The Legal Profession: One Career, Many Avenues

The Legal Profession: One Career, Many Avenues

Whether we are reading about the heroic small-town attorney Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mocking Bird, or watching in awe as Richard Gere portrays a smooth attorney in Primal Fear, it is apparent through culture and media that there is a power and prestige associated with the law in American society. This paper compares the training and education of such American lawyers with their English counterparts, concluding as to why it may behoove us in the US to adopt the apprenticeship requirements of England.

To begin, it is important to note that n the English system, the legal profession is distinctly divided; lawyers are either Barristers or Solicitors. While the Barristers are governed by the various Inns of Court, the Solicitors branch is governed by The Law Society (Chambers Student). Despite this distinction, members of either branch may now seek the rank of Queen’s Counsel (Q.C.).

Barristers primarily argue in court and are likely to serve on the more important courts. They serve as advocates before a court of appropriate jurisdiction and speak in court, presenting the case before a judge or jury (Chambers Student). Solicitors primarily work with clients and handle legal documents, including conducting proceedings in courts (although Solicitors were required to engage a Barrister as advocate in a High Court or above after the profession split in two) (Chambers Student). As an additional branch of the legal profession, there are also Legal Executives, who are represented by the Institute of Legal Executives.

Now that we recognize the distinction among them, let’s consider both the advantages and disadvantages of the split profession. The most notable distinction is that by havi...

... middle of paper ...

...ir own. Rather than focus wholeheartedly on classroom lessons, an emphasis on learning with real-world experience could greatly improve the educational system at present in the US.

Works Cited

Blackstone, William, and George Sharswood. Commentaries on the laws of England:

In four books. Vol. 2. JB Lippincott & Company, 1875.

Chambers Student. “What kind of Lawyer do you want to be?” 2014. http://www.chambersstudent.co.uk/Articles/197 Law Observer. “Law in England and Wales.” 2014. http://www.lawobserver.co.uk/legal_system_20.html

Megarry, Robert Edgar. “Lawyer and litigant in England.” Stevens, 1962.

The Law Society of England and Wales. 2014. http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/

The State Bar of California. 2014. http://www.calbar.ca.gov/Public/Pamphlets/BecomingALawyer.aspx#6 Warren, Charles. “A history of the American bar.” Cambridge University Press, 2013.