England's legal system is unique and has a long history. Like a lot of other things in England, it has evolved over time with no written form of establishment. Although you can't see the actual legal system, evidence underpinning the system can be seen all over London. You just need to know where to look.
Today I'm going to take you on a little historical tour to the City of Westminster where the legal system is based. If you've been to London before, you would have been to the City of Westminster. All the famous landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, St Pauls Cathedral and Trafalgar Square etc are located here.
Royal Courts of Justice
Courts are fundamental to the legal system. The Royal Courts of Justice, or more commonly known as the Law Courts was built in the 19th century. It was opened by Queen Victoria in 1882. The building has 19 courtrooms inside, and it's said to be one of the largest courts in Europe.
The RCJ only trials civil cases, and both the High Court and the Court of Appeal are here. They are the second highest court in England, only a level below the Supreme Court, the highest court in the country. Many high profile cases are heard here, and for anyone who watches the UK news, you'll often see celebrities or famous people outside this building when their case is heard. The most recent one was last year between Johnny Deep, best known for Pirates of the Caribbean, who sued a British newspaper for calling him a wife beater.
Source : BBC
You'll know a high profile case is being heard here when all the reporters are outside waiting with their cameras. It becomes a media circus. I used to see these media circus quite often when my bus passes by on the way to work. It was very quiet during my visit, sadly no juicy gossip to share with you.
The Inns of Court
In England, there are two types of lawyers - solicitors and barrister. The latter are more specialised in a particular area of the law and can represent people in all the courts in England. Solicitors can only do so in certain courts. People who want to practice as a barrister in England must join one of the four Inns of Court. They are the only organisations that train barristers and can grant a person a barrister status. This system dates back to the 12th century, and when a person becomes a barrister, he or she is said to be called to the Bar. That's a big deal for a lawyer (not to mention lucrative future income) as there are only around 17 thousand practising barristers in England compared to around 155 thousand practising solicitors.
Lincoln's and Gray's Inn
Lincoln's Inn is the largest of the four Inns. Despite it being across the road from this sign, I didn't stop by due to lack of time. Gray's Inn is another and that's a bit further away, like another ten minutes walk and I didn't make it there either.
Inner Temple and Middle Temple
The other two Inn of Court are called Inner Temple and Middle Temple. They are situated five minutes walk away from the Royal Court of Justice, nearby the River Thames. In fact, all four Inns of Court are located walking distance away from the RCJ, in a way, that's how compact the English legal system is.
The images below is the Middle Temple. Like all the other Inns, the Middle Temple evolved over time, and are a cluster of buildings where barristers have their chambers (offices), practice, and train pupils who will be called to the bar one day. The fascinating thing about this area is it's so tucked away in the center of London, and not many people are aware of its existence.
Save for the cars in the car park, of which many were flashy sports cars, when you walk around here, you could easily imagine you're being transported back to a few hundred years ago.
If you've been watching Bridgerton on Netflix, this could have been a perfect location for filming. The grandeur of the buildings, antique gas street lamps, coats of arms and Latin inscriptions, cobblestone paths, all point to the historical significance of the Middle Temple.
Temple Church
If there is one single building that represents the origins of the legal system in England, the Temple Church would definitely qualify. If you look at the sign out the church, is says The Mother Church of Common Law. Common law is another unique feature of the English legal system. They are law that is based on precedence, that is rulings from previous court cases rather than written law.
The Temple Church was built in the middle of the 12th century by the Military Order of the Knights Templar, more commonly known as the Knights Templar or just Templar. If you're a fan of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, you will know what I'm talking about. TL:DR - The Templar was formed in the early 12th century and was one of the most wealthy and powerful Orders of the Christendom with presence in many parts of Europe. In the late 12th century, they built the Temple Church in London, modelled on the round Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The Templar brought with them a lot of their wealth and many lawyers were employed to help them manage their wealth. When the Order was abolished in the early 14th century the lawyers occupied the area and formed the Inner and Middle Temples that exists to date.
The Temple Church has witnessed many major events over the years, most notably the events leading up to the signing of the Magna Carta in the early 13th century. For those who aren't aware, the Magna Carta is an important historical document whereby King John promised to his people, not to abuse his power and that everyone should be treated fair and equal. It forms the basis of many of the human right laws we have today.
In recent years, the Temple Church has become famous for the movie The Da Vinci Code where the two main characters come here to solve a riddle. That aside, the Church is worthy in its own right as historical landmark in London. If you are ever in London, this is one under rated gem that I would highly recommend. Entrance cost £5 and if you can't find it's exactly location, check out the pin on my Pinmapple map.
I think I have said enough about the history of the English legal system and its associated buildings already. I shall leave you in peace and quiet to admire the stunning interior of the Temple Church.