Early legal attire for lawyers, also known as barristers, solicitors, advocates or councillors depending on the country bore strong similarities to that of judges. During the Middle Ages lawyers were considered apprentices to judiciary which explain their likeness in dress like their judicial counterparts Barristers in Britain wore closed gowns made of cloth or silk. These garments had raised, stuffed shoulders and elbow-length glove sleeves. Queen Mary’s death only made matters worse as these gowns were predominantly black before then due to the Inns of Court that organized barrister education and membership rules.
The barristers of the day wore strikingly similar attire to that worn by judges, with their coifs and skullcaps. They also had white ruff-like neck bands around them as well. The solicitors who were not able to present in court often would wear long black gowns which resembled those wings seen all overcoats today. French advocates were conspicuous for their wide, colorful gowns. They wore these skirts in a variety of colors like red and white while also wearing stiff black bonnets carrés called hats.