The Inns of Court

The tendency of modern lawyers is to permit the profession to become a mere business and to give little or no attention to the tradition and romance of the law. During more than five centuries the Inns of Court have occupied an important place in the history and development of our jurisprudence. The constant growth and continuity which characterizes the great body of English law is not found in the native or national law of continental countries like France and Germany. Toward this characteristic entirety of English law the Inns of Court have contributed largely, for through the centuries of its chief development they have provided lawyers and students of the law—place, opportunity and inclination for the study and exposition of legal principles.

In fact if the history of the Inns of Court is traced back into the obscurity of tradition, it will appear that for almost seven hundred years the Inns have been the abode of law and lawyers.