Editing Middle Temple (section)

== Structure and governance ==

The Inn's supreme body is its Parliament, which is made up of the [[Bencher]]s (judges and senior barristers), who are elected for life, and headed by the Treasurer who is elected annually. Parliament approves the Inn's budget and authorises [[Call to the bar|Call]] of qualified student members to the Bar.<ref>[http://www.middletemple.org.uk/about-us/governance/parliament "Parliament,"] Middle Temple website, retrieved 30 October 2017.</ref> Members of the [[British royal family]] who are made honorary benchers are known as "Royal Benchers". The first of these was the Prince of Wales, later [[Edward VII]], who was made a Royal Bencher when he opened the newly constructed library in 1861.<ref name="Royal"/>

The Inn is run from day to day by an Executive Committee and five Standing Committees, which are accountable to the Parliament.<ref>[http://www.middletemple.org.uk/about-us/governance/standing-committees "Standing Committees,"] Middle Temple website, retrieved 12 January 2024.</ref> The Executive Committee consists of nine voting members (including the Treasurer and the Deputy Treasurer) and six non-voting members (including the Under Treasurer).<ref>[http://www.middletemple.org.uk/about-us/governance/executive-committee "Executive Committee,"] Middle Temple website, retrieved 12 January 2024.</ref>

The Treasurer for 2025 is Lady Justice [[Kathryn Thirlwall]] DBE.<ref>[http://www.middletemple.org.uk/about-us/governance/officers-of-the-inn "Officers of the Inn,"] Middle Temple website, retrieved 13 March 2025.</ref> The Chief Executive and Under Treasurer is Christopher Ghika KCVO CBE.<ref>[https://www.middletemple.org.uk/about-us/governance/executive-management "The Executive Management of the Inn"] at Middle Temple's official website (retrieved 17 December 2023).</ref>

=== Liberty ===

Middle Temple (like the Inner Temple) is one of the few remaining [[Liberty (division)|liberties]], an old name for a geographic division. It is an independent [[extra-parochial area]],<ref>[https://www.middletemple.org.uk/archive/history/eighteenth-century-stagnation-and-neglect Middle Temple website]</ref> historically not governed by the [[City of London Corporation]]<ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/localact1996/pdf/ukla_19960004_en.pdf City of London (Approved Premises for Marriage) Act 1996] "By ancient custom the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple and the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple exercise powers within the areas of the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple respectively ('the Temples') concerning (''inter alia'') the regulation and governance of the Temples"</ref> (and is today regarded as a local authority for most purposes)<ref>[https://www.middletemple.org.uk/search?search_api_views_fulltext=Local+authority Middle Temple as a local authority] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930021928/http://www.middletemple.org.uk/the_inn/middle-temple-as-a-local-authority.html |date=30 September 2012 }}</ref> and equally outside the [[ecclesiastical jurisdiction]] of the [[Bishop of London]]. The Middle Temple's functions as a local council are set out in the [[Temples Order 1971]].<ref>{{Whatdotheyknow.com|http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/119646/response/291403/attach/2/Temples%20Order%201971.pdf|Temples Order 1971|119646|Under-Treasurer of the Middle Temple|16 September 2012}}</ref>

It geographically falls within the boundaries and wards of the City.

Some of the Inn's buildings (those along Essex Street, Devereux Court and the Queen Elizabeth Building near the Embankment) lie just outside the liberty of the Middle Temple and the City's boundary, and are actually situated in the [[City of Westminster]]. Quadrant House (7–15 Fleet Street) was acquired by the Middle Temple in 1999, and after five years of conversion is now a barristers' chambers.<ref>[http://www.buildingtalk.com/news/szo/szo107.html Building talk] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205025429/http://www.buildingtalk.com/news/szo/szo107.html |date=5 December 2008 }} Major £12m Fleet Street refurbishment (2005)</ref> This lies outside the liberty (though immediately adjacent to it) but is within the City of London.

=== Badge and coat of arms ===
[[File:Bloye shield on Fountain Court, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham 3.JPG|thumb|120px|Coat of arms]]
The badge of the Middle Temple consists of the [[Lamb of God]] with a flag bearing the [[Saint George's Cross]]. This symbol appears in the centre of the Inn's [[coat of arms]], against a background consisting of the same cross (a red cross on a white field). The cross, and the lamb with the flag, each were symbols of the [[Knights Templar]].<ref>Bellot (1902), p. 28</ref>