what's the difference between barrister and lawyer?

Answer 1

basically barristers go to court and argue a case as oposed to a lawyer who give people legal advice (a barrister is a type of lawyer)

Answer 2

A solicitor (Lawyer) is entitled to represent a client in the County (Civil) Courts and in Magistrates' Court (a lower court in the English court system). They are also the main legal representation for the majority of people and companies in England and Wales: if you were buying or selling a house you would engage a solicitor to carry out the necessary legal niceties; a solicitor could assist and advise in will-making; and they may also initiate private prosecutions or assist clients against either public or private prosecutions.

A barrister is a legal professional who is qualified to represent
clients in Crown Court or the Higher Courts -- they can be considered roughly analagous to American "advocacy lawyers". Much of their training and abilities will lie in the courtroom skills of
cross-examination and rapid thinking. Regardless of whether they
represent the prosecution or the defence, a barrister never deals
directly with his or her clients -- instead they will be briefed on
the facts of the case by the client's solicitor, although they are
free to allow the courtroom proceedings to carry on as they see fit.

The reason for this split between courtroom advocates and other
lawyers is to do with the unique history of England and Great Britain. The origins date way back to the feudal Norman French system introduced from the 11th Century.

The academic and training route to each of these two main branches of law differs, as do the professional bodies that oversee them. To become a solicitor a law graduate must first study a Legal Practice Course and then spend two years in practice working as a trainee. The professional body that
regulates these courses is the Law Society. To become a barrister the route after graduation is to follow a Bar Vocational Course followed by a Pupillage in a firm of barristers, and this side of the profession is controlled by the Bar Council. The systems are constantly under review and reform, and there
are certain moves currently underfoot which would somewhat blur the distinction between these two groups of legal professionals.

To summarise: in England and Wales the term "lawyer" is a catch-all meaning simply "one who is qualified in the legal profession". Both barristers and solicitors could call themselves
lawyers; however the two professions have very different skills and jurisdictions.

Answer 3

A barrister is a lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions who principally, but not exclusively, represents litigants as their advocate before the courts of that jurisdiction. In this regard, the profession of barrister corresponds to that part of the role of legal professionals found in the civil law jurisdictions relating to appearing in trials or pleading cases before the courts. However, barristers, as a profession, are also known for specialising in certain areas of the law, and for giving advice in relation thereto to clients referred to them.

a LAWYER IS A MORE GENERIC TERM FOR ANY ONE WHO IS QUALIFIED TO PRACTICE LAW.

Answer 4

Nothing.

A lawyer is a generic term for anyone who is a practitioner of law. Therefore, this would include barristers, solicitors and attorneys.

Answer 5

Lawyer is One whose profession is to give legal advice and assistance to clients and represent them in court or in other legal matters.


A barrister is lawyer admitted to plead at the bar in the superior courts.

Answer 6

In simple terms, "lawyer" is generic to include solicitors and
barristers. A solicitor is a legally qualified jack of all trades;
court work, buying and selling houses, company contracts etc. A
barrister is someone legally trained who specialises in appearing in
court, usually for the most serious matters, murder trials, high
profile libel cases etc.

Answer 7

same