A lawyer who argues before a court and provides specialist advice. A barrister generally does not have direct contact with the client, and may only litigate before a court when instructed by a solicitor. A barrister is not an attorney and may not act on behalf of a client except in conjunction with the solicitor. Barristers and solicitors are most common in common law jurisdictions, especially those with legal roots in Great Britain. Many countries, including the United States, do not distinguish between barristers and solicitors.