The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-06
STUDYING Law IN ENGLAND.
A Very Different Course from That Of the
Harvard Law School.

A Very Different Course from That Of the
Harvard Law School.
London Letter in Boston Transcript.
Perhaps some of your readers may be inter
ested to hear how they study for the law in
England very different thing from the three
years we spend IN the Harvard Law School at
home. The law school in London is situated IN
the Temple and the other inns of coHrt as they
are called These inns are four in number-4the
Inner Temple, the Middle Temple Lincoln's ann
and Grays Inn. By far the most famous OF
these are the Inner and Middle Temple, in Fleet
street. not far from Chancery lane. The Tenn
pie, as it is called, belongs to the corporations OF
the Inner and Middle Temple together, and orig
inally consisted of three parts the inner and
Outer Temple and the Middle Temple, between
the two; but the other temple was taken down
long ago leaving the names of the other
two. The title Of Temple is derived
from the fact that it was originally lodge
of the knights TemplaT, amilitary order founded
in Jerusalem in the twelfth century, at the time
of the crusades 10 protect the holy Hepulchre
from violence, and called @Templarsn because
belonging to the temple ofSalomon. When this
order dissolved IN 1913, the temple became the
property of the crown, and, after passing Through
several hands, was finally leased in the SameDen-
tnry as "a school of law, and school of law 1t has
remained for over five centuries. And IN this
long process of time it has accumulated enorm-
ons revenues, and is now very wealthy organ
ization. These inns of court are very delight
hustle and turmoil of the principal streets,
crowded with every sort of vehicle, and almost
impossible for wayfarers ON foot one turns on
e sts G Sss On Gne middle sss a9 of
quiet eourt-yards, surrounded by old
buildings and very likely containing little
garden AID a few trees in the center. These
quiet places are the inns of court, and in these
buildings live the barristers. A more delightful
spot cannot be imagined. Everything is peace
full, and even the trees are covered with the mus
tinesS of the law. In the old rooms gener8tion
after generation has poured over the same books
and burned the midnight oil in their efforts to
add new precedents to the accumulated mass.
The government is in the hands of the older
members, who are called the 'benchers." The
Temple Church is Situated in the inner temple,
but is owned by the two corporations in eem-
mon. 1t consists of two parts, the Round
steps the Round Church is enten6d. built in the
twelfth century by the tenplars, but still
containing figures of the knights en- the
floor There are nine figures In all each
hands crossed in the attitude of prayer.
One of them is the brotherin law of King
John, and another is said to be the figure of the
first baron of England. We ascend httle
which contains various tablets to the various
members Of the temple, once great lawyers in
their own time, but now passed away and for
gotten, leaving only their names in the white
marble OF the tablets behind them
In the Round Church the lawyers used to sit
centuries ago. and wait fer their clients much
pleasanter place for young lawyers to wait than
in their offices, as the modern custom Is
Each lawyer had bis accustomed stall, just
Just like our modern market, AID there trans-
acted his business with his clients, if he had
any. Beyond The Round Church. is the choir
built about century later, which is used NOW
by the members of the temple as their private
church, and is only open for service to chem and
r (A~, a. ,sA 49,,
bers of the Inner temple, and on
the other the Middle temple The
Judges, barristers and students have each 4aseir
own pews assigned to them. On the floor. IL
mosaic work. the heraldic emblem of the old
temp1aRs, Agnus Del, . lamb and . cross, fire.
quently occurs, as well as the winged horse Of St
George, the emblem of the inner temple. Near
the church is the dining hail. where the members
dine together during term time, and in e0Bnee
ton with this dining room one of the most CUP
ious of the many customs takes place There
are four terms year, each lasting about .
month, ard in this hal) dinner is served every
day. A barrister who has been called" or adj
mitted to the bar can dine here by paying three
shillings, and a very good dinner he gets judg-
ing from the b:H Of fare including wine,
as the custodian took great pains to in
form us. Every student of the law is
obliged to dine here three times IN every
term, for the space Of three yegrs which
amounts to thirty six dinners in all In addition,
he has to pass stated examinations as with us;
but even if he passes and does not dine he can
not be called to the bar So every student must
come MP to London three times term from OK
ford, or wherever he is studying, and attend
dinner in his robes. If he is late. the dinner
does not count for him, and If he takes his robe
of in the dining hail. or comes in without robe
his dinner is not counted AT theentFance to the
hall are theola doorsof the time of the pemplaFs
very cuFionsly carved and decorated. The hall
there contains portraits of various distinguished
judges and advocates Of past tiInes and the coat
of arms Of all the treRsurers Of the corporation
One is especially pointed out and consists of
three tooth-co on shield with the name OF
Booth.
The Countess Of Dudley.
London Letter to Albany journal.