 With the introduction of printing , written legal texts became more available , reducing the need for students to attend readings and lectures . However , this meant that the students denied themselves the opportunity to query what they had learnt or discuss it in greater detail . Eventually , students now had a way to learn without attending lectures , they began to excuse themselves from lectures , meetings and moots altogether ; in the early 17th century they developed a way of deputising other students to do their moots for them . The Benchers and Readers did little to arrest the decline of the practice of lecturers and readings , first because many probably believed ( as the students did ) that books were an adequate substitute , and secondly because many were keen to avoid the work of preparing a reading , which cut into their time as practising barristers . These problems were endemic to all the Inns , not just Gray 's Inn . 
