Barristers start to become involed in the later stages of your court appearances, your meetings are always with your solicitor in attendance.

The best way to explain the species is to understand how the system works. After the solicitor has done the groundwork, he passes all your paperwork to the barrister he feels is best suited to your individual case, then you all have a meeting to discuss strategies and any more input you may be able to offer.

Your barrister then through his various contacts, books and experience forms your defence. He will suggest various methods to limit and expose any weakness within the prosecution case, and look up previous case history in the hope of findings that would expose serious holes in their strategies.

I was so blind as not to see just how much all the solicitors and barristers talk between themselves during the lead up to and during trials. Is it any wonder when one of the main principles they are taught is never use court time when they could have horse traded before it! The feeling you are being manipulated is very hard to shake off.

In particular is what happens during the main event! See section trial.