barristers

IPA/bˈaɹɪstəz/
KK[bˈærɪstɚz]IPA/bˈærɪstərz/

barristers — noun

1. legal professionals in England, Wales, Australia, and other common-law countries

1.nounB2
Definition

legal professionals in England, Wales, Australia, and other common-law countries who are trained to argue cases in court and provide expert legal opinions on complex matters

Example

Folami hired a barrister to represent her family in the Supreme Court appeal.

hired a barrister

After studying the case file, Amir's barrister advised him not to accept the settlement offer.

Common collocations
  • hire a barrister
  • instruct a barrister
  • barrister's chambers
  • junior barrister
  • Queen's Counsel
Synonyms
  • counsel

    more general term for lawyers representing clients in court; used in both US and UK contexts, while 'barrister' is UK/commonwealth-specific

  • advocate

    the Scottish and South African equivalent of a barrister; also a broader term for anyone pleading a case

  • trial lawyer

    the closest US equivalent, though the US has no formal split between solicitors and barristers

Antonyms
  • solicitor

    a lawyer who gives legal advice, drafts documents, and can only appear in lower courts; instructs barristers for higher court cases

Usage Note

Distinguish from 'solicitor': barristers specialize in courtroom arguments and are hired by solicitors, who handle direct client contact and paperwork. This role exists mainly in the UK, Australia, and other Commonwealth countries.

Common Mistakes

The barrister helped me write my will.
The solicitor helped me write my will.
Solicitors handle wills and contracts; barristers focus on courtroom advocacy and legal opinions.
I asked a barrister to buy my house.
I asked a solicitor to handle the house purchase.
Property transactions are handled by solicitors, not barristers.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

The key distinction in British and Commonwealth legal systems is between barristers and solicitors. Barristers are courtroom specialists who argue cases before judges and juries, particularly in higher courts. Solicitors handle client meetings, legal documents, and lower-court work — they typically hire barristers when a case goes to trial. 'Counsel' is a broader term that can refer to any lawyer representing a client in court, and is used interchangeably with 'barrister' in UK practice. 'Advocate' is the Scottish term for a barrister, and is also a more general word for anyone who argues a case. 'Attorney' is the US term for a lawyer broadly, covering both courtroom and office work. For example: 'The solicitor prepared the paperwork and then instructed a barrister to appear in the High Court.'

barrister ↗solicitor ↗counsel ↗advocate ↗attorney ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • called to the Bar
  • King's Counsel
  • Queen's Counsel
  • barrister's clerk

Prepositions

  • barrister at law

Etymology

Middle English

Derived from Middle English 'barrester', formed from 'barre' (the wooden barrier separating the public from the judges in court) and the suffix '-ster' (meaning 'a person who does something', also seen in 'songster' and 'spinster'). The term reflects the tradition of being 'called to the bar' — admitted to practice before the court.