The Law Council served as both parliament and supreme court. Laws were passed and approved there, and rulings made on points of law. The Law Council appointed members of the Fifth Court (a kind of appellate court) and the Lawspeaker, and took part in the election of the bishop. Unlike the , the Law Council was a closed body in which only certain people enjoyed full rights: chieftains who held the office of , their and later also bishops. However, everyone at the assembly was entitled to watch and listen to the Law Council at work.