Junior barrister
Encyclopedia
A junior barrister is a barrister
who has not yet attained the rank of Queen's Counsel
. Although the term is archaic and not commonly used, junior barristers (or "juniors") can also be referred to as utter barristers derived from "outer barristers" or barristers of the outer bar, in distinction to Queen's counsel at the inner bar. They may also be referred to as stuffgownsmen, in contradistinction to the silk gowns worn by Queen's Counsel (who are therefore also known as 'silks').
When students are called to the bar
in jurisdictions which maintain barristers as a separate profession, they are said to be "called to the Degree of an Utter Barrister..." on their certificate of call. This reflects that in English court rooms Queen's Counsel sits one row further forward than junior barristers (historically, the Attorney General
sits one row further forward still, although the Attorney General appears so rarely in court in modern times that the convention has largely been abandoned in that respect).
Because a relatively small proportion of barristers become Queen's Counsel, it is quite common for a "junior barrister" to be middle aged. Junior barristers who are over 10 years' call are sometimes referred to as "senior juniors".
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
who has not yet attained the rank of Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
. Although the term is archaic and not commonly used, junior barristers (or "juniors") can also be referred to as utter barristers derived from "outer barristers" or barristers of the outer bar, in distinction to Queen's counsel at the inner bar. They may also be referred to as stuffgownsmen, in contradistinction to the silk gowns worn by Queen's Counsel (who are therefore also known as 'silks').
When students are called to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in jurisdictions which maintain barristers as a separate profession, they are said to be "called to the Degree of an Utter Barrister..." on their certificate of call. This reflects that in English court rooms Queen's Counsel sits one row further forward than junior barristers (historically, the Attorney General
Attorney General for England and Wales
Her Majesty's Attorney General for England and Wales, usually known simply as the Attorney General, is one of the Law Officers of the Crown. Along with the subordinate Solicitor General for England and Wales, the Attorney General serves as the chief legal adviser of the Crown and its government in...
sits one row further forward still, although the Attorney General appears so rarely in court in modern times that the convention has largely been abandoned in that respect).
Because a relatively small proportion of barristers become Queen's Counsel, it is quite common for a "junior barrister" to be middle aged. Junior barristers who are over 10 years' call are sometimes referred to as "senior juniors".