Lincoln's Inn

Another view of London the visitor doesn't always see. This is the common room (dining hall) and Treasury Office of Lincoln's Inn. It's another world!

Below is an explanation as to what the Inns of Court are for:

The Inns provide support for barristers and student barristers through a range of educational activities, lunching and dining facilities, access to common rooms and gardens, and provision of various grants and scholarships. One of the key functions of the Inns is their responsibility for calling barristers to the Bar. Anyone wishing to train for the Bar must join one of the Inns and it is the Inns alone which have the power to call a student to the Bar. Alongside this responsibility, the Inns also have a role in administering disciplinary tribunals to deal with more serious complaints against barristers.

There are four Inns of Court: Lincoln's Inn, Gray's Inn, Inner Temple and Middle Temple.

I do know that as part of their training student barrister (also known as pupils) have to eat a certain number of dinners. I think it's where their elders impart their knowledge to their pupils! I have this vision of bewigged barristers discussing major legal points with their pupils over shepherd pie!

It sounds outdated but our legal system goes back centuries and is the basis for many legal systems all over the world including New Zealand and Australia.