Definitions for "Inns of Court"
Four legal societies in London that control admission to the English bar. The inns derived their name from their 13th century founding, where the various masters of the law would gather and teach their apprentice lawyers, operating as a guild.
Collective name of the four legal societies in London that have the exclusive right of admission to the bar.
There are four Inns of Court: Gray's Inn, Lincoln's Inn, Inner Temple and Middle Temple. These are ancient legal societies that anyone wishing to train for the Bar must join before undertaking theĀ  BVC. Their main function is to Call barristers to the Bar (see "Call" above). They also provide support to barristers and student barristers through educational and social activities and the provision of grants and scholarships.