Every barrister in England and Wales must belong to one of the four Inns of Court in London: Lincoln's Inn, Gray's Inn, the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple. They call students to the Bar, provide training, libraries and dining halls, and have historic links with India: Gandhi and Nehru (Inner Temple), Patel (Middle Temple), Jinnah (Lincoln's Inn) and Ambedkar (Gray's Inn) were all called to the Bar there.
Four Inns: Lincoln's Inn, Gray's Inn, Inner Temple, Middle Temple.
Quick check: Which of these is NOT one of the four Inns of Court?
Lincoln's Inn
Gray's Inn
Middle Temple
Clement's Inn
Answer: D.
2009
The UK Supreme Court
Replacing the Law Lords
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom began work in October 2009, taking over the judicial functions of the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords, under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005. It sits in the Middlesex Guildhall, opposite the Houses of Parliament. Unlike the Indian Supreme Court, it cannot strike down Acts of Parliament.
Created by the Constitutional Reform Act 2005.
Cannot strike down Acts of Parliament.
Quick check: The UK Supreme Court replaced the judicial functions of the:
Privy Council
High Court
House of Lords
Court of Appeal
Answer: C.
1833
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
The Empire's final court
Formally set up by the Judicial Committee Act 1833, the JCPC was the final court of appeal for the British Empire, including India until 1949. It still hears appeals from some Commonwealth countries, UK overseas territories and Crown dependencies.
India's final court of appeal until 1949.
Quick check: Until which year was the Privy Council the final court of appeal for India?
1950
1949
1947
1935
Answer: B.
2022
Queen's Counsel to King's Counsel
Taking silk
Senior barristers in England and Wales can be appointed Queen's or King's Counsel (QC or KC), a mark of excellence known as "taking silk" because they wear silk gowns. On the accession of King Charles III in September 2022, all QCs automatically became KCs.
QCs became KCs in September 2022.
Quick check: Why did Queen's Counsel become King's Counsel in 2022?
King Charles III acceded to the throne
The Inns of Court merged
A new Act of Parliament was passed
The Bar Council voted for it
Answer: A.
1789
The US Supreme Court
Nine justices
Created by Article III of the US Constitution and the Judiciary Act of 1789, the Supreme Court of the United States has nine justices, a number fixed by Congress since 1869. Justices serve for life (during "good behaviour"). The motto "Equal Justice Under Law" is carved above its entrance in Washington, D.C. John Roberts has been Chief Justice since 2005.
Nine justices since 1869.
Life tenure.
Chief Justice John Roberts (since 2005).
Quick check: How many justices sit on the US Supreme Court?
Nine
Eleven
Seven
Thirteen
Answer: A.
26 more entries under this heading
The Law Society and the Bar Council · England's two branches
American Bar Association · The US Bar
International Bar Association · The global Bar
Harvard Law School and the Case Method · Langdell's revolution
The Hague Academy of International Law · Summer courses at the Peace Palace
The Venice Commission · Advice on constitutions
International Committee of the Red Cross · Guardian of the Geneva Conventions
Faculty of Advocates, Edinburgh · The independent bar of Scotland
King's Inns, Dublin · Ireland's institution for training barristers
Abolition of the Court of Star Chamber · Abolished for its arbitrary justice
