The Bar in England and Wales is divided into six regions, which are more commonly known as ‘Circuits’. The Circuits provide important sources of support, advice and representation for barristers practising in those areas.

They provide a range of services to the members in their respective geographical areas. They maintain lines of communication with all parts of the legal system, including the courts, and are represented on the Bar Council through the Circuit Leaders. They liaise closely with the local court service, the Crown Prosecution Service and other bodies, as well as providing important training and social events for barristers.

You can find out more information on your Circuit on their individual websites here:

• Northern Circuit
• North Eastern Circuit
• Wales and Chester Circuit
• Midlands Circuit
• Western Circuit
• South Eastern Circuit

The Inn has established the following societies on Circuit in a bid to engage with our members across the country, and enable them to still experience the fellowship and collegiality that is felt here in Domus:

• Middle Temple Northern Circuit Society
• Middle Temple North Eastern Circuit Society
• Middle Temple Midland Circuit Society
• Middle Temple Wales Circuit Society

Work is underway to develop a society on the Western Circuit.

Various events are put on by the Inn throughout the year on each Circuit, such as annual black-tie dinners, summer drinks parties, Chambers’ Representative receptions, and Qualifying Sessions for students. Please keep an eye on the events page on our website to stay informed on the events happening on your Circuit. A summary of the facilities on offer to you as a Middle Templar on Circuit can be found on the downloadable crib sheet below.

History & Archive

Members who are not close by to the Inn are still able to access our services. An abundance of archive and history content is available online, including articles, digital booklets, publications, historical information, digitised records and more. The Archive Department are a great source of information, who are always willing to answer questions and carry out research if needed. If you are looking to access historical information, or have any questions, you can contact the department on archive@middletemple.org.uk.

Library

Some Qualifying Sessions are run by the Library throughout the year, and these all have the option to attend remotely, so they are available to student members on Circuit. As well as enhanced training opportunities at QS and CPD levels, the Library also offers members on Circuit one-to-one in-person or remote training sessions on any aspect of legal research, including improving search techniques, the free legal web, EU law, US law and other topics.

All members of the Inn are able to make use of the Library’s Document Delivery Service, whereby for a small fee, members can request to have the documents sent to them remotely. You can find out more here. The Library can also offer members remote access to practitioner members to Bloomsbury Professional, Lexis PSL and PLI+. Contact the team at library@middletemple.org.uk to gain access.

Wherever you may be, members can always email the library with any queries or assistance they may need with their research at library@middletemple.org.uk.

Education

The Inn is also running more online and hybrid Qualifying Sessions, so they are readily available for our student members on Circuit. You can see the Qualifying Sessions on the Inn’s event page.

Visiting the Inn as a member on Circuit

The Inn is a home-from-home for Circuit members visiting London whether for work or pleasure. With well-placed and comfortable accommodation, business support through the Library, conference rooms available to book, and the ever-popular lunch in Hall, everyone is able to enjoy the usual member benefits that the Inn offers.

Wherever you are, we encourage all our members to come along to events at the Inn as often as you can, as it provides a great opportunity to meet and renew acquaintances with fellow members whom they may have not met in some time.

To keep up to date with news and events on Circuit please check the Inn’s event page, and make sure your communication preferences are up to date so you can continue to receive emails regarding your Circuit.