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'The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple' is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn. It is near the Royal Courts of Justice, within the City of London.
In the 13th century, the Inns of Court originated as hostels and schools for student lawyers. The Middle Temple is the western part of "The Temple", the headquarters of the Knights Templar until they were dissolved in 1312; the awe-inspiring Temple Church still stands as a Royal Peculiar church of the Inner and Middle Temples. There has never been an "Outer Temple", apart from a modern office block of that name - an order of 1337 refers to repairing the lane "through the middle of the Court of the Temple", which became known as Middle Temple Lane and probably gave its name to the Inn.
Middle Temple Hall is at the heart of the Inn, and the Inn's student barristers are required to dine there for a minimum number of nights for several terms. The dinners are sometimes followed by lectures or debates. However there is a long tradition of fun and drinking: Shakespeare's ''Twelfth Night'' was first presented here, and in the Christmas celebrations, judges, barristers and students have played tricks on each other for centuries.
The Inns stopped being responsible for legal education in 1852, although they continue to provide supplementary training in areas such as advocacy and ethics for students, pupil barristers and newly-qualified barristers. Most of the Inn is occupied by barristers' offices, known as "chambers". One of the Middle Temple's main functions now is to provide support for new members to the profession. This is done through the provisions of scholarships (£1 million in 2005), subsidised accommodation both in the Temple and in Clapham ^[1], and by providing events where junior members may meet their more senior colleagues for help and advice.
Middle Temple Hall is also a popular venue for banqueting, weddings, receptions and parties. In recent years it has become a much-used film location - the cobbled streets, historic buildings and gas lighting give it a unique atmosphere.

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External links

References

External links

★ Middle Temple website

★ Middle Temple Banqueting website

★ Temple Church website

References

1. Middle Temple accommodation for students (accessed 26 April 2007)