They specialise in oral advocacy, in arguing their client’s case or presenting the case on behalf of the Crown. When not in court they are busy preparing their next trial, having conferences with clients and advising on the law. A criminal barrister builds a reputation from conducting cases.

A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include taking cases in superior courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, researching the philosophy, hypothesis and history of law, and giving expert legal opinions.

Solicitors have a more stable income but the top barristers get paid more than most top solicitors; although the average solicitor may be paid more. Add to that the one year barristers have to spend in pupillage/deviling and the risks of taking the barrister path are higher.

In court, barristers refer to each other as “my learned friend”. When referring to an opponent who is a solicitor, the term used is “my friend” – irrespective of the relative ages and experiences of the two. In an earlier generation, barristers would not shake hands or address each other formally.

Once a month, Scott Haley, Family Practice Manager at One Pump Court brings Lawyer Monthly Wednesday Wisdom, and this week tells readers why barristers don’t shake hands. The custom dates back to sword-bearing times, when a handshake was considered a way to demonstrate to a person that you were not armed.

Solicitor, one of the two types of practicing lawyers in England and Wales—the other being the barrister, who pleads cases before the court.

Being a barrister can be immensely satisfying in that it offers an opportunity to provide the specialist knowledge that can assist a client in obtaining their desired result, and therefore make a real difference to their lives. You are offering advice and representation to clients at a very stressful time.

As a guide, barristers’ fees range as follows: Under 5 years experience: £75 – £125 per hour + VAT. 5-10 years experience: £125 – £275 per hour + VAT. 10-15 years experience: £150 – £450 per hour + VAT.

Becoming a fully-fledged barrister takes five years – including three years for your law degree, one year for a Bar course and a one-year pupillage in chambers. Again, add an extra year for the GDL if your degree wasn’t in law.

barrister Gabrielle Turnquest

So, how do you become a silk? Any barrister with 10 to 15 years experience may apply for a “patent” or “take silk” in order to become a Queen’s Counsel. It’s necessary if they wish to become a High Court or Court of Sessions judge.

Circuit Judge In professional correspondence, they are addressed as ‘His/Her Honour Judge ……’; if they were a Queen’s Counsel when at the Bar, the letters QC follow the name. The forename is used if there is more than one judge with the same surname.

Quality control inspectors check the quality of incoming and outgoing materials or products for a company, as well as the production procedures. This job involves tasks such as running tests, keeping a record of defects, analyzing products, and overseeing procedures.

Queen’s Counsel

QUEEN’S COUNSEL (QC) Now, a Queen’s Counsel is a senior barrister of at least ten years’ practice who is appointed by an independent selection panel as “one of Her Majesty’s counsel learned in the law.” If the monarch is a king, silks are known as King’s Counsel (KC).

A Silk lawyer is the colloquial name given to a Queen’s Counsel (QC), a senior barrister (in England) or advocate (in Scotland) who is selected by an independent panel committee due to their knowledge, experience and skill.

The managing partner sits at the top of the law firm hierarchy. A senior-level or founding lawyer of the firm, she manages day-to-day operations. She often heads an executive committee comprised of other senior partners, and she helps to establish and guide the firm’s strategic vision.

An abbreviation for “same case.” Inserted between two citations, it indicates that the same case is reported in both places. It is also an abbreviation for “supreme court,” and for “select cases;” also for “South Carolina.”

Senior counsel