Editing Inner Temple (section)

==Structure and governance==
The Inner Temple is governed by the Parliament, an executive council made up of the elected [[Bencher]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.innertemplelibrary.org.uk/temple-history/inner-temple-history-constitution-of-the-inn.htm|title=Constitution of the Inn|last=Baker|first=John|publisher=Inner Temple|access-date=24 November 2009}}</ref> The Parliament is led by the Treasurer, who is elected annually to serve a one-year term; the Treasurer for 2023 is Sir Robert Francis KC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Treasurers of The Inner Temple {{!}} Inner Temple |url=https://www.innertemple.org.uk/who-we-are/how-we-operate/governance/treasurers-of-the-inner-temple/ |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=www.innertemple.org.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> The Inner Temple also has a [[Reader (Inns of Court)|Reader]], who traditionally holds the position for a year before being appointed as Treasurer;<ref name=hist1/> the Reader for 2023 is [[Richard Salter (Barrister)|Richard Salter KC]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Petra |date=2022-07-21 |title=Richard Salter QC elected as Reader-Elect of Inner Temple |url=https://3vb.com/richard-salter-qc-elected-as-reader-elect-of-the-inner-temple/ |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=3VB}}</ref>

The Inner Temple was historically governed by a Treasurer and three Governors. Members were divided into two categories; Clerks (''Clerici'') admitted to Clerks' Commons and Fellows (''Socii'') admitted to Fellows' Commons. The Governors held Parliament with a small group of senior barristers; in 1508, for example, Parliament was held with three Governors and four senior barristers.<ref>Simpson (1970) p.254</ref> The last Governor was elected in 1566, and Benchers took over later that century.<ref>Simpson (1970) p.255</ref> Benchers, or Masters of the Bench, are elected members of the Parliament responsible for overseeing the estates, the Inn's finances and setting internal policy.<ref name=td>{{cite web|url=http://www.innertemple.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=62|title=The Inner Temple Today|publisher=Inner Temple|access-date=24 November 2009}}</ref> Today there are approximately 350 Governing Benchers (barristers and members of the judiciary) and honorary, academic and Royal Benchers appointed, as well as those practising in other jurisdictions.<ref name=td/>

===Coat of arms===
[[File:Bloye shield on Fountain Court, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham 2.JPG|thumb|Arms of the Inner Temple]]
The coat of arms of the Inner Temple is, in [[blazon]], "[[Azure (heraldry)|Azure]] a pegasus [[Attitude (heraldry)#Salient|salient]] [[argent]]", or a [[Pegasus]].<ref name="peg">{{cite web|url=http://www.innertemplelibrary.org.uk/temple-history/inner-temple-history-pegasus.htm|title=Inner Temple History – Pegasus|last=Baker|first=John|publisher=Inner Temple|access-date=8 November 2009}}</ref> [[Gerard Legh]] is normally given the credit for having suggested the Pegasus as a coat of arms, having given an account of [[Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester|Robert Dudley]] playing the part of Prince Pallaphilos, a patron of the Honorable Order of Pegasus in the 1561 Christmas [[revels]].<ref>Pearce (1848) p.220</ref> It may alternately have come about because of the tiles in Temple Church, which show a knight on horseback with a shield and sword raised. From this point onwards, the arms were considered the Temple's property, and they were confirmed by the [[College of Arms]] in 1967.<ref name="peg"/>

===Liberty===
[[File:City of London civil parishes Map 1870.png|thumb|Map of the civil parishes of the City of London, including the Temple]]
Inner Temple (together with the neighbouring [[Middle Temple]]) is also one of the few remaining [[Liberty (division)|liberties]], an old name for a type of administrative division. It is an independent [[extra-parochial area]],<ref>[http://www.agi.org.uk/storage/events/AGI2009Papers/MartinLaker.pdf Association for Geographic Information] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718023443/http://www.agi.org.uk/storage/events/AGI2009Papers/MartinLaker.pdf |date=18 July 2011 }} What place is that then?</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>[http://www.middletemple.org.uk/the_inn/middle-temple-as-a-local-authority.html Middle Temple] {{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 }} as a local authority</ref>) and equally outside the [[ecclesiastical jurisdiction]] of the [[Bishop of London]]. The Inner 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 liberties of the City, but can be thought of as an independent [[enclave]].