in common law, a person qualified, and impowered to plead and defend the cause of clients, in the courts of justice. They are of two sorts, the outward, or outer-barristers, who, by their long study in and knowledge of the law, which must be for a term of seven years at least, are called to public practice, and always plead without the bar.

The inner-barristers are those, who, because they are either attorney, solicitor, serjeant, or council to the king, are allowed, out of respect, the privilege of pleading within the bar. But at the rolls, and some other inferior courts, all barristers are admitted within the bar.

Barristers, in the English laws, amount to the same with licentiates and advocates in other countries, and courts, where the civil, &c. laws obtain.