Chambers (law)
Encyclopedia
A judge's chambers, often just called his or her chambers, is the office of a judge
.
Chambers may also refer to the type of courtroom
where motions related to matter of procedure are heard.
, Wales
, and Australia
, chambers may refer to the room
s used by a barrister
or to an association of barristers, especially in the Inns of Court
. Barristers are not employed in a law firm but associate fraternally with each other, sharing the burden of costs, in a set of chambers. They are legally considered to each be self-employed. Chambers are administered by barristers' clerk
s who receive cases from solicitors and agree matters such as fees on behalf of their employers; they then provide case details to the barristers. There are chambers all over England and Wales, however the largest concentration of them is in London.
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
.
Chambers may also refer to the type of courtroom
Courtroom
A courtroom is the actual enclosed space in which a judge regularly holds court.The schedule of official court proceedings is called a docket; the term is also synonymous with a court's caseload as a whole.-Courtroom design:-United States:...
where motions related to matter of procedure are heard.
United Kingdom and Commonwealth
In the EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, chambers may refer to the room
Room
A room is any distinguishable space within a structure.Room may also refer to:* Room , by Emma Donoghue* Room, Nepal* Room for PlayStation Portable, a social networking service* Thomas Gerald Room , Australian mathematician...
s used by a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
or to an association of barristers, especially in the Inns of Court
Inns of Court
The Inns of Court in London are the professional associations for barristers in England and Wales. All such barristers must belong to one such association. They have supervisory and disciplinary functions over their members. The Inns also provide libraries, dining facilities and professional...
. Barristers are not employed in a law firm but associate fraternally with each other, sharing the burden of costs, in a set of chambers. They are legally considered to each be self-employed. Chambers are administered by barristers' clerk
Barristers' clerk
A barristers' clerk is a manager and administrator in a set of barristers' chambers. The term originates in England, and is also used in some other common law jurisdictions, such as Australia. In Scotland, the equivalent role is advocate's clerk....
s who receive cases from solicitors and agree matters such as fees on behalf of their employers; they then provide case details to the barristers. There are chambers all over England and Wales, however the largest concentration of them is in London.