The Honorable Society of King’s Inns was established in 1541, the same year in which the lordship of Ireland became a realm of King Henry VIII. From its outset, the King’s Inns had a gatekeeping, regulatory and representative role with regard to the barristers’ profession. However initially, it had no educational role, because the Statute of Jeofailles of 1542 provided that a period of residency at a London Inn of Court was necessary in order for a person to practise law in Ireland, a requirement that remained in place for more than 300 years. The history of the Inns is fascinating, and in many ways it mirrors that of Ireland itself. However, when one considers the motto of the King’s Inns,...
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