 On January 13 , 1866 , Benjamin enrolled at Lincoln 's Inn , and soon thereafter was admitted to read law under Charles Pollock , son of Chief Baron Charles Edward Pollock , who took him as a pupil at his father 's direction . Benjamin , despite his age of 54 , was initially required , like his thirty @-@ years @-@ younger peers , to attend for twelve terms , that is , three years . According to Benjamin 's obituary in The Times , though , " the secretary of the Confederacy was dispensed from the regular three years of unprofitable dining , and called to the bar " on June 6 , 1866 . 
