 He became a Queen's Counsel (QC) in 1872, and was a member of the Council for Legal Education as well as being one of the editors of "Burn's Justice of the Peace".In April 1870, Bristowe was elected as a member of parliament (MP) for Newark, at a by-election following the death of the Liberal MP Edward Denison.After his election, he resigned his post as Recorder of Newark but became a bencher of his inn and Queen's Counsel in 1872.