[arethuza]

Senior barristers, or in Scotland senior advocates. Usually over 10-12 years at the bar.

We have a system where in higher courts people are represented directly by lawyers but by barristers/advocates - the theory is that they have a primary duty to the court and not to the client. A lawyer will instruct a barrister/advocate to run a case - in more serious cases a QC (senior) will be used along with a junior barrister/advocate.

NB My wife qualified as an advocate in Scotland - best bit being that when they are training (mostly following a qualified advocate around for a year as an unpaid assistant) you are known as an advocates devil. The whole process of training is known as devilling and the advocate training you is your devil-master. :-)