It is a commonly known fact that barristers outranked attorneys. Barristers were the ones who actually appeared in court, while an attorney practiced family and local business law. This is why Caroline Bingley looked down on Jane's uncle who was an attorney, which was considered the lower social status of being in trade.

It is also a commonly known fact that an attorney outranked a clerk and a judge outranked a barrister. Barristers aspired to become judges. Attorneys did not become judges.