2007-01-22 06:56:31 · 16 answers · asked by GERRY C 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
No difference whatsoever!
Although you did not ask this everyone seems to have put something about it:
A Barrister is someone who tends to specialise in one area of law who represents solicitors clients' in Court if the solicitor cannot attend or it is a complex case.
A solicitor is someone who you would see on a normal basis, the solicitors generally refer to barristers if needs be and the higher echelons of barristers are QC's (Queens Counsel).
So basically there is no difference between a solicitor and laywer, its just a different name.
I do work in a solicitors so I know this.
2007-01-22 07:02:11 · answer #1 · answered by button_mushroom_x 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
i guess a couple of the main differences are that solicitors can have a broad knowledge and do not always specialise in a certain area of law, whereas barristers(or lawyers to some people) do not. Secondly, Barristers act as advocates for their clients in court, and up until recently solicitors have not been able to do this. However, if solicitors take a advocacy course then they can speak in court, but this is much more limited than a barristers role.
And i guess that lawyers is a term used more commonly in American, which is a broad term, due to the fact that they do not have the distinction that there is in Britain
2007-01-22 07:01:52 · answer #2 · answered by fozz89 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
In UK a solicitor has his office in the High Street. If you go to a solicitor and eventually take your case to court, he will introduce you to a lawyer. The lawyer or more correctly a barrister, works from chambers. In London, this usually [but not always] means working in chambers in the Temple, off the Strand opposite the Law Courts.
The barrister or lawyer is the person who speaks on your behalf in a court of law. You may also have your solicitor with you. All this costs a lot of money.
In US a lawyer works from chambers but acts as a solicitor as well as a barrister.
Hypicrite - is very knowledgeable. I'm only a cleaner in the Inner Temple. So what do I know anyway?
2007-01-22 07:07:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
isn't "solicitor" just the English name for lawyer? same thing yuo need a 4 yr college degree and 3 years of law school and pass teh bar exam to become a lawyer - there are already WAY too many lawyers in the world
2016-03-29 09:17:09 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do not think there is any difference, the Americans say Lawyer, the Brits say Solicitor.
2007-01-22 07:08:59 · answer #5 · answered by ZYGGY 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Lawyer is a general term for solicitors and barristers.
Solicitors are lawyers that don't represent clients in court whereas barristers do.
2007-01-22 07:08:08 · answer #6 · answered by Rowdy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lawyers an overall name for both, however there are two types soliceters and barristers,
solicitors unless they have a certificate of advocacy cannot go in certain courts (queens and above i think) barristers basically argue cases in court, they are approached on behalf of the client by the solicitor, they cannot be approached directly by general public to take on there case.
like gps and surgeons, you wouldn't go directly to the surgeon to get them to do an operation, your referred, likewise solicitors have general knowledge of law, barristers are experts in one Field generally, their loyalty is to the courts whereas solicitors are loyal to their clients!!!btw im talking english law here
2007-01-22 07:14:54 · answer #7 · answered by alex w 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Britain, "lawyer" is used loosely to refer to a broad variety of law-trained persons. It includes practitioners such as barristers, solicitors, and legal executives; and people who are involved with the law but do not practice it on behalf of individual clients, such as judges, law clerks, and legislators.
In Canada, the word "lawyer" only refers to individuals who have been called to the bar. They may also be known as "barristers and solicitors", but should not be referred to as "attorneys", as that word has a different meaning under Canadian law.
In the United States of America, the term generally refers to attorneys who may or may not practice law.
In conclusion, generally, in Britain you get two types of lawyers, solcitors or barristers. solicitors normally find the clients and do all the preliminary paperwork and gather the evidence or try and settle the dispute. barristers are normally only needed when matters go to court. they speak to the judge and jury and wear the funny wigs.
2007-01-22 07:05:52 · answer #8 · answered by hypocrites_world 1 · 3⤊ 1⤋
3,000 miles of water. Lawyers are American and Solicitors are British.
Question. Can a solicitor be 'done' for soliciting?
2007-01-22 07:06:52 · answer #9 · answered by JohnH(UK) 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
solicitor is the English word
2007-01-22 07:01:09 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋