horsehair wig    A barrister is a lawyer found in many common
law jurisdictions that employ a split profession (as opposed to
a fused profession) in relation to legal representation. In
split professions, the other type of lawyer is the solicitor.
Solicitors have more direct contact with the clients, whereas
barristers often only become involved in a case once advocacy
before a court is needed by the client. Barristers are also
engaged by solicitors to provide specialist advice on points of
law. Barristers are rarely instructed by clients directly
(although this occurs frequently in tax matters). Instead, the
client's solicitors will instruct a barrister on behalf of the
client when appropriate.  The historical difference between the
two professions—and the only essential difference in England and
Wales today—is that a solicitor is an attorney, which means they
can act in the place of their client for legal purposes (as in
signing contracts), and may conduct litigation by making
applications to the court, wri