Taking part in Qualifying Sessions is an integral part of your journey to become a barrister. The Qualifying Sessions programme takes place alongside your vocational training and provides opportunities for professional and ethical development which complement and build on your academic and vocational education and from a bridge to the final component of Bar training, pupillage.
Once you have joined the Inn as a student Member, in addition to passing the Bar Course, you must complete 10 Qualifying Sessions (QSs) and attend a minimum of one session in each of the five themes, during a period of no more than 5 years, in order to be called to the Bar.
If you started the course prior to September 2020, you are required to complete 12 Qualifying Sessions. Please see further details on the transitional arrangements.
If you are a transferring lawyer (TQL) please see further details here and refer to your correspondence with the BSB (Bar Standards Board) to ensure you are aware of your requirements.
About QS
Qualifying Sessions provide the opportunity to engage with the Inn’s community of practitioners and/or relevant experts, as some of the biggest names in the Bar return to Gray’s to give their time and experience to develop the future generation. The Qualifying Sessions are an opportunity for students to understand the role of a barrister in a practical manner.
There is no set format for a Qualifying Session, but all Qualifying Sessions have educational content, providing opportunities for professional and ethical development. You can find out more about key QS events below.
Most in person Qualifying Sessions will have a social element built in to provide an opportunity to engage with fellow students and practising Members of the Inn.
- How to Book
How to Book
Members can book and pay online via the Gray’s Inn Online System (GIOS) for most events including Qualifying Sessions.
Member login: Gray’s Inn Online System (GIOS)
Some Qualify Sessions will be by invite only due to stage of study required, You will be contacted directly by the education department for these events.
All current bar course students will be contacted via email before new Qualifying Session details are released, usually on a term by term basis.
- Themes and Learning Aims
Themes and learning aims
Themes
Each Qualifying session will be classified under one of the five themes, shown below, which cover all aspects of the skills and knowledge you need to learn as part of your training for the Bar.
You must attend a minimum of one session under each of the themes. At least two sessions must be interactive and require preparation in advance.
Some events may be worth more than one Qualifying Session or cover more than one theme, please note only one theme will be counted.
Please see the breakdown of themes below and examples of events:
Theme Example event Ethics, Standards and Values Ethics workshop Education courses
Advocacy Skills Moots Prep4Practice (skills)
Education courses
Debates
Voice and Presence workshop
Legal Knowledge, Justice and the Rule of Law Practical Legal Research Prep4Practice (lectures)
Mixed Messes
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion E,D&I Workshop E,D&I Seminars
Preparation for Pupillage, Career Development and Wellbeing Prep4Practice (skills and lectures) Introductory events
Wellbeing at the Bar
Voice and Presence workshop
Learning aims
Each session will have been designed to meet a number of learning aims. These are available to read on the event page and will be shared with attendees in pre-event communications.
- Key events
Key events
Please see our events pages or login to your GIOS account (Gray’s Inn Online System) for dates and details of specific sessions.
Introductory events
All Bar Course students studying in London and on Circuit are required to attend an introductory event at the start of their course. The event includes welcome talks on the purpose of the Inn and the community of practitioners you will meet and learn from during your Bar Course. Presentations will cover the community of the Inn and the research, education, careers and wellbeing services.
Invites and instructions on how to book will be sent by email.
Moots
Mooting is an ideal opportunity for you to practise advocacy ‘on your feet’ and to receive individualised feedback to help you improve.
Throughout the year, we host workshops, speed moots, multi moots and competitions.
We work closely with AGIS (Association of Gray’s Inn Students) to put forward Gray’s Inn teams to compete in prestigious competitions throughout the year. Find out more here.
Prep4Practice- Skills sessions and Lectures
These are sessions which are designed to help you brush up on the hands on knowledge and skills you need to practice. Topics are wide and varied, ranging from submitting a bail application, to navigating social media as a member of the bar.
Mixed messes
Mixed Messes are opportunities to enhance your legal knowledge, through lectures delivered by guests of our Treasurer. Each speaker is a high-profile member of the legal profession.
These evenings also offer student Members the chance to engage with Members of the Inn of all seniorities, both during the pre-lecture reception and at dinner, where guests dine in groups of four led by a Practitioner.
Education courses
These are Multi-QS courses which provide an opportunity for students from all circuits to spend a day or weekend engaging with one another, barristers and judges, working on advocacy skills and discussing E,D&I and professional ethics at the bar.
These courses are only open to current full time bar course students, part time students in their second year, and those on part two of the ICCA course. Eligible members will be contacted via email.
“Fantastic weekend. Informative, useful, and have taken away many pointers and tips for future use.”
- Dress Code
Dress code
The majority of events at the inn will fall under the following dress codes. For specific events, you can find information on the event page. It will also be shared with attendees in pre-event communications.
Dark suits – professional dark coloured suit and white shirt with suitable dress shoes or heels.
Gowns – to be worn over dark suit for certain events. The Inn has a supply of gowns which students can borrow for the evening to attend these events. Information on where to collect will be shared in pre-event communications
Smart casual – more informal and comfortable dress. Smart trainers and jeans are permitted, sports shoes and activewear is not.
- Financial Support
Financial support
Travel bursary support
This scheme aims to support our student Members who need financial support to travel to an in-person Qualifying Session or Marshalling opportunity. Bursaries awarded will be for travel and/or accommodation to be used at the applicant’s discretion. Please see further details on the travel bursary support webpage.
Education Committee Hardship Fund
The Gray’s Inn Education Committee Hardship Fund supports students and pupil barristers who are experiencing short-term financial hardship due to unforeseen circumstances, which could jeopardise their completion of the Bar Course or Pupillage. Please see further details on the Education Committee Hardship Fund webpage.
- Rules, requirements and policies
Rules, requirements and policies
Read the full summary of Qualifying Sessions rules.
The Inn will provide reasonable adjustments to ensure that Members with disabilities are not placed at a disadvantage in the achievement of the prescribed learning aims. Reasonable adjustments will also be considered for those with a short-term injury or temporary illness. Read the full policy on reasonable adjustments .
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (E,D&I) are fundamental principles of justice and underpin all we do at Gray’s Inn. Our ED&I Committee authored a statement which was approved by Pension which sets out what we believe, what we want to achieve and what we will do. Read the Gray’s Inn Statment for E,D&I (PDF).
Our Code of Conduct applies to all Members when representing the Inn, working on the Inn’s behalf, using the Inn’s facilities, or attending an Inn event, and is intended to lay down a clear and broad statement of required standards of conduct. Read the Gray’s Inn Code of Conduct (PDF).
For a full list of the Inn’s policies, please visit the policy webpage.