From Medieval times until the nineteenth century Westminster Hall housed the central Law Courts. The courts evolved from the royal household, where originally the King in person had arbitrated between his subjects.

The courts which sat in Westminster Hall were like loose boxes or family pews in a church, surrounded by wood partitions a few feet high. The Russian Tsar, Peter the Great, visited the Hall and asked who those busy people were in wigs and black gowns. "Lawyers," he was told.

"Lawyers! Why, I have but two in my whole dominions, and I believe I shall hang one of them the moment I get home."
- Peter The Great.

These stalls sold books, millinery (especially fine felt hats), spectacles, mathematical instruments, legal stationery, jellies, sweetmeats, coffee and ale. The Hall bristled with shopkeepers signs. The atmosphere was that of a fashionable meeting place.

Outside, could be found 'Men of Straw' - that is people offering to sell their service as witnesses. To distinguish themselves they stuck a straw in one of their shoes.

A print of 1797 (The First Day of Term) shows the hall with courts in progress and stalls humming with activity, and hanging above them the trophies of the Duke of Marlborough's victories. The verses below the picture describe the scene well:

When fools fall out, for every flaw
They run horn mad to go to law.
A hedge awry, a wrong placed gate
Will serve to spend a whole estate.

Through pleas, demurrers, dev'l and all,
At length they bring it to the hall
Jargon and noise alone prevail
While sense and reason's sure to fail

The three courts which met in the body of the hall were the Courts of King's Bench and Chancery, and (until the mid eighteenth century) The Court of Common Pleas.

The Court of King's Bench
It was within this area, that up to the 19th century, the Court of King's Bench had its place. This was the supreme court of Common Law, it was called the King's Bench because at one time the sovereign presided over it, and the court followed the sovereign from place to place. The King's (or Queen's) Bench is now a division of the High Court of Justice.

Court of Chancery
The Court of Chancery used to sit within this area until the 19th century. Chancery is the highest division of the High Court of Justice, and comprises a court of common law and a court of equity. It is the highest court of the land, except for the House of Lords.

The Court of Common Pleas
This was the site of the Court of Common Pleas until the 18th century. Common Pleas were civil actions brought by one subject against another, as opposed to those brought by the Crown against a subject, their court was abolished in 1875, being succeeded by the Common Pleas Division.

Court of Exchequer
On this site, which is today occupied by the Grand Committee Room, was formerly held the Court of Exchequer. The court was presided over by the Lord Chief Baron, and originally heard revenue cases, which evolved from the business of the king's accounts division. The royal counting house was called the Exchequer in reference to a chequered cloth which was laid out there for use in accounting.

Court of Wards and Liveries
Here, in two rooms and various ancillary chambers in an ancient building of the Old Palace, was the Court of Wards and Liveries. This court dealt with the administration of funds arising from the king's ancient feudal rights of taking the income of a tenant's estates while the heir was a minor, and of choosing a spouse for the heir.

The Court of the Star Chamber
Separate from Westminster Hall, but still in its close vicinity was the Court of the Star Chamber. The name of this court was taken from the stars which decorated the ceiling of the room where it was held. After a judgement of the Star Chamber offenders might have their hands or ears cut off, and fines were swingeing. Hearings were public, and there was no jury.

Court of Requests
Here, in a building above the kitchens and cellars of Edward the Confessor's palace, sat the Court of Requests. Originally a poor man's court, it gradually came to hear complaints from all sorts of people.

In 1612 William Shakespeare came to the court to give evidence when his landlord, fell out with his son-in-law about his daughter's unpaid dowry.