Counsel

A counsel or a counsellor at law is a person who gives advice and deals with various issues, particularly in legal matters. It is a title often used interchangeably with the title of lawyer.

UK and Ireland

The legal system in England uses the term counsel as an approximate synonym for a barrister-at-law, but not for a solicitor, and may apply it to mean either a single person who pleads a cause, or collectively, the body of barristers engaged in a case.

The difference between "Barrister" and "Counsel" is subtle. "Barrister" is a professional title awarded by one of the four Inns of Court, and is used in a barrister's private, academic or professional capacity. "Counsel" is used to refer to a barrister who is instructed on a particular case. It is customary to use the third person when addressing a barrister instructed on a case: "Counsel is asked to advise" rather than "You are asked to advise".

The legal term counsellor, or more fully, counsellor-at-law, became practically obsolete in England, but continued in use locally in Ireland as an equivalent to barrister, where a Senior Counsel (S.C.) is equivalent to the English Queen's Counsel (Q.C.)

Counsel (journal)

Counsel is the monthly journal of the Bar of England and Wales. As the Bar Council's own magazine, it is largely written by and for barristers.

It issues facing the Bar and legal system, in addition to profiles, conference reports, personal finance, arts reviews, chambers' announcements and the 'agony uncle' column for lighter moments.

Features

Counsel's analysis and opinion informs readers of changes to the legal services market. Editorial coverage focuses on legal and professional issues, together with news, letters, profiles, lifestyle and personal finance features, book and theatre reviews, chambers announcements and tenancy vacancies, and satirical content.

History

The journal was founded in 1985.

Circulation

The magazine is distributed to barristers who pay their voluntary member services subscription to the Bar Council.

See also: