Four specific societies hold the exclusive power to admit people to practice law in Britain. They are Lincoln’s Inn, Gray’s Inn, Inner Temple, and Middle Temple. All of these institutions are located in London. Their roots go back to the Middle Ages.
For centuries, these groups controlled everything about legal training. They had a monopoly over how lawyers were educated. This changed only when the Inn of Chancery developed in the 17th century. That new institution focused on training students to frame writs and other legal documents. This was specific work for the courts of chancery or equity courts.
Even then, the traditional Inns remained central. Modern law schools did not emerge until the 19th century. Today, the history of these four societies defines the unique path to becoming a barrister in the UK.
