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I’m just going to come out and say what everyone is thinking: barrister wigs look funny and seem pointless. The concept of wearing a wig nearly deterred me from pursuing the Bar when I was a first-year student (jokes!). But for real, what’s up with the wig?

The main reasons barristers still wear wigs are because it:

• makes the atmosphere of the court more solemn and formal;
• represents the history of the common law;
• allows for a visual separation of the law from those before it; and
• it is tradition.

Why did UK barristers start wearing wigs?

Interestingly, wigs became popular in the 16th Century when people in Europe started contracting syphilis and suffered from hair loss. This was particularly problematic in social circles at a time when long hair was incredibly popular. No self-respecting aristocrat would want their peers to know they contracted syphilis, so they wore wigs.

The most prominent trendsetter of wigs was Louis XIV of France who wore wigs to disguise his prematurely balding scalp – believed to have been caused by syphilis. This trend was followed by the European upper and middle-classes. It even made its way to the King’s cousin, Charles II, the King of England (also rumoured to have contracted syphilis) from 1660 to 1685.

English courts were slow to adopt the wigs since judicial portraits in the 1680s still show a natural, no-wig look. By 1685, however, the court had adopted a full, shoulder-length wig as part of the court dress.

Over time, wigs fell out of fashion. During the reign of King George III from 1760 to 1820, wigs were only worn by bishops, coachmen, and in the legal profession. While bishops stopped wearing wigs in the 1830s, it wasn’t until 2007 that a change came to the rule that barristers always wear wigs.

In 2007, new dress rules removed the requirement for barrister wigs during family or civil court proceedings and during proceedings in the UK Supreme Court. Although wigs remain commonplace in criminal cases to date, there are special provisions that allow for the removal of wigs in criminal cases concerning children.

What are barrister wigs made of?

Most wigs are made of 100% horsehair, although there are synthetic versions available if that doesn’t float your boat. It’s no surprise that horsehair wigs aren’t cheap when you consider it’s handmade. A judge’s full-length wig can cost £3000 or more, while the short ones worn by barristers cost about £500.

Will UK barristers always wear wigs?

Considering that Ireland discontinued the use of wigs in 2011 and former British colonies such as Jamaica discontinued it in 2013, it stands to reason that the UK will eventually follow suit. The result of the 2007 reforms is that most UK barristers don’t wear wigs unless they practice criminal law. By my calculations, barristers will probably stop wearing wigs within the next 50 years. Honestly, it makes sense that the UK courts would be the last to let go of the wigs. They were slow to catch on and are now slow to let go! What do you think of barrister wigs?