Barristers wear wigs mainly because they’ve become a powerful symbol of formality, authority and tradition in the courtroom, especially in criminal courts in England and Wales. The practice began as a 17th‑century fashion among the elite and then stuck in the legal world long after wigs disappeared from everyday style.

Quick Scoop

  • The original reason was fashion: wigs became popular in Europe in the 1600s, especially under Charles II in Britain, as a status symbol and a way to cover hair loss and disease‑related baldness.
  • Over time, the look was absorbed into court dress, and by the late 17th century wigs had become standard for judges and barristers as part of “proper” courtroom attire.
  • Today, wigs are mostly about symbolism : they signal professionalism, impartiality and the seriousness of proceedings, and help mark out barristers and judges from everyone else in court.
  • Modern reforms mean wigs are often dropped in civil and family courts, but they are still common in criminal trials and on ceremonial occasions.

Why They Still Wear Them

  • They add a sense of formality and help create distance between the individual lawyer and the role they perform, which some see as reinforcing impartiality.
  • The uniformity of wigs and gowns can make advocates look more alike, which supporters say keeps the focus on the arguments rather than the person.

A Bit Of History

  • Wigs spread from French and English royal courts to the upper and middle classes in the mid‑1600s, then into the legal profession as a mark of rank and respectability.
  • Even after wigs went out of general fashion by the early 19th century, the Bar and judiciary kept them, turning a fading trend into an entrenched legal tradition.

Changing Attitudes And “Latest” Debate

  • Since 2007, many UK courts have relaxed or dropped the requirement for wigs in civil and family work, and judges can sometimes dispense with them where they might intimidate, such as in cases involving children.
  • There is an active debate in legal circles and online forums about whether wigs are outdated and exclusionary, or whether they remain a valuable, distinctive emblem of the legal system.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.