School of Law Dean Martin H. Brinkley Elected Honorary Bencher of the Middle Temple
July 27, 2017
School of Law
In July, Dean Martin H. Brinkley ’92 was called to the bench as an honorary bencher of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in London.
Established in the 14th century, the Middle Temple is one of four Inns of Court located in England and Wales; along with the three other Inns of Court, it holds the right to call students to the English Bar as barristers. The organization also maintains an international professional network with worldwide membership. Middle Temple seeks to promote the education of students and barristers, preserve the inn’s historic heritage and foster high professional standards in the public interest.
Honorary benchers are recognized as distinguished individuals who have excelled in their respective professions.
“I am keenly interested in the education of young lawyers, not just in legal doctrine or in the techniques of the advocate, but in how best to cultivate in them the candor, diligence, prudence, civility and selflessness that mark our calling at its best,” says Brinkley. “I know that these habits are foremost in the training Middle Temple provides, and I rejoice at joining such a fellowship.”
In receiving this honor, Brinkley continues a close association between the Middle Temple and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law, which began in 2007 with the first moot competition held at UNC. In 2012, Kenneth S. Broun, Carolina Law’s tenth dean, was called to the bench. Last fall, the Holderness International Moot Court Team featuring students Andrew Simpson, Emma Chase, Siya Hegde and Ashlee Suttle, traveled to London as part of an exchange program between Carolina Law and British barristers-in-training at Middle Temple. Professor Richard Myers ’98, Bev Sizemore, director of international and LL.M. programs, and Brinkley accompanied the team. During the trip, Carolina Law students learned about the British legal system and competed in moot court sessions. The trip marked Myers’ second year as the American faculty moot court judge for the sessions. Brinkley also served as the moot court judge for the final moot court session. UNC will host the Middle Temple Moot Court Competitions session this year September 7-8, marking the tenth year of the program with its annual change of location between Chapel Hill and London.