Members of the Manx Bar

Bishop Wilson writing c.1720 says

In all the courts of this island, ecclesiastical and civil, both men and women usually plead their own causes, except where strangers are concerned, who, being unacquainted with the laws and language, are forced to employ others to speak for them. It is but of late years that attornies, and such as gain by strife, have even forced themselves into business; and, except what these get out of the people, law-suits are determined without much charges.

The 1777 Act which made major changes to Manx Law also introduced registration of advocates

Whereas the Custom of permitting Persons not bred to the Profession of the Law to practise as Attomeys hath been found greatly to promote, a Spirit of Litigation, and the Want of a proper Table of Fees hath been the Occasion of frequent Instances of Imposition upon Clients, be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that hereafter no Person shall plead in any Court, (except in his own Cause), or sue out any Process, or act in the Character of an Attorney or Advocate before any Court, Judge, or Magistrate, until he befirst approved of and commissioned to act by the Governor or Lieutenant Governor of this Isle under his Hand and Seal, and until he shall have publickly taken the Government Oaths, as also the following one: "I, A. B. do swear that I will truly and honestly demean myself in the Practice and Knowledge of an Attorney to the best of my Ability."

List

The following is based on a list was made in the 1980's from Records at that time in the Manx Registry by Peter Edge (pwedge@brookes.ac.uk) to whom thanks in allowing its use on these pages.