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briefless

American  
[breef-lis] / ˈbrif lɪs /

adjective

  1. having no brief.

  2. having no clients, as a lawyer.


briefless British  
/ ˈbriːflɪs /

adjective

  1. (said of a barrister) without clients

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of briefless

1815–25; brief (noun) + -less

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

After a brief and briefless stab at the law in Manhattan, his Transcript record got him a job with Edward Bok for a spirited, 18-month campaign against quack patent medicines in the Ladies' Home Journal.

From Time Magazine Archive

They have been trained perhaps for the bar, but wanted assiduity to master the dry details of the law, and patience to sustain them throughout a long round of briefless circuits.

From Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Volume 1, No. 4, September, 1850 by Various

They were chiefly composed of briefless but brilliant young barristers, fiery journalists, and hot-headed students.

From The Canadian Portrait Gallery - Volumes 1 to 4 by John Charles Dent

His selection as Liberal Candidate was a blow to us: we had hoped for nothing worse than a briefless carpet-bagger from the Temple, as on previous occasions.

From The Right Stuff Some Episodes in the Career of a North Briton by Ian Hay

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

From The Story of Charles Strange Vol. 1 (of 3) A Novel by Mrs. Henry Wood

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