Legal institutions or pubs in north and south (4)
I believe the answer is:
inns
'legal institutions or pubs' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'in north and south' is the wordplay.
'north' becomes 'N' (abbreviation).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'south' becomes 's' (abbreviation).
'in'+'n'+'s'='INNS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for inns that I've seen before include "Country taverns" , "Old hostelries or pubs" , "travellers' accommodation" , "Hotels" , "Drinking places (frequented by barristers?)" .)