Bencher

The Inn may elect non-members as honorary benchers – for example, distinguished judges and lawyers from other countries, eminent non-lawyers or (in the English Inns) members of the British Royal Family, who become known as "Royal Benchers" once elected.

While succession to the post of Treasurer was once dependent purely on seniority (or auncienty), this is no longer the case.

Today, the benchers of the four English Inns have common standards agreed with the Bar Council.

The governing structure of King's Inns dates from the sixteenth century and are composed of "Benchers".

A bencher in the Canadian context is a member of the board of directors of a provincial law society.

Combined arms of the four Inns of Court. Clockwise from top left: Lincoln's Inn , Middle Temple , Gray's Inn , Inner Temple .