barristers

Barristers are lawyers who specialize in advocacy and advisory work, primarily appearing in court in higher courts and in drafting pleadings and opinions. In many common law jurisdictions, barristers are distinct from solicitors; solicitors typically handle client relations, case management, and most pre-trial work, while barristers provide specialist advocacy and written opinions. Barristers usually work as self-employed practitioners in one or more chambers or sets and are hired by solicitors or, in some places, directly by clients for specific hearings. Their independence from the day-to-day management of clients is a defining feature.

Path to qualification and practice varies by jurisdiction but generally follows a staged process. In England and Wales, prospective barristers complete a law degree or conversion course, pass the Bar Professional Training Course, undertake a pupillage (a supervised period of practice), and are called to the bar by one of the Inns of Court. Similar routes exist elsewhere, with local requirements for training, admission, and qualification. Once qualified, barristers may specialise by field—criminal, civil, family, commercial, and others—and can practice as sole practitioners or within chambers with other barristers. They may be instructed by solicitors or, in some systems, directly by clients for particular matters.

Regulation, roles, and professional life vary by country but share core features. Barristers are regulated by bar associations or regulatory bodies, uphold professional conduct standards, and engage in continuing professional development. They provide legal opinions, draft complex court documents, and advocate in trials, hearings, and appeals, while increasingly involving themselves in mediation and other forms of dispute resolution. The term “barrister” is common in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and several Commonwealth jurisdictions, whereas in Canada and some other places the dual status “barrister and solicitor” may apply.