Utter-Barristers
“The term ‘Utter-Barrister’ occurs for the first time in the reign of Henry VIII. It is mentioned in the ‘Orders and Customs’ of the Middle Temple, where it is applied to one who, having continued in the house for five or six years, and profited in the study of the law, has been called by the benchers ‘to plead, argue, and dispute some doubtful matter before certain of the benchers,’ which ’manner of argument or disputations is called motyng; and this making of Utter-Barristers is as a preferment or degree given him for his learning.’”
Fifty years ago no junior barrister presumed to carry a bag in the Court of Chancery, unless one had been presented to him by the King’s counsel, who, when a junior was advancing in practice, took an opportunity of complimenting him on his increase of business, and giving him his own bag to carry home his papers. It was then a distinction to carry a bag, and a proof that a junior was rising in his own profession.