Originally, Clifford's Inn was engaged in educating students in jurisprudence, Edward Coke and John Selden being two of its best known alumni.

In 1903, the members of Clifford's Inn reached the view that the establishment had outlived its purpose in education, and unanimously voted to dissolve its incorporation.

[3] Consequently, the system of legal education dispersed, with lawyers instead settling on the outskirts of the City of London but as close as possible to Westminster Hall, where the signing of the Magna Carta had led to the establishment of a permanent court.

[citation needed] The neighbourhood of what had been the small village of Holborn evolved into habitations, i.e. "hostels" or "inns", which over time became known by the name of their respective landlords.

The building is named in four of his novels: in Pickwick Papers a body is concealed, in Bleak House Melchisedek has chambers here; in Little Doritt Edward Dorrit (Tip) languished as a clerk here for six months; in Our Mutual Friend it is a “quiet place” for John Rokesmith to speak with Noddy Boffin.

By 1903 it was apparent that the Inn was superfluous to requirements of legal education, so its members unanimously agreed to dissolve the society, selling the buildings and giving its residue to the Attorney General for England and Wales, the nominal head of the Bar, to do with it as it so wished.

As well as the Principal, the Council consisted of twelve barristers, all elected by the Inn members and who enjoyed certain rights; they could hold chambers whenever they wanted and sat at a separate upper table to dine.

[8] Principals were originally elected for life, but subsequent to a council order dated 15 June 1668 they were subject to re-election every three years.

[16] As a mark of that "independence" the Inner Temple benchers began a tradition of sending Clifford's Inn a message once a year, to which of course a reply was neither likely nor expected!

Apartments within the building continued to be occupied by people working in law, but additionally are found photographers, tailors, architects, and artists including both painting and sculpture.

The Fetter Lane façade was added in 2014, designed by Gibberd Architects, and clad in Portland stone and Carrara marble.