Work Carried Out by a Barrister and a Solicitor

Work Carried Out by a Barrister and a Solicitor

The legal profession in England and Wales is divided between

solicitors and barristers. Both are trained in law but serve different

functions in the practice of law. Barristers act primarily as

advocates with rights of audience in all courts within the

jurisdiction. Some solicitors now have extensive rights as advocates,

but the Bar is uniquely linked with court work and the presentation of

the lay client's case before it. However, many barristers hardly ever

appear in court; they undertake specialist advice, given to clients in

‘cons’ or conferences, and they prefer to avoid the uncertainties of

litigation.

They may also give extensive written advice or draft legal documents.

They do not deal with the public (or lay clients) directly, but

through the intermediary of a solicitor. Solicitors are approached

first by the clients in need of legal advice and then if specialist

advice or representation in the higher court is needed, the client is

referred to a barrister. Barristers also prepare written advice,

called an opinion, if asked by a solicitor in a particular case.

Solicitor is a type of lawyer in many common law jurisdictions. In

these systems the legal profession is divided into two kinds of

lawyer: solicitors who contact and advise clients and have limited

rights of audience in court, and barristers or advocates who argue

cases in every court. In cases where a trial is necessary a client has

to hire a solicitor, who will advise him or her and then may retain a

barrister on his or her behalf.

Before the unification of the Supreme Court in 1873, solicitors

practised in ...

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... instructed, but many now offer various

kinds of direct access. While solicitors are regulated by the Law

Society, The Law Society of England and Wales is the professional

association that regulates and represents the solicitors profession in

England and Wales. One of their main duties is to issue 'Practicing

Certificates' to solicitors who are qualified to practice law. They

deal with all aspects of qualification, professional conduct and the

procedure required to 'strike off' a solicitor.

Barristers are governed by the General Council of the Bar and the

individual Inns of Court. There are four Inns, all situated in the

area of London close to the Law Courts in the Strand. Gray's Inn is

off High Holborn, Lincoln's Inn off Chancery Lane, the Middle and

Inner Temples, situated between Fleet Street and the Embankment.