Barristers are lawyers who provide specialist services as advocates before Courts and Tribunals. They are also consultant legal advisers.
In recent decades, generally speaking, barristers provided their services to clients only after referral by a solicitor. In 1995 the Rules of the Bar Association of Queensland were altered to allow anyone in need of legal advice to contact barristers directly, a direct brief, but only for work which barristers may undertake according to their Rules.
Barristers provide specialist services and experienced advocacy skills to represent their clients before Courts and Tribunals. They also undertake a variety of other work, and provide important functions as specialist advisers, legal draftsmen and negotiators. They represent clients in alternative dispute resolution, and act as mediators, arbitrators, referees or case appraisers.
The Bar has a long history and barristers have always played a vital role in the administration of justice and in the functioning of the legal profession in Queensland and elsewhere.
Many barristers practise widely across jurisdictions and before a variety of Courts and Tribunals. An inquiry should always be made direct to the barrister regarding a preferred specialty or the legal services which a particular barrister can provide. A further inquiry should then be made of the barrister regarding qualifications, experience and expertise.
(above explanation courtesy of the Queensland Bar Association)