Barrister
A lawyer who is qualified to represent clients in the higher courts (Crown Court, High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court) and specialises in advocacy and legal opinions.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Becoming a barrister normally means taking a law degree, or a degree in any subject followed by a Graduate Diploma in Law conversion course, then completing the one-year Bar training course and a further year of practical training called a pupillage. Trainee barristers must also join one of the four Inns of Court, each with its own entry requirements and application process, before they can be called to the Bar.
Day to day, a barrister's work centres on advocacy and specialist advice: meeting solicitors and their clients to discuss cases, researching the law, representing clients in court and other legal settings, cross-examining witnesses, and presenting cases to a judge and jury. Many barristers are self-employed and practise from chambers rather than in a law firm.
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