In British law, a lawyer who specializes in arguing cases in court and giving legal advice, especially in higher courts.
From 'bar' (the railing separating the courtroom) plus '-ster' (one who does); British lawyers who could 'pass the bar' became barristers, distinct from solicitors who handled paperwork.
The British legal system creates a distinction between barristers (courtroom warriors) and solicitors (office lawyers) that's so distinct they often cannot even work together directly—it's a class-based system that other English-speaking countries abandoned.
Legal profession historically barred women through formal rules and guild restrictions in UK/Commonwealth systems. Women were excluded from training until 20th century, and 'barrister' was implicitly male.
Use 'barrister' neutrally; acknowledge it now applies across gender.
Women barristers fought discriminatory admission rules; first female barristers in UK (1919) challenged profession-wide exclusion.
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