Barristers
Barristers who are not Queen’s Counsels are called Junior Barristers and their dress was traditionally regulated by the Inns of Court. In the early period, the only requirement was that robes were of a length suitable for the dignity of the law. Much was at stake – if a judge deemed a barrister inappropriately dressed, he could refuse to hear his submission.
This practice continues to this very day, although the barrister’s costume has since changed. While barristers adopted the wig at the same time as judges in the 1680s, the black gowns worn today date back to 1685 and the death of His Majesty King Charles II. When the Stuart King passed away, the entire Bar went into mourning, donning a black cloth robe with wide, open sleeves and a stylised hood over the left shoulder. The period of mourning has long passed, but the style of robe is still worn today.
The ‘bag’ that appears on the back of the gown has been a source of gossip for centuries. Often mistaken as a bag for the barrister’s fee, there are many colourful theories about its use. One suggestion was that since the barrister could not see the exact amount he was being paid, he would not let it influence how well he argued a client’s case. In reality, this is far from the truth. The ‘bag’ isn’t for money at all. In fact, its roots go back to a mourning hood, similar in style to an academic hood.
