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How to apply

Eligibility and Criteria

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

  • have the intention to practice at the Bar of England and Wales once qualified
  • be eligible to start the GDL (or equivalent conversion course) in the academic year following application
  • must not have started the GDL course, and will not have started, at the point of interview (June 2026)
  • only apply for a scholarship from one of the four Inns of Court. Please note that names of applicants are shared between Inns to ensure that students have not applied to more than one Inn.
  • Not have secured a GDL scholarship from Inner Temple or another Inn of Court
Scholarships Criteria

The criteria for the GDL are:

  • Academic Achievement
    • Good degree result/predicted grade
    • Demonstrates strong academic achievement at university (taking into account any mitigating circumstances).
    • Demonstrates strong academic achievement at each academic stage or improvement in academic achievement at different stages.
  • Advocacy Potential
    • Evidence of advocacy experience in legal or non-legal contexts e.g. moots, debates, presenting to an audience or other forms of public speaking, teaching, drama, written advocacy, explaining concepts to lay people.
    • Uses precise and well-reasoned arguments.
    • Communicates with clarity and fluency.
    • Demonstrates persuasiveness and conviction.
    • Tailors style to the audience.
  • Interpersonal Skills
    • Builds productive working relationships.
    • Responds appropriately and treats people with courtesy and respect, regardless of their background or circumstances.
    • Communicates effectively
  • Motivation and Resilience
    • Demonstrates commitment to a career at the Bar.
    • Has a basic understanding of the profession.
    • Demonstrates a real interest in the law.
    • Demonstrates what steps they have undertaken to learn more about a career at the Bar. E.g. attending webinars, listening to podcasts, undertaking work experience/mini pupillages, shadowing, marshalling etc.
    • Demonstrates the ability to positively respond to setbacks.

Application Process

Key Dates
Task/Event Dates
Application window Applications open on 23 March 2026 and close on 1 May 2026
Application Q&A session 31 March 2026
Reference deadline 10 May 2026
Pre-interview briefing 27 May 2026
Book your interview slot 28 May – 1 June 2026
Interview dates Friday 12 June 2026 (online)

Saturday 13 June 2026 (in-person at Inner Temple)
Results 3 July 2026 (expected)
Application Form

Applications must be submitted via the online application form which is linked on the GDL homepage when the application window is open.

The application form is broken down into the following sections:

  • your education
  • work experience (legal and non-legal)
  • supporting information (longer form questions)
  • contextual recruitment

Candidates submit one application form and are considered for all Inner Temple GDL Awards (listed above) at the same time.

References
  • After submitting your application, you will be sent a link to provide details of 2 referees (academic or professional). If you are still studying at undergraduate level, at least one should be academic.
  • Referees will then be contacted directly to upload their reference.
  • Referees must have known you for at least 6-months and cannot be family members.
  • Referees will be asked to comment on each of the scholarships criteria.
  • References are due 1-week after the application deadline.
AI Policy

The Inner Temple recognises that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be a supportive tool during the application process when it is used appropriately. When applying you be will be asked to confirm that you have read the statements below and understand what is the acceptable use of AI in scholarship applications.

Inappropriate use of AI is subject to the terms of the Misconduct Policy.

What is considered acceptable use of AI:

  • Checking spelling and grammar in your written answers
  • Refining the structure of your written answers
  • Refining sentences or phrases to aid clarity of your written answers
  • Supporting interview preparation e.g. practising responding to interview questions

 

What is not considered acceptable use of AI

  • Generating ideas or experiences which are not your own
  • The use of AI is strictly prohibited during interviews and any exercise that forms part of the interview process (e.g. legal case, advocacy exercises) Presenting work or ideas which are not your own without appropriate credit is defined as plagiarism by the Inner Temple.

You will be asked to acknowledge any use of AI on your application. This will not impact how we treat your application unless it breaches our acceptable use.

Applications which are suspected of plagiarism or inappropriate use of AI will be investigated under the Misconduct Policy.

 

Guidance for using AI

AI can be a supporting tool in the application process if used effectively. However, where not used effectively it could impact negatively on the effectiveness of your application. We advise all candidates to consider the guidance below.

  • We want to learn about you from your application. AI can provide generic responses which do not tell assessors what they need to know about you.
  • AI will often produce similar and repetitive responses where multiple candidates use AI. This is often noticeable and impacts on the authenticity of your application.
  • AI can hallucinate information. It is your responsibility to ensure that your answers are accurate.
Financial Assessment
  • Applicants are asked to complete a financial means assessment form in late May, after submitting their application.
  • You will be asked for details of your finances for the GDL year, including:
  • Income and outgoings
  • Savings and other funding (e.g. scholarships, grants, family support)
  • Course fees
  • This financial information is only considered after interviews have concluded and scholarship winners have been selected (based on merit).
  • The Inn’s goal is to financially level the playing field amongst our scholars. The financial means assessment uses this data to determine each scholar’s available funding during their course.
  • Means tested scholarships are a minimum of £3,000 and a maximum of £13,000.
Interview Process
  • All applicants are expected to attend an in-person interview, held at Inner Temple, in June.
  • Interviews last no longer than 20-minutes
  • Questions will be based on the scholarship criteria
  • During the interview you will complete a short advocacy exercise, presenting arguments for and against a topical issue (no advance preparation required).

How we assess your application

Your application is assessed on the answers you provide in your application form and at interview.

Application form and interview performance is assessed separately.

How are the criteria assessed?
  • Academic Achievement – Assessed on application form content only.
  • Advocacy Potential – Assessed on application form content & interview answers
  • Interpersonal Skills – Assessed on application form content & interview answers
  • Motivation and Resilience – Assessed on application form content & interview answers
Application Assessment

All application forms are marked, independently, by 2 markers, who score all 4 of the criteria.

Interview Assessment

Interviews are conducted by panels of at least 3 members of Inner Temple. The panels score the 3 criteria which are assessed at interview (Advocacy Potential, Interpersonal Skills, Motivation & Resilience).

Interview panels do not have access to application forms and are not informed on the scores awarded for the application assessment.

Final Scores

After the interviews have concluded, a final score is calculated, averaging your application and interview assessment scores, for each criterion.