Quite often I am against non-barrister, yet qualified advocates, such as solicitors and solicitors advocates. There are many authorised advocates such as CILEX Advocates, Costs Lawyers, Trade Mark Attorneys and Patent Attorneys.

Typically, court attire consists of business suits; however, there may be occasions when formal court dress is required. 

For instance, civil practitioners might need to wear robes when appearing before a Circuit Judge or Recorder. Specific hearings, such as contempt applications under the CPR mandate that lawyers wear robes. In these cases, even District Judges will be required to robe.

Criminal advocates such as Solicitor Advocates (and possibly soon, Criminal CILEX Higher Rights Advocates) who appear in the Crown Court would also need to robe. Although, those advocates will be more familiar with court dress for those reasons.

All qualified advocates need to be alive to the circumstances where they are required to robe. This is because as per Practice Direction (Court Dress) (no 4) [2008], authorised advocates will wear court dress in the same circumstances where barristers will.

A good example of this is Aaron Wood. He is a Trade Mark Attorney, who appeared in the Court of Appeal in Extreme Networks Limited v Extreme E Limited [2024] EWCA Civ 1386. He was required to robe, and he also opted to wear a short wig as the 2008 Practice Direction allowed him to do so. 

I often get told by non-barrister advocates that they lack knowledge about how to robe for court hearings, should that circumstance ever arise. Barristers typically learn this when they receive their wig and gown when being called to the bar or from their pupil supervisors.

Since I have learned from various sources, I thought it sensible to provide some guidance for non-barrister advocates on how to robe for court.

Whilst I have demonstrated how to put on a typical male court dress, and I will address that generally there are ‘male’ and ‘female’ options, it is not the case that they remain strictly gendered. In fact, I am aware of many female barristers using the ‘male’ wing collar dress. However, for this guide, I will for ease label them ‘male’ and ‘female’ court dress.

Typical male court dress for non-barrister advocates

Typical female court dress for non-barrister advocates

Ivy & Normanton offer both collarettes and wing collar options for their female market.

What does a Solicitors’ gown look like?

It is not surprising that many would not know the difference between a Barrister’s gown and a Solicitor’s gown. Not many would have any reason to know what the difference is.

The Barrister’s gown is the one on the left, with the distinctive feature being the mourning hood that hangs down at the back. So all non-Barrister advocates will adopt the Solicitor’s gown.

How to attach the detachable wing collar for court dress?

Information 

AJH Advocacy Limited, a Limited Company which is regulated by the Bar Standards Boards (entity number 190758), ceases trading on the 12th January 2026. 

From the 12th January 2026 and onwards, Alec Hancock will practice as a Barrister at Magdalen Chambers in Exeter. For instructions on matters on or after 12th January 2026, please contact Magdalen Chambers via clerks@magdalenchambers.co.uk or by telephone on 01392 285 200.

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