bar
The bar refers to the collective of all lawyers qualified to practice in a given court or jurisdiction . Every state has its own set of requirements for admitting a person into their jurisdiction’s bar. In general, a person must satisfy a state’s admissions requirements such as earning a Juris Doctor degree , passing a professional responsibility examination, passing the bar examination , and having their character and fitness evaluated.
Even though judges are a part of the bar, they are often referred to as “ the bench ” and the lawyers representing clients in court are referred to as “the bar.”
[Last reviewed in June of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team ]
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