Anaya Nolan
The Bar is the collective term for barristers in the UK, who have been providing legal advice and representing clients in court since the 13th century. The independent, practising Bar of England and Wales is over 17,000 strong and plays a crucial role in upholding the principles of government accountability under law and vindication of legal rights through the courts. The Bar covers a wide range of legal issues, including human rights, immigration, criminal justice, welfare, foreign policy, and constitutional law.
The Bar in Law UK
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The collective term for barristers. |
| Number of Barristers | Over 17,000 |
| Purpose | Serve the public as specialist, independent advocates. |
| Training | All student barristers must take the Bar Professional Training Course. |
| Training Support | Financial, pastoral, educational, and training support is provided by the four Inns of Court. |
| Representative Body | The General Council of the Bar, composed almost entirely of practising barristers and largely elected by the Bar itself. |
| Ranks | Two ranks: 'Juniors' and 'Queen's Counsel' (QCs or Silks). |
| Practice Areas | Human rights, immigration, criminal justice, welfare, public services, foreign policy, constitutional law, local government, planning, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
The Bar is the collective term for barristers
Barristers have been providing legal advice and representing clients in court since the 13th century. They have expertise in a wide range of areas, including human rights, immigration, criminal justice, welfare, foreign policy, and constitutional law. Some barristers also have more niche areas of expertise, such as equine and bloodstock law, or art and cultural property law.
There are two ranks of barristers: Juniors, who make up the majority, and Queen's Counsel (QCs) or Silks, who have achieved a high level of experience and distinction in the profession. QCs are permitted to wear gowns made of silk, rather than the traditional wool gowns worn by Juniors.
The Bar is supported by the four Inns of Court, which provide financial, pastoral, educational, and training support to student barristers. The representative body of the profession is the General Council of the Bar, which is composed almost entirely of practising barristers and is largely elected by the Bar itself.
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The Bar Professional Training Course
The course is typically studied full-time over one year or part-time over two years. It is offered by a number of law schools and training providers, including the ICCA, which offers a two-part course. To enrol in the BPTC, students typically need a law degree with a minimum of a 2:1 classification or an equivalent qualification.
The BPTC is a demanding course that involves a significant amount of self-directed study and practical training. Students are assessed through a combination of written exams, oral examinations, and practical exercises, such as moot court hearings. The course also includes a period of pupillage, where students work under the supervision of an experienced barrister to gain practical experience and build their professional network.
The BPTC is a crucial step for anyone aspiring to become a barrister in the UK. It provides a strong foundation in the knowledge and skills required to practise law and offers a pathway to further training and qualification as a barrister. Students interested in pursuing the BPTC are advised to research different course providers thoroughly and consider factors such as scholarships, assessment methods, and career guidance when making their decision.
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The Bar upholds government accountability and legal rights
The Bar is the collective term for barristers in the UK, who have been providing legal advice and representing clients in court since the 13th century. The Bar plays a crucial role in upholding the principles of government accountability and legal rights.
The Bar ensures government accountability by enabling people to challenge decisions made by government ministers and local government bodies. For example, barristers may handle cases relating to local government powers, structure, and finance, as well as broader public law issues such as human rights, immigration, criminal justice, and foreign policy.
Barristers uphold legal rights by providing expert legal advice and representation to clients in court. They act on behalf of individuals, organisations, and vulnerable members of society to help them vindicate their legal rights. Barristers may specialise in a range of practice areas, including motor insurance law, animal welfare, media and IP law, aviation, and estate management, among others.
The quality of expertise and advocacy provided by the Bar is considered pre-eminent. There are two ranks of barristers: Juniors, who make up the majority, and Queen's Counsel (QCs) or Silks, who have achieved distinction in the profession. The General Council of the Bar, composed mostly of practising barristers, serves as the representative body for the profession.
Through their work in criminal and civil courts, barristers contribute to the efficient and effective operation of the justice system, thereby upholding the rule of law and protecting the legal rights of individuals and organisations.
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Two ranks of barristers: Juniors and Queen's Counsel
The Bar is the collective term for barristers, and when a lawyer becomes a barrister, it is called "being called to the bar". There are two ranks of barristers: Juniors and Queen's Counsel (QC), also known as "silks". The majority are Juniors, who are barristers that have not yet attained the rank of King's Counsel or Queen's Counsel. Although the term is archaic and not commonly used, junior barristers can also be referred to as utter barristers, derived from "outer barristers" or barristers of the outer bar, in distinction to King's Counsel at the inner bar. They may also be referred to as stuff gownsmen, in contradistinction to the silk gowns worn by King's Counsel.
Junior barristers are usually within their first five years of practice and are not yet qualified to practise as barristers sole. Barristers sole who are not King's Counsel are never referred to as junior barristers. In practice, a junior barrister would review and revise the written pleadings of their senior. A junior barrister wears a black stuff gown over a dark-coloured suit or a court bib and collarette, depending on their gender.
When barristers have achieved sufficient experience and eminence in the profession, they may apply to become appointed to the ranks of Queen's Counsel. This step is considered highly prestigious and has been a step in the career of many New Zealand judges. Barristers having achieved this rank of distinction are permitted to exchange their black stuff gowns for gowns made of silk. A male King's Counsel wears a special black court coat (frock coat) or a long-sleeved waistcoat, known as a "bum freezer", with a silk gown. A female King's Counsel wears a similar gown and wig to her male counterparts.
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The Bar covers a range of public law issues
The Bar is the specialist profession of barristers, who have been providing legal advice and using advocacy skills to represent clients in court since the 13th century. The bar may refer to the qualifying procedure by which a lawyer is licensed to practice law in a given jurisdiction. In the UK, the practice of law is divided between barristers and solicitors.
Barristers ranked in this section will typically have a broad practice across the span of local government issues. They may also have to deal with motor insurance law and issues stemming from fundamental dishonesty. They are also often instructed to manage estates and help inheriting beneficiaries mitigate exposure to tax bills.
In the UK, barristers are instructed by a range of government departments, including the Home Office, in key national security challenges involving surveillance and the use of data. They also act for businesses in competition and other regulatory matters.
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Frequently asked questions
The bar is the collective term for barristers, who are specialist advocates upholding legal rights and government accountability in the courts.
A lawyer becomes a barrister when they are 'called to the bar'. All barristers are lawyers, but not all lawyers are barristers.
The majority of barristers are 'Juniors', but those with sufficient experience can apply to become Queen's Counsel, also known as 'QCs' or 'Silks'.
The UK Bar covers a range of areas, including criminal justice, human rights, immigration, local government, animal welfare, aviation, and motor insurance law.
