What Does Bar Mean in Legal Terms?
What does bar mean in legal terms? The word “bar” actually has several meanings related to law. Let’s look at all the uses of the word “bar” by lawyers, courts, and courtrooms.
The word “bar” can refer to the legal profession or all the practicing members of said profession in a certain region. It is also the name of the railing which separates the spectators in a courtroom from the lawyers, judge, jury, and other personnel.
A bar association is a group of lawyers. This association can regulate the legal profession in their area, or just be a professional group that serves its members. The bar association can also perform both functions.
In nations of the Commonwealth, the bar association consists of barristers and advocates and all of them together are referred to as “the bar.” In Canada, a person is “called to the bar” after completing coursework and an apprenticeship. This answers the question, “What does bar mean in legal terms?” for persons in the Commonwealth.
In the United States, if a lawyer is given permission to practice in a certain court system, that is called admission to the bar. This is not the same as being a member of a bar association. Some states require membership in a bar association in order to be allowed to practice.
Bar Exam
If you ask the question, “What does bar mean in legal terms?” you need to know that another definition of “bar” is the bar exam. “Passing the bar” sometimes means to pass the bar exam. It also has a symbolic meaning that you are passing from observer to participant in the courtroom, so you are passing the railing, or bar, as you make the transition.
The bar examination is usually given twice a year, and tests a person’s qualifications to practice law. In the United States, each state has its own requirements for lawyers and administers the tests. The state agency which handles the licensing of attorneys is part of the judicial branch of the government and all lawyers are officers of the court.
The bar exam lasts two or three days, depending on which state you are in. Most states give the Multistate Bar Examination, or MBE, which was developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. It contains 200 multiple choice questions that cover six areas. A large part of the states also give an essay test, which tests knowledge of legal principles and state laws. Some states will use the Multistate Essay Examination, or MEE, which was developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. There is also a performance test administered by many states, which measures specific skills. The candidate is given a fictional case to prepare. The test most widely used is the Multistate Performance Test, or MPT.
Other Legal Terms
Here are some other legal terms you might be interested in.
- Affidavit - Sworn statement of fact or a form of evidence
- Arraignment - The accused person is brought before the court to enter his plea of guilty or not guilty
- Bail - Releasing an accused person until his trial
- Defendant - The person being sued in a civil case; the person who is accused in a criminal case
- Disposition - The final outcome of a case
- Docket - Daily schedule of court cases
- Habeas Corpus - Request for the court to release a person who has been unlawfully imprisoned
- Injunction - A court order that tells a person not to do something
- Plaintiff - The person who sues in a law suit
- Pro Bono - When a lawyer works for free
- Remand - Postponement of criminal proceedings
- Subpoena - Tells a person to appear at a certain time and place to give testimony
- Summons - Tells a person to appear in court
- Warrant - An order of the court for various things, like an arrest warrant or a search warrant