Called to the bar
"Hey, come and have a drink!"
When first I heard it, that was the image evoked by the strange phrase "called to the bar." I figured lawyers could afford a few drinks. But while working?
Later I thought it had to do with Temple Bar, an old gate into the City of London. Turns out it is marginally related, in the sense that the gate (the original was most likely a simple chain or bar, and thus the name) was next to and named for the Temple Law Courts.
Actually, the expression refers to a real bar that separates a special area of the courtroom reserved for members of the law. In the UK and Ireland, there are two types of lawyers.
Solicitors prepare cases and can only appear in lower courts, while Barristers, who serve in higher courts, wear wigs and generally look impressive behind the bar.
In English-speaking North America, Australia and New Zealand, where the judicial systems are derived from English Common Law, being called to the bar means completing the qualifications necessary to represent a client in court.
The Canadian, American, Australian and New Zealand Bar Associations represent the profession collectively, also known as the Bar. The parallel UK organization is the Bar Council.
Just to clarify: if the cellphone rings and your buddy invites you to the neighbourhood pub for a drink, you have NOT been called to the bar.