Barrister Governing Benchers

Eligibility

A member of the Inn in practice as a self-employed barrister or as an employed barrister (as defined in the Bar Standards Board Handbook); who has shown ability and distinction in that practice. Seniority as a member of the Inn or in Silk shall not be a determinative factor as to suitability for application or election.

Application Procedure

Candidates are invited to complete an online application by 5pm on Tuesday 14 April 2026.

Barrister Governing Bencher candidates must be supported by THREE Governing Benchers, of whom at least TWO must be current Barrister Governing Benchers. The third may be a Judicial or an Other Governing Bencher. Members of the Bencher Nomination Committee are not permitted to support an application. Each of the supporting Governing Benchers must complete an online reference by a later deadline (further details below). A list of Governing Benchers is available here.

The following information will be required for the application:

• the candidate’s personal details;
• a statement from the candidate (no more than 200 words), demonstrating their qualification for election and including details of their recent support of the Inn, having regard to Bench Table Orders (BTO) 3.2 and 3.3 and the Criteria for the Election of Benchers (BTO Appendix 5). A full copy of the BTOs is available to download on the Members’ Area of the website here;
• details of past contributions to the Inn and the profession under a series of example headings. A document detailing the areas where such contributions may have been made is available here;
• document upload of the candidate’s CV (of no more than two sides of A4) to include information presented under the following headings: brief statement of nature of practice at the Bar; Inn or other Scholarships gained; professional or other appointments. Please include your name but do not include other personal/contact details on the CV;
• document upload of a photograph of the candidate (high quality and resolution, suitable for professional print, JPG format);
• the names of the three Governing Benchers who are supporting the application;
• a declaration that the candidate is 1) a Member of the Inn in practice as a self-employed barrister or as an employed barrister (as defined in the Bar Standards Board Handbook); and 2) knows of no adverse circumstances material to their candidacy (whether bankruptcy or other financial problems, criminal conviction or pending proceedings (other than in relation to parking), disciplinary offence or pending proceedings, or of any other kind). If there are any such circumstances, the candidate should provide details on the application form or to the Head of the Sub-Treasurer’s Office, Jennie Collis Price, by email (please see contact details below). This information will be shared with the Chair of the Bencher Nomination Committee in the first instance and may be submitted to the Bencher Nomination Committee as part of the application. It will be kept in strict confidence;
• an undertaking that if elected the candidate will serve the Inn in the ways set out in BTO 3.3 below:
  A Governing Bencher is expected:
  – whenever possible to attend at Parliaments and Bench Tables;
  – if elected a member of any committee or sub-committee of the Inn, or nominated by the Inn to any other body, whenever possible to attend meetings of any such committee, sub-committee or other body;
  – to assist the Inn in carrying out the Education and Training Functions of the Inn;
  – to have completed recognised equality and diversity training

We also invite candidates to complete an optional and anonymous online Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form as part of the online application to enable the Bencher Nomination Committee and Equality, Diversity & Inclusivity Sub-Committee to monitor diversity data on the point of application. Successful candidates will be asked to complete a further anonymous monitoring form on election so as to track diversity statistics.

After the application deadline at 5pm on Tuesday 14 April, each of the three supporting Governing Benchers will be sent the candidate’s full application pack with details of how to submit an online reference form by the later deadline of 5pm on Wednesday 29 April. The reference form will ask each supporting Bencher to set out the reasons in favour of the candidate being elected, having particular regard to the Criteria for the Election of Benchers (BTO Appendix 5). It will include the following questions:

• In what capacity and for how long have you known the candidate?
• In what ways do you feel the candidate has already demonstrated a commitment to the work and/or the affairs of the Inn?
• In what ways do you feel the candidate would make a significant contribution to the life and work of the Inn in the future?
• Does the candidate possess any specific skills and/or interests that you feel would be of benefit to the Inn?
• In what ways do you feel the candidate has shown ability and distinction in their practice and/or in other areas of professional life?
• In what ways do you feel the candidate has taken, or is taking, a significant part in the affairs of the legal profession, whether on the Bar Council, on circuit; in a specialist Bar association or the Judicial College; or otherwise?

Feedback will be invited from the Inn’s departments on all applicants so as to provide a full picture of any previous contribution to the Inn.

Incomplete applications or those received after the deadline of 5pm on Tuesday 14 April 2026 may not be considered.

Please note, the application form will automatically save your details for up to 15 days provided that you are using the same computer or device and internet browser to access the application.

Review of Candidates

Each application will be considered by the Bencher Nomination Committee. When selecting candidates to be put forward for election as Barrister Governing Benchers, the Bencher Nomination Committee shall have regard to the Criteria for the Election of Benchers (BTO Appendix 5).

If the number of Barrister Governing Bencher candidates considered by the Bencher Nomination Committee to have met the criteria does not exceed the number of spaces available for election, the Bencher Nomination Committee may recommend to the Executive Committee that all candidates should be put forward to Bench Table for direct election. However, if there are more candidates who are considered to have met the criteria than there are spaces, the Executive Committee may determine to arrange a ballot of Governing Benchers: in which case all candidates will be notified and details of voting procedures for Governing Benchers will be circulated in June. 

Candidates who apply from circuits other than the South Eastern circuit or from the Employed Bar may be nominated by the Bencher Nomination Committee for direct election without entry into any ballot. Such candidates will be submitted to the Executive Committee, who shall consider whether or not to approve each of the Direct Nominees. If approved, the Direct Nominee is eligible for election at Bench Table; if not approved, they shall cease to be a Direct Nominee but shall become eligible for entry in the ballot.

A proposal for election as a Barrister Governing Bencher shall remain valid (although it may be updated) until the end of the calendar year falling two years after the year of the first meeting of the Bencher Nomination Committee at which the candidate is considered, unless the candidate indicates that they do not wish to be considered further at any stage.

Selection Criteria

Bench Table Order 3.3 defines the expectations of Governing Benchers as follows:

• whenever possible to attend at Parliaments and Bench Tables;
• if elected a member of any committee or sub-committee of the Inn, or nominated by the Inn to any other body, whenever possible to attend meetings of any such committee, sub-committee or other body;
• to assist the Inn in carrying out the Education and Training Functions of the Inn;
• to have completed recognised equality and diversity training.

A document outlining examples of the role and duties of Governing Benchers is available here.

When selecting candidates to be put forward for election as Barrister, Judicial or Other Governing Benchers, the Bencher Nomination Committee shall have, inter alia, regard to the following:

(a)     Any specific need(s) that the Inn may have at that time for Benchers who possess the skills and interests necessary to perform one or more of its functions;
(b)     The extent to which the candidate appears to possess skills and interests required by the Inn either generally or in relation to any specific need(s) identified under (a) above;
(c)     The extent to which the candidate has demonstrated a strong likelihood that, as a Governing Bencher, they will make a positive contribution to the affairs of the Inn;
(d)     The extent to which the candidate has taken, or is taking, any significant part in the affairs of the Inn or, more generally in the affairs of the legal profession, whether on the Bar Council, on circuit; in a specialist Bar association or the Judicial College; or otherwise.

As to (c), a strong likelihood that a candidate will make a positive contribution to the affairs of the Inn is best evidenced by previous participation in the affairs of the Inn or of the legal profession. However, it is recognised that, on occasion, circumstances may have prevented the candidate from such previous participation. In such cases, the Committee will take the candidate’s particular circumstances fully into account and will look for evidence of a real intention on the part of the candidate, if elected, to play an active part in the Inn’s affairs. 

Bench Commons Subscription

Bench Commons is a subscription and invoicing system granted to Governing and Senior Benchers to encourage them to take part in events that are Qualifying Sessions for students and to facilitate participation in the social and collegiate life of the Inn. Bench Commons covers the cost of attendance for Benchers at all Qualifying Sessions and can also be used as a credit charging facility to pay for chargeable social events, for the purchase of merchandise or for car parking permits.

The Bench Commons quarterly subscription is currently £94 (and subject to annual RPI increases). The standard rate of Bench Commons shall be halved for Governing and Senior Benchers whose main residence for tax purposes and (where applicable) main place of work for nine months or more per calendar year are not less than 100 miles from the Inn. Bench Commons bills are invoiced retrospectively at the end of each quarter in March, June, September and December and can be paid by direct debit.

If you would like to speak to the Sub-Treasurer about the Bench Commons Subscription, please do so by email using the details below: