INNS OF CHANCERY were probably so called, because anciently inhabited by such clerks as chiefly studied the forming of writs, which regularly belonged to the cursitors, who are of chancery.
These are Clifford's Inn, Clement's Inn, New Inn, Staple Inn, and Barnard's Inn. Furnival's Inn, Lyon's Inn, and Thavies Inn, have ceased to exist as law societies.
Originally these were preparatory colleges for younger students; and many were entered there, before they were admitted into the inns of court. Now they are mostly occupied by attorneys, solicitors, and others, and an admission to them is no longer of any avail to the student in his progress to the bar. See BARRISTER.