briefless

[ breef-lis ]

adjective

1. having no brief.
2. having no clients, as a lawyer.

briefless

/ ˈbriːflɪs /

adjective

1. (said of a barrister) without clients

Other Words From

• briefless·ly adverb
• briefless·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of briefless¹

1815–25; brief (noun) + -less

Example Sentences

Gandhi's biographer and grandson, Rajmohan Gandhi, says the younger Gandhi - he arrived in South Africa as a 24-year-old briefless lawyer - was undoubtedly "at times ignorant and prejudiced about South Africa's blacks".

From BBC

A briefless barrister was spending his time at the Courts when his clerk came to him with the news that a man was at his chambers with a brief.

From Project Gutenberg

"Better be a successful attorney, madam, than a briefless barrister," he observed, when she finished.

From Project Gutenberg

The broken merchant, the ambitious weaver, the briefless lawyer, the literary tailor are speedily sunk, in “we,” and “our sheet,” and “our columns,” and “our-self.”

From Project Gutenberg

In London you certainly were a briefless barrister.

From Project Gutenberg