What is the diffence between lawyer and solicitor ?

Question

After qualifying as a ILEX fellow membership, the person will be a lawyer, however they won't be a solicitor and will undertake further training.

Answer 1

In the UK we have two divisions of 'lawyer' so to speak.

1) Barrister - top advocate. They have the necessary advocacy qualifications to advocate in any UK court. From the Magistrates to the House of Lords. Barristers usually belong to 'chambers'. They don't so much work with the client but receive cases from a solicitors firm, in turn the solicitor acts as a liaison between client and barrister. Barristers are 'freelance' so to speak - they don't belong to a firm and it is up to them to seek the work.

2) Solicitors - They can advocate in the Magistrates Courts (criminal division of courts) and County Courts (civil division of courts), but usually no higher [courts] as this is where barristers advocate. Solicitors' usually act as liaison between client and barrister when the case is involved in higher courts then those previously mentioned. Solicitors usually belong to a firm, that is to say they are employed by the firm.

The word 'lawyer' is very loosely adopted in the UK and if anything probably would be used more to describe a solicitor rather barrister.

Answer 2

My understanding is that the British legal system has Barristers and Solicitors. Solicitors deal with the client and litigation issues; Barristers are allowed to appear before Court.

Solicitors have more direct contact with the clients, whereas barristers often only become involved in a case in order to provide any advocacy needed by the client. Barristers are rarely, if ever, instructed by clients directly. Instead, the client's solicitors will instruct a barrister on behalf of the client when appropriate.

The historical difference between the two professions -- and the only essential difference in England and Wales today -- is that a solicitor is an attorney, which means they stand in the place of their client for legal purposes, and may conduct litigation by making applications to the court, writing letters in litigation to the client's opponent and so on. A barrister is not an attorney and is forbidden, both by law and by professional rules, from conducting litigation. This difference in function explains many of the practical differences between the two professions. In split professions, barristers are regarded as holding higher office than solicitors, barristers being regarded as ministers of the court in contrast to solicitors who are said to be mere officers of the court

Answer 3

I THINK that lawyer is a generic term to cover both solicitors and barristers. A solicitor is someone who will give advice about conveyancing, divorce, family law etc. A barrister is someone who will represent you in court. This is what happens in the UK, I think it is different in other countries. The Law Society will probably be able to give a more precise definition.

Answer 4

Legal usage

In some U.S. states, a "solicitor" may be the chief legal officer of a city or town — for example, a "town solicitor," — although cities in other states simply have "city attorneys." Some counties and states as well as the federal government have an official known as a Solicitor General who is actually more of an advocate than a solicitor in the traditional British sense. In South Carolina the term "solicitor" applies to a circuit prosecutor. In Georgia a county solicitor general is responsible for prosecution of misdemeanor offenses. Historically, Georgia solicitors general were state prosecutors. Today, that office is known as district attorney.

Answer 5

In UK a Lawyer is a person qualified to practice law as a solicitor or barrister so there is no difference.

Answer 6

Both my daughter and brother, if living in USA would be classed as an lawyer. But in UK my daughter got a Law degree and went to a Law Collage and became a solicitor. My brother got a law degree went to a Inns of Court in London, dined for 12 months and became a barrister,

Answer 7

A legal executive is allowed to term him or herself a lawyer, but as a solicitor is a notch above legal executive, before a legal executive can aspire to be a solicitor there are more hurdles ahead in the form of exams and what used to be called articles.

The four categories of lawyer are barristers, solicitors, notaries and legal executives in England and Wales, although barristers are known as "advocates" in Scotland.

Answer 8

In England the term "lawyer" is, in fact, rarely used, though when it is it refers to anyone connected with the law. We have two "sorts" of lawyer, solicitors and barristers.

Solicitors deal with their clients face to face and some are permitted to appear for them in magistrates or county courts.

Barristers do not deal direct with their clients, but are appointed by solicitors to speak for the client in Crown Courts or higher - solicitors cannot do this.

Answer 9

I didn't think there was any difference - except in geography. They are called solicitors in Great Britian and lawyers in North America. I don't know anything about the British legal system - maybe there are different levels of solicitors.