About the Bar

History of the Bar

Barristers have been providing expert advice and advocacy since the 13th century. For many years, they had a monopoly on the right to represent people in the higher courts. Although that monopoly has gone, the Bar remains a thriving profession, offering high quality advice and advocacy.

Barristers are specialist legal advisers and court room advocates. They are independent, objective and trained to advise clients on the strengths and weaknesses of their case. They have specialist knowledge and experience in and out of court, which can make a substantial difference to the outcome of a case.

Finding a barrister

There are three main resources available to help you to find a barrister. The official Bar Directory is provided by Sweet and Maxwell, and is widely used by the legal profession. Mediation is a growing field, and many barristers are trained to provide this service. You can search the Mediation Directory to find an individual to assist in resolving your dispute. Many barristers now accept direct instruction from members of the public or companies without requiring instruction from a solicitor. The Public Access Directory provides details of all barristers who undertake work in this manner.