How to apply

Your application for Call should consist of:

Email your application to the Call team. Call documents must be sent by email. However, we must receive your certified undergraduate degree certificate via post. You may include this with your electronic application and we will then confirm if the document has been certified correctly. 

References

Both of your referees must:
  • have known you for a minimum of 12 full months
  • not be your partner/spouse or related to you
  • be currently working as one of the following:
    • Judge
    • Barrister
    • Solicitor
    • Member of Parliament
    • Accountant
    • Secondary school teacher  
    • Professor
    • University lecturer
    • Bar Course lecturer*
    • Officer of the British armed forces
    • Senior police officer
    • Doctor (who knows you personally, not just as your GP for example)
*References from your Bar Course lecturers are only acceptable if written after they have known you for a full academic year. Current full time students may not use Bar Course lecturers if applying for Trinity Call.
 
Both your references must be:
  • Emailed to Roberta Lai
  • No older than 12 months
  • clearly show the identity and qualifications of the providing the reference

References must have the correct wording:

Both your references must be addressed to ‘The Masters of the Bench’ and read:

“This is to introduce (your name) whom I have known (statement regarding the nature, extent and duration of the referee’s acquaintance with you).

 I consider him/her to be in every way a fit and proper person for Call to the Bar.”

We suggest you forward a Call reference template (editable document) onto both your referees.

It may be possible to use overseas references, but only if you cannot provide suitable references from referees based in the UK because you have not lived in the UK for more than 12 months.

Please note that referees and/or references which do not meet the criteria above will not be accepted and we will contact you to provide a replacement. Your place on a particular Call will not be confirmed until both your referees and references meet the criteria.

Fees

You will be invited to pay your call fees via your Gray’s Inn Booking Account (GIOS). 
 
For a common scenario - being called in person with 2 guests - the fees broken down are:
 
Call fee £75
Your attendance at the reception £28
Guest 1 (optional) £30
Guest 2 (optional) £30
Total £163

Degree Certificate

For student members, if you did not submit a certified copy of your final undergraduate degree certificate when you applied to join the Inn, (i.e. you applied to join before your final result was conferred), we will require a certified copy of your final conferred undergraduate degree result in order for you to be Called. 

The copied certificate should hold an official stamp (such as the University seal) and the certifier should state that it is a true likeness of the original. Some Post Offices provide a document certifying service, for more information visit their website here.

Guests

Due to the capacity of Hall you will only be allowed to invite 2 guests to the Call ceremony and reception. Should you wish to invite more than 2 guests, we suggest you apply for Hilary Call, which is typically the smallest, when this may be possible.

At Trinity Call you will be able to invite additional guests to the reception (in the Walks) only.

All guests must be over 11 years of age.

Requirements

For all Call days you:

  • must submit your Call papers by the relevant deadline, or during the specific time period (Trinity Call only)

  • are expected to be called in person

  • may be granted the right to be called in absentia, but permission for this is rare; please contact Roberta Lai  to discuss further

Barrister card photograph

The photograph that currently appears on your student membership card will be used for your barrister card. If you would like a different photograph to be used, please provide an updated passport photograph with your Call papers.