There are two main categories relating to a career in the UK’s legal industry: solicitors and barristers. Solicitors and barristers are both types of lawyers. Understanding the distinction between the two is important in understanding their role within the judicial system and how they contribute to assisting individuals, businesses, and institutions from a legal perspective.
What is a Solicitor?
Depending on their expertise, solicitors are qualified legal practitioners that advise their clients on their respective matters by liaising directly with them. Solicitors are usually responsible for handling legal documents in support of their clients’ legal interests. Solicitors usually work in law firms or in-house, and are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
What is a Barrister?
Barristers (in England and Wales) are also qualified legal practitioners, but are self-employed lawyers who often specialise in representation, advocacy and defend businesses, individuals or institutions in court.
Key Differences Between a Solicitor’s And Barrister’s Work
A solicitor’s work is usually founded during the run up of a court case and usually involves providing legal and/or commercial advice to clients, undertaking negotiations on behalf of their client, writing letters, and drafting and reviewing legal documents such as contracts and agreements. in essence, solicitors deal with all the paperwork that is necessary for their client, as well as prepare documents for court. A case that goes to court isn’t necessarily represented by a solicitor. Having said this, some solicitors that have obtained the necessary qualifications for rights to audience do represent clients in disputes and represent them in court if necessary.
A barrister’s work involves regular court visits to advocate on behalf of their client. a barrister works more independently compared to a solicitor who is often sat within a team of other specialist solicitors. Often, solicitors will provide details of a case to a barrister who spends a fixed time reviewing and evaluating in order prepare for pleading the case in front of a judge. While solicitors can be found in law firms and in-house settings, barristers sit in offices called chambers. Though barristers sit in chambers, they work independently of each other and can often act on different sides of the same case. Solicitors, however, would not be found doing the same within a law firm due to a conflict of interest.
Overall, solicitors are usually the first port of call for their clients who provide the initial advise who then proceed to prepare, review, and redraft the relevant documents. Solicitors then instruct barristers on the specific case and provide the necessary details for the barrister to adequately represent and advocate for the client in court.
Differences Between a Solicitor’s And Barrister’s Education
A solicitor’s qualification route involves completing a qualifying law degree, followed by the Legal Practice Course (LPC). For those not so eager to undertake a law degree, you can opt for the completion of a non-law degree followed by the Law Conversion Course, then take the LPC. Candidates would then complete a two-year training contract with which the completion would bring then the newly qualified solicitor title.
Introducing this year is the new route to qualification for aspiring UK solicitors. Candidates are no longer required to complete a law degree. Instead, upon completion of any degree, the SQE assessments will be required to be undertaken before admission as a solicitor.
To become a barrister, you can complete either a qualifying law degree or a non-law degree followed by the Law Conversion Course. After this, candidates are required to undertake vocational training after passing the Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT) and join one of the four Inns of Court. The final stage of the process requires the completion of a pupillage.
All in all, the basic difference between a solicitor and a barrister is that barristers advocate for clients in court and solicitors undertake legal work behind the scenes.
By Chanpreet Manku
