The Inns of Court School of Law (ICSL) has affiliated with London's City University in a bid to meet increased competition. From this year, the ICSL has to compete with six other institutions for students after its historic monopoly on the training of barristers was scrapped by the Bar Council in 1995, following complaints about limited entry. The two educational institutions plan to develop joint courses and a masters degree is in the early stages of planning. However, while they will share facilities and expertise with City and be treated as a school within the university, the ICSL will remain financially and administratively autonomous.