY’S INN
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
8 SOUTH SQUARE, LONDON WC1R 5ET
Tel: 020 7458 7900 Fax: 020 7458 7937
How to join the Inn
All students undertaking the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) are required to take membership of
one Inn before commencing the course. The closing date for applications to Gray’s Inn is 31 May of the year
you intend to start the BPTC. Please ensure you submit your application in good time; admission may take up
to six weeks to process once complete and correct papers are received.
Admissions documents can be downloaded from the Education section of the Gray’s Inn website:
http://www.graysinn.info/index.php/prospective-students. Hard copies are available from the Education
Department on request.
PLEASE NOTE:
· You can only apply to join one Inn.
· We cannot accept applications by fax or email.
· Admission papers must be sent to the Education Department by post.
Applications should include the following:
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11.
A Four Inns of Court and General Council of the Bar Form
Admission Declaration Form
Two completed Certificates of Good Character
Certified copies of qualification certificates
Admission fee
Two passport photos
Equal Opportunities Form
Signed Data Protection Statement
Additional Information Form
Photocopy of valid passport or driving licence photo identification.
Checklist
Completing your application
1.
A Four Inns of Court and General Council of the Bar Form
Please ensure the details provided are written clearly and accurately. You should give your full
name, as it appears on your passport. The Inn should be informed of any future changes in your
name or contact details.
Completion of this form does not constitute an application for a place on the BPTC, or to sit any
examinations held by or on behalf of the Bar Council.
2.
Admission Declaration Form
Please ensure your read this document thoroughly and complete it accurately.
Once completed, make two photocopies of this form for your referees (see section 4 for further
details). Before signing the Admission Declaration, you must be aware of a further declaration that
you will be required to complete before being called to the Bar. Please see Appendix A.
Part 2 of the form asks for disclosure. If you make any disclosure please contact Vicky Hanson
(Vicky.hanson@graysinn.org.uk – 0207 458 7905) without delay as you may be required to submit
additional documents.
3.
Certificates of Good Character
Applicants must provide two references for admission (known as Certificates of Good Character)
that are no older than three months old when you submit your application. A Certificate of Good
Character must contain the wording specified in Schedule B of the Bar Training Regulations. They
must be provided by a professional person or person of standing in the community who:
i. has known you for at least twelve months;
ii. does not have a close family or personal relationship with you; and
iii. has read your Admission Declaration form
The Inn considers ‘a professional person or person of standing in the community’ to be one of the
following (please note that referees must be currently working in one of these roles):
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Judge
Magistrate
Barrister
Solicitor
Member of Parliament
Accountant
Secondary school teacher
Professor
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University lecturer
Officer of the British armed forces
Senior police officer
Doctor (medical)
Dentist
Senior nurse
Pharmacist
Minister of a recognised religion
You should provide your referees with a blank Certificate of Good Character (though you may fill in
your name and address) and an exact copy of the Admission Declaration form you are submitting to
the Inn.
PLEASE NOTE:
· Notes to referees can be found attached to Certificates of Good Character.
· Certificates of Good Character must be original signed copies.
· The Inn may contact referees to verify the authenticity of Certificates of Good Character.
4.
Certified copies of qualifications certificates
To be eligible for the BPTC, a student must complete either a qualifying law degree or a qualifying
degree (in a subject other than law) and successfully complete a conversion course. The minimum
standard for acceptance on to the BPTC is a lower second class honours degree. The Inn will
therefore only admit students who can show they have achieved, or are on course to achieve, this
result. Students will not normally be admitted before they commence the second year of a degree
course. Students who have not yet completed their degree must also provide evidence of their
English language proficiency.
PLEASE NOTE:
· We do not recommend sending in original documents. Only copies of documents that have
been certified as ‘a true likeness of the original’ and hold an official stamp will be accepted.
Certificates can be certified by your university or any person defined in section 3 of the
document ‘How to join the Inn’ as suitable to provide a reference.
Please provide the appropriate documents with your application, as outlined below:
Graduates of a UK Qualifying Law Degree
· A certified copy of your degree certificate
Graduates of a UK Qualifying Degree (non-law)
· A certified copy of your degree certificate
· Evidence that you have completed, or been accepted onto, a conversion course
Undergraduates studying for a UK Qualifying Law Degree
· Certified copies of degree transcripts showing grades to date
· A photocopy of either:
§ O’Level English certificate (A-E)
§ GCSE English certificate (A-C)
§ IELTS certificate (overall minimum 7.5)
Undergraduates studying for a UK Qualifying Degree (non-law)
· Certified copies of degree transcripts showing grades to date
· Evidence that you have been accepted onto a conversion course
· A photocopy of either:
§ O’Level English certificate (A-E)
§ GCSE English certificate (A-C)
§ IELTS certificate (overall minimum 7.5)
Graduates of universities outside of the UK
Holders of overseas qualifications must contact the Bar Standards Board (BSB) to discuss eligibility
for a Certificate of Academic Standing. An application for admission can only be processed once a
Certificate of Academic Standing has been issued. You will need to provide the following with your
application:
· A certified copy of the Certificate of Academic Standing awarded by the BSB
· Certified copies of all relevant qualification certificates
· If required to complete a conversion course, evidence that you have completed, or been
accepted onto, the course.
Mature students
Any applicant wishing to be admitted as a mature student must contact the Bar Standards Board
(BSB) to discuss eligibility to commence the BPTC. You may need to provide further
documentation with your application such as:
· a certified copy of a Certificate of Academic Standing or Reactivation of stale
qualifications awarded by the BSB
· evidence that you have completed, or been accepted onto, a conversion course if required
5.
Admission fee
Please enclose a cheque, postal order or bankers draft for £100 made payable to Gray’s Inn. We are
unable to accept cash. This is a one-off charge for membership.
6.
Photographs
Please provide two passport photographs with your name clearly marked on the back.
photograph provided will appear on your membership card.
The
7.
Equal Opportunities Form
In order that we are able to monitor the progress of all groups in society, we request that you submit
this form. If you do not wish to disclose the requested information, we would be grateful if you
would submit the form having crossed the 'Do not wish to provide information' box.
8.
Signed Data Protection Statement
Please read this document carefully as it outlines how we will use the data you provide. The
document should be signed and returned with your admission papers.
9.
Additional Information Form
For our records, please provide the information requested on this form.
10. Photocopy of Photographic ID
Please include a photocopy of your passport or driving licence. PLEASE DO NOT SEND
ORIGINALS.
11. Checklist
Before sending in your admission documents, please use the checklist to ensure that you have
included all the necessary items and that you have completed all forms accurately. Failure to do so
will delay your admission to the Inn.
When posting your application, we recommend obtaining proof of postage from the Post Office, particularly
if you are sending your application near to the deadline.
PLEASE NOTE: The Inn receives a large number of applications as the deadline of 31 May approaches.
Registering students onto our system is our main priority ahead of sending out confirmation of admission.
Please only contact the Education Department regarding the status of your application if you have not
received confirmation that we have received your application after one week of submitting papers. If there
is a problem with your application we shall contact you by email or telephone.
Once admission has been approved, an official letter and student card confirming your membership will be
sent to you. Admissions may take up to six weeks to process.
Once you have received your membership card, you will be able to book Qualifying Sessions and use the
Inn’s facilities.
Appendix A: For your information only, do not complete this form.
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn
Call Declaration
To the Masters of the Bench of the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn
I, (full names)
of (address)
Email:
Tel:
for the purpose of being Called to the Bar do hereby declare and undertake as follows:
1. I confirm that the declaration which I made for the purpose of obtaining admission to this Inn was true in
every respect when I made it.
2. Since I made that admission declaration:
1
(a)
I have not been convicted of any criminal offence1 (nor been the subject of any pending
proceedings2 for such an offence);
(b)
I have not been convicted of a disciplinary offence by a professional or regulatory body (nor
been the subject of any pending proceedings for such an offence);
(c)
I have not been the subject of any bankruptcy order3, debt relief order4, or directors
disqualification order5 bankruptcy restrictions order6 or debt relief restrictions order7 nor have
For this purpose a “criminal offence" means any offence, wherever and whenever committed, under the criminal law of any
jurisdiction except (i) an offence for which liability is capable of being discharged by payment of a fixed penalty; and (ii) an offence
which has as its main ingredient the unlawful parking of a vehicle. All convictions which are not spent within the meaning of the
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 must be declared. Further all convictions required to be disclosed by the Rehabilitation of
Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 must be declared, even if spent. Further Information on this can be found here:
https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/qualifying-as-a-barrister/bar-professional-training-course/how-to-apply-for-the-bptc/joining-aninn/
2
Proceedings are pending if (i) you are currently charged with, or (ii) you are on bail or in detention or custody (or have failed
to surrender to custody) in connection with, any criminal offence.
3
A “bankruptcy order” includes a bankruptcy order made pursuant to the Insolvency Act 1986 and any similar order made in
any jurisdiction in the world.
4
For this purpose, a “debt relief order” includes a debt relief order made pursuant to the Insolvency Act 1986 and any similar
order made in any jurisdiction in the world.
5
A “directors disqualification order” includes a disqualification order made by a court, or disqualification undertaking accepted
by the secretary of state, pursuant to the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 and any similar order or undertaking made or
given in any jurisdiction in the world.
6
For this purpose, a “bankruptcy restrictions order” includes a disqualification order made by a court or a bankruptcy restrictions
I entered into an individual voluntary arrangement with creditors;
3. I do not suffer from serious incapacity due to mental disorder (within the meaning of the Mental Health
Act 1983) nor addiction to alcohol or drugs, nor from any other condition which might impair my fitness
to become a practising barrister.8
If any of the statements in paragraphs 1 to 3 above is incorrect in any respect, please delete the statement
as appropriate.
4. Except as disclosed below, I am not aware of any circumstance which has occurred while I have been a
Student member of the Inn which might reasonably be thought to call into question my fitness to
become a practising barrister.9
If you delete any of the statements in paragraphs 1 to 3 above or there is any other circumstance has
occurred while you have been a Student which might reasonably be thought to call into question your
fitness to become a practising barrister, please give details in the box below – use a continuation sheet if
necessary and attach supporting documents. (If giving details of a criminal conviction, please ensure
you specify the sentence.)
5. If called to the Bar I will, unless otherwise authorised, attend
of
months immediately following my call.10
Qualifying Sessions within a period
6. So long as I remain a barrister, I will comply with the Code of Conduct of the Bar of England and Wales.
7. I understand that if this declaration is found to have been false in any material respect, or if I breach any
undertaking given in it in any material respect, then that will constitute professional misconduct.
Signature ……………………………………….
Dated ………………………………
undertaking accepted pursuant to the Insolvency Act 1986 and any similar order made in any jurisdiction in the world.
7
For this purpose, a “debt relief restrictions order” includes a debt relief restrictions order made by a court or a debt relief
restrictions undertaking made or given in any jurisdiction in the world.
8
If you are a disabled person within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010 and are unable to make this declaration, then on
application to the Inn consideration will be given as to whether reasonable adjustments can be made.
9
This includes any incident or behaviour which if known to the Inn might cause your application to be considered more
carefully. If in doubt, disclose the incident/behaviour. Two examples are given by way of illustration but not as limitations on disclosure:
10
a.
Receipt of a police caution.
b.
A Court injunction or Anti-Social Behaviour Order restricting your conduct.
This paragraph should be deleted unless you are required to attend any Qualifying Sessions after call.