Julia Fine

2024 Temple Bar Scholar Report

The Temple Bar Scholarship was an immersive experience that taught me a great deal about the UK legal system, and in the process, allowed me to reflect on our own.  

Our first week was a whirlwind introduction to “Legal London.”  We met some of the most important figures in the judiciary, including several Justices of the Supreme Court, the Lady Chief Justice, and the Master of the Rolls.  We learned that judges in the UK are selected by independent commissions, rather than appointed by the executive or elected. We also visited several courthouses, ranging from the grand and historic (the Royal Courts of Justice and the Old Bailey) to the modern (the Rolls Building, which houses the Commercial Court).  I particularly enjoyed touring the four Inns of Court, which are professional associations for barristers in the UK. The Inns date back to the 14th century—I certainly felt that history as I was surrounded by the centuries-old art and architecture—and they continue to play a key role in barristers’ education and training.  

The marquee event of that week was the “Opening of the Legal Year” ceremony at Westminster Abbey. We were treated to a procession of members of the bar and judiciary in magnificent robes signifying their different roles, accompanied by beautiful organ music.  Several officials and clergymen gave remarks and offered prayers. The service concluded with everyone singing “God Save the King.” I felt privileged to be able to witness such a unique ceremony, so different from anything that would take place in the United States.  

Our second and third weeks were spent in barristers’ chambers. I watched hearings and read pleadings and briefs in a range of commercial disputes. I also spoke with the barristers about their work and their paths to the bar. It was interesting to compare the experiences of barristers in the UK and lawyers in the US.  In the UK, the legal profession is “split” between barristers and solicitors. At a high level of generality, barristers appear in court while solicitors form the client relationship. Further, barristers, unlike lawyers in American law firms, are self-employed—meaning barristers in the same chambers can, and often do, appear in the same case on opposite sides. I’m grateful to the barristers at Brick Court Chambers and Quadrant Chambers for hosting me and being so generous with their time.

We spent our last week at the UK Supreme Court, where I was paired with the Court’s president, Lord Reed. Along with the other scholars, I observed argument in cases arising out of Scotland and Northern Ireland, both involving the European Convention on Human Rights. Lord Reed and his judicial assistant took time out of their busy days to speak with me about those cases as well as petitions for appeal that the Court would later consider. These petitions are equivalent to petitions for certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court, and I learned that the criteria for granting these petitions are quite similar in both courts. Oral argument, however, is much different; in the UK Supreme Court, argument lasts for two or more days, whereas in the US, argument spans a few hours at most. We capped off the week with dinner with the Justices at the House of Lords, a special experience that I will always remember.

In addition to the scheduled programming, I also enjoyed exploring London’s museums, theaters, and restaurants on evenings and weekends.  Thank you to Cindy Dennis and the American Inns of Court for making this scholarship possible.