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Law vocabulary · Legal Professions

Bar

Meaning in law, with examples

/bɑː/nounCommon term

In law, bar means: The legal profession as a whole, especially lawyers who are allowed to argue in court; in the UK it means barristers as a group.

In Turkish: baro, avukatlık mesleği

How it is used

Found in fixed phrases: 'be called to the bar' (become a barrister in the UK), 'be admitted to the bar' (US), 'pass the bar exam', 'bar association'. In the US, 'the bar' includes all licensed attorneys.

Example sentences

  1. He passed the New York bar exam on his first attempt.

  2. She was called to the bar in 2015 and practises in commercial law.

Common collocations

  • bar exam
  • bar association
  • called to the bar
  • admitted to the bar
  • member of the bar
  • barristerIn England, Wales and some other common law countries, a lawyer who specialises in arguing cases in court and giving expert legal opinions.
  • lawyerA person trained and qualified in law who advises clients and represents them in legal matters; the general word that covers attorneys, solicitors and barristers.
  • attorneyA lawyer, especially in the United States, who is licensed to advise clients and represent them in court; more generally, a person allowed to act for someone else.
  • LLBShort for Bachelor of Laws, the standard undergraduate law degree in the UK and many other countries.
  • JDShort for Juris Doctor, the main professional law degree in the United States, taken after a first university degree and usually lasting three years.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Legal Professions

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.