Chambers are private rooms attached to most of the English courts, in which the judges, or more frequently the masters and chief clerks, transact a large amount of judicial business. In fact nearly all business which is begun by what is technically called a Summons in England goes to chambers—e.g. all such incidental matters as the recovery of documents, examination of witnesses about to go abroad, investigation of accounts, settling of deeds between parties. A decree of the court which directs further procedure is carried out by a summons to proceed in chambers. Counsel attend in chambers only in important matters. In Scotland a good deal of this business takes the form of a remit to an accountant or other man of business, a judicial reference, a commission to examine witnesses, but all initiated by a motion in court.
Chamber-counsel, a barrister or advocate who gives opinions in his own chambers, but does not, or rarely does, plead in court.