Barrister-at-law

[Smowball]

is there a difference between a barrister and a barrister-at-law??

[FredPuli43]

There would be none, if the title 'barrister-at-law' existed ! You may 'see barrister-at-law after the name of someone online who invites you to invest in some business in Nigeria LOL. You also find it after the name of the authors of old books of the 'Everyman's own lawyer' variety. It's a peculiar affectation, either designed to impress or because the reader may not understand what 'barrister' means and 'at law' adds some explanation.

It may be modelled on serjeant-at-law, a now extinct rank of very senior barristers, or attorney-at-law, whose title needed to explain what kind of attorney he was; that may also be true of serjeant because there are , or were, other kinds of serjeant.

Anyway, someone who is 'called to the bar' is officially called 'barrister' from that moment and that remains so throughout their career.

[Smowball]

I only ask because Ive got a business card from somebody I know vaguely and it says barrister-at-law under their name

[DTCwordfan]

Here in Truro, there was recently an ad in the West Britonfrom a restaurant looking for a barrister, paying £6-50 an hour. It got reported as a "clip" in Private Eye.

[FredPuli43]

See above, smowball. I expect he qualified as a barrister but never practised, or is not in practice now. He may be an employed barrister , working for a company

It's unlikely that a barrister in practice would really need a business card but, if they did, it would have ther name and the address of their chambers. It would look silly to put 'barrister' as well.

[cathfromsaron]

its a very american phrase, like 'attourney at law ... '

[woofgang]

and "board certified"

[Barmaid]

I agree with everything Fred says. However, in these "corporate image" days, barristers do have business cards. All the ones I have seen simply say "barrister" since the name of some chambers don't actually make it clear what they do.

Also, in these days, barristers can now do direct access to the public (ie without needing a solicitor to instruct them) so it is helpful in that respect.

[FredPuli43]

Barmaid,even the chamber's name may be no help to those who know the Temple. There's one chambers that calls itself Pump Court Chambers i.e an address in Middle Temple, which is in fact not in Pump Court, nor in any of the Inns of Court, but up in Bedford Square, Bloomsbury. But it's a tax set,and you know what tax lawyers are like. Obsessed with having clients registered somewhere different from where they trade !

You wouldn't guess from a Bedford Square address that the bearer was in practice as counsel, certainly.