Street
brief
What does brief mean?
A lawyer, solicitor or barrister representing a defendant.
"I'm not answering till my brief gets here."
Origin
From the 'brief', the set of instructions/papers given to a barrister.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'brief' mean in criminal slang?
A lawyer, solicitor or barrister representing a defendant, as in 'I want my brief here before I say anything.'
Where does calling a lawyer a 'brief' come from?
From the 'brief', the bundle of instructions and papers handed to a barrister to prepare a case; the person came to be named after the documents.
How is 'brief' used in a sentence?
Usually to mean refusing to talk to police until legal representation arrives, e.g. 'No comment till my brief gets here.'
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