Does the Bar Council have the same ruling as the Solicitors Regulation Authority about taking on student members with criminal convictions?
Both the Inner Temple and Grays Inn insist that students should apply to all four Inns of Court. They would then have to sign an application/admission form to declare all/any convictions. The relevant Inn would then look at all the circumstances surrounding how any offence would affect the practice and results would go to the Master of the Bench for a decision. The Inner Temple states that every applicant has to declare any and every conviction. If any offence is declared the applicant would then go before the Call Panel for interview and assessment to see if they are now a ‘fit and proper person’. If so, there should be no problem with them being called to the Bar. Before taking the BVC, students who anticipate becoming a barrister should apply to the Inns as soon as they know this is the profession they wish to follow. If they are refused entry they will then avoid spending too much time and money on this stage of their academic training.
