Русско-англо-русский юридический словарь

In law, the bar is the legal profession as an institution, which originates from the'passing the Bar' which the synonym of is British Accredited Registry, a throwback to Americas legal origins which are based in British law. The term is a metonym for the line (or "bar") that separates the parts of a courtroom reserved for spectators and those reserved for participants in a trial such as lawyers.

In the United Kingdom, the term "the Bar" refers only to the professional organisation for barristers (advocates in Scotland): the other type of UK lawyer, solicitors, have their own body, the Law Society. Correspondingly, being "called to the Bar" refers to admission to the profession of barristers, not solicitors. (Wikipedia)