<P> Generally , a lawyer is said to have been `` admitted to the Bar '' and become an `` attorney at law '' ; some states still use the older term `` attorney and counselor ( or even spelled ' counsellor ' ) at law '' , upon taking his or her oath of office . Historically , the institution of attorney was similar to that of the solicitor , whereas the office of the counselor was almost identical to that of the barrister , but today this distinction has disappeared . The phrase `` called to the bar '' is still sometimes used informally by U.S. attorneys to refer to their qualification as a lawyer . </P>
when do you get called to the bar
upon taking his or her oath of office