Volunteering with the Inn

The strength of the Inner Temple’s Education & Training programme lies not only in the quality of its facilities, staff and resources, but also in the expertise and commitment of its members.

Whether inspiring future barristers through outreach activities, interviewing scholarship candidates, mentoring students, delivering advocacy training, contributing to Qualifying Sessions or helping to develop an established practitioners programme, volunteers are at the heart of almost everything the Inn delivers. Their contribution helps ensure that members at every stage of their professional journey have access to high-quality education, guidance and support.

Volunteering is a direct contribution to the Inn’s vision of attracting diverse talent to the Bar and providing outstanding education and support throughout every stage of a barrister’s career.

Volunteers are at the heart of almost everything the Inn delivers.

For many, volunteering is also one of the most rewarding ways to engage with the Inn. It offers an opportunity to give something back to the profession, support the next generation, develop new skills and build connections with fellow members across different practice areas and career stages.

As the range of programmes offered by the Inn continues to grow, so too do the opportunities to become involved. Earlier this year, the Inn launched a new volunteer registration form designed to make it easier for members to express an interest in volunteering and to help match individuals with opportunities that reflect their experience, interests and availability.

The previous registration process focused primarily on the programmes members wished to support. The new form takes a more flexible approach, allowing members to indicate both the types of programmes that interest them and the activities they would most enjoy undertaking.

The new approach recognises that there is no single model of volunteering. Some members may have time to support one or two events each year, while others may be interested in ongoing commitments such as mentoring or marshalling. Equally, some may be volunteering for the first time, while others will bring years of experience and are looking for new ways to contribute.

Volunteering is one of the
most rewarding ways to
engage with the Inn.

The Inn is keen to ensure that volunteering opportunities are accessible to members throughout their careers. Valuable experience is not defined by how senior a member is; different programmes benefit from different perspectives. The insight of a junior practitioner can be just as valuable in supporting aspiring barristers as the experience of a Master of the Bench advising established practitioners.

Maintaining up-to-date volunteering records also enables the Inn to draw upon the widest possible breadth of skills, expertise and backgrounds when developing and delivering its programmes. In doing so, participants benefit from engaging with volunteers whose experiences reflect the diversity and richness of the modern Bar.

Importantly, the registration form is not only for those who have never volunteered before. Existing volunteers are encouraged to review and update their preferences as careers develop and interests evolve. A member who previously supported outreach work may now wish to become involved in mentoring. Someone who has recently developed expertise in a particular area may be interested in joining a working group. Keeping details up to date helps ensure that future opportunities are relevant and well matched.

Completing the form takes around ten minutes and may introduce members to opportunities they had not previously considered. It also helps the Education & Training Department build a clearer understanding of the knowledge and experience available across the Inn’s membership, enabling volunteers to be approached for activities where they can make the greatest contribution.

Every volunteer plays an important part in the success of the Inn’s educational mission. Whether you can offer a few hours each year or make a more regular commitment, your time, knowledge and experience help support fellow members, strengthen professional development and sustain the vibrant collegiate community that makes the Inner Temple unique.

If you have not yet registered your volunteering interests, or if your circumstances have changed since you last did so, we encourage you to complete the volunteer registration form via the Inn’s website. You may discover that there is an opportunity that is the perfect fit for you.