Mahatma Gandhi qualified as a barrister in London in 1891.
Gandhi travelled to England in 1888 to study law at the Inner Temple, one of London’s four Inns of Court. He completed the required legal training and was called to the bar in June 1891. This qualification allowed him to practise as an advocate in British-ruled India.
After returning to India, Gandhi initially struggled to establish a legal practice in Bombay and Rajkot. His career changed when he accepted a legal assignment in South Africa in 1893. There, discrimination against Indians led him toward organised political activism and eventually the development of satyagraha.
A barrister and a solicitor were distinct legal roles in Britain. Barristers traditionally represented clients in higher courts, while solicitors handled much of the preparatory and advisory work. Gandhi was called to the bar, rather than becoming a judge or prosecutor.