what's the difference between barrister and solliciter? thanks?

Answer 1

Both are liars for hire, no?

Answer 2

People who practise law comprise the legal profession. There are two main types of lawyer - barristers and solicitors.

Solicitors are the lawyers that most people deal with at some time or the other. Solicitors can be lone practitioners or form partnerships. They undertake a variety of legal work dealing with a wide range of everyday legal problems and issues such wills, conveyancing, divorce, custody of children. Larger partnerships tend to specialise in legal commercial and financial matters.

Solicitors have a rights of audience and can conduct cases in Magistrates and County courts. Here they either present cases or represent a defendant.

The controlling body for solicitors is The Law Society.

Barristers must be members of one of the four Inns of Court. They are self employed and cannot form partnerships. They do tend to form themselves in to groups and work from the same offices called chambers.

Barristers have the right to present a case in any court and the majority make their living this way. Because of this they develop skills in advocacy as well as legal knowledge. In court they wear legal robes and wigs.

Clients cannot normally go directly to a barristers but must go in the first instance to a solicitor who will then brief a solicitor if that is necessary.

This is just a quick overview and I hope it has given you some idea of the differences.

Answer 3

For starter's both are Lawyers. Both will have undertaken a Law degree or another degree followed by a Law conversion course. Solicitors take the Legal Practice Course and Barristers take the Bar Vocational Qualification in order to enter the profession as trainees. Solicitors are trainees for 2years and Barristers are pupils for 1 year before they qualify. Both will go on to specialise in a specific discipline which can be in any legal area.

The main difference to the client is that you will first approach a solicitor, never a barrister. If the matter is contentious but not a criminal matter and could potentially appear in court the solicitor will decide whether to appoint a barrister, initially on a consultation basis for a risk assessment of your case ie chances of success. Should the matter proceed to court the solicitor may represent up to county court and a barrister will represent you in the higher courts with your solicitor assisting him.

In criminal matters a solicitor can represent the in magistrates court. Some solicitors known as solicitor advocates can represent in higher courts ie crown. Barristers will represent in crown court, High court, Court of Appeal and House of Lords.

Barristers fees are far higher than Solicitors fees but they cannot advertise for business directly to the public. They are appointed by solicitors based mainly on their professional reputation.

The Barrister route is for those wishing to work in the courtroom. They must possess excellent oratory skills, lightning thought processes and the ability to interpret the law in pioneering ways.

Solicitors can decide whether they wish to work in litigation and have the potential of appearing in court ie criminal/family or to never appear in court ie conveyancing. The latter are usually officebound. Others types of solicitors must travel to tribunals, or wherever the client is ie police stations, mental health institutions, prisons.

I do not know the reason for you question but I hope this information helps.

Answer 4

Both are advocates, therefore can represent you in a court of law or in other legal matters. A solicitor will represent you in a criminal matter generally up to Magistrates' court level where as a Barrister , having taken the bar exam and classed as Queens councel, will represent at Crown court level and above

Answer 5

A solicitor only costs a fraction of a Barrister - but it really will depend on the degree of help you require with your problem. Try the solicitor first and then take his advice.

Answer 6

Barrister can represent you in a county court , a solicitor cannot
A Barrister is QUEENS COUNCIL a solicitor is not !
A solicitor can only represent you for minor affences in a district court ! Hope this helps ?

Answer 7

the barrister is more expierence.......my relative has both.....the solicitor comes and sees him but the final word goes from the barrister and both solicitor and barristor will be in court ( hopefully they can get it thrown out before then and then we can have a happy xmas) pray to god that happends!!!
xx

Answer 8

A barrister is far more qualified and specialises in certain area's of law xx

Answer 9

The main differences lie in the work they do. Solicitors are office based and are able to tackle a wide range of paper transactions, such as conveyancing, which until very recently no barrister was allowed to do. They may be approached direct by clients and have a set structure for charging fees, as regulated by the Law Society, their governing body. They may set up in practice as and where they like and work either alone, as sole practitioners, or in partnership with other solicitors. When clients fail to pay them, they are allowed to take legal action to recover their fees.

Formerly solicitors could qualify simply by serving an apprenticeship known as articles for a firm of solicitors and passing exams. Now a law degree is normally required and the following of articles over a period of two years with the passing of a series of examinations set by the Law Society. Graduates in subjects other than law may, however, pass an additional series of examinations to qualify them to take articles. Trainee solicitors are paid during their articles.

Barristers may not be approached direct by clients and therefore rely heavily on the services of their clerks when it comes to accepting briefs from solicitors to appear in court and negotiating fees for their services. They also rely heavily on solicitors to pay them those fees within a reasonable time and they may not take legal action to recover them if this doesn't happen. Much of their work is done in court. When appearing in a County Court, a Crown Court or in the High Court, they are required to wear a wig and gown. A case in the Crown Court or the High Court has to be undertaken by a barrister, with a solicitor in attendance. Barristers are regarded as being somewhat more knowledgeable than solicitors in that a solicitor will frequently consult a barrister for an opinion on the law in a certain matter and the advice the barrister gives on that matter will be heavily relied upon not only by the solicitor and the client, but by the court and the legal aid board. Every barrister has to be a member of one of the Four Inns of Court -- Gray's Inn, Lincoln's Inn, the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple. Formerly they would reside in those Inns and learn the law from barristers around them until such time as they were deemed to be knowledgeable enough to be called to the Bar. Now they are required to eat a certain number of dinners in Hall (keep term) before they can be called to the Bar. In addition, they have to pass stringent examinations, including exams testing their ability to plead in court. The academic requirements for becoming a barrister are similar to those for becoming a solicitor (law degree plus one year studying for the Bar final examinations and, of course, passing them; or degree in another subject plus conversion course plus Bar Finals. In order to practise at the Bar trainee barristers must follow a pupillage under the aegis of a pupil master for at least twelve months. During the first six month period, they do not have right of audience in court. During the second six months, they can accept briefs from solicitors to appear in court. Until recently, pupil barristers not only had to live off fresh air during pupillage, but would have to pay their pupil master a a fee. Nowadays, however, they can expect to receive some form of pay from the chambers in which they are based, which in turn has made it harder for young barristers to get pupillages in the first place.

There is a certain hierarchy at the Bar, as after a few years of practice it is customary to apply for silk, i.e. to become a Queen's Counsel. Judges are appointed from among such senior barristers.

Barristers are disciplined by the Bar Council, whereas solicitors are disciplined by the Law Society. In both professions, a high degree of correctness and attention to very stringent sets of rules are required, which makes some of the remarks in answer to this question all the more extraordinary.

Answer 10

barristers are specialists in what they do, my other half had a soliciter who reccomended he needed the other, he got him one, and the case got chucked out of court! so they are the better at fighting your case :)

Answer 11

About £100.pounds an hour