| Whether its a legal dispute between business partners, | | | | once it goes to court, where public speaking and |
| a divorce case or even a claim of child abuse solicitors | | | | specialist experience is needed for quick responses to |
| and barristers are the legal professionals that people | | | | court arguments. |
| turn to for expert advice on legal precedent and the | | | | Working as a solicitor is, then, a very different |
| intricacies of the British court system. Despite their | | | | experience than working as a solicitor. Perhaps the |
| important role in the legal system though, many people | | | | biggest difference can be found in how they are |
| are confused over what the difference is between the | | | | employed; whilst barristers are required by law to |
| two professions. | | | | operate as independent, sole practitioners of the law, |
| The simplest way of putting this is to say that the | | | | solicitors aren't prohibited from working in firms. |
| reality of the legal system is a little different from what | | | | This means that whilst barristers pay their own tax, |
| you might have seen on TV. Whilst we often think of | | | | sort out their own pensions and other such |
| 'solicitors' as being another word for 'lawyer', in the UK | | | | arrangements, solicitors are employed by a firm and |
| and Ireland the legal profession is in fact split in to two | | | | therefore receive regular pay packets and all other |
| distinct areas - barristers and solicitors. | | | | associated employee benefits. The other big distinction |
| This split amounts to a division between working | | | | is that often, they'll be working in teams on long and |
| behind the scenes or working at the forefront of the | | | | complex legal cases - preparing all of the |
| court system. In short, solicitors are the members of | | | | documentation and background work for a case - |
| the legal profession who deal with any legal matter | | | | which can often result in extremely uncertain hours |
| except the actual court proceedings - what's known | | | | when you're on a high pressure case. |
| as advocacy. | | | | Still, working as a solicitor opens up a huge range of |
| Solicitors are the ones who have direct contact with | | | | opportunities. You'll be the go-to between the client and |
| the clients, doing all of the preparation and | | | | the team of barristers and once you've got some |
| correspondence needed for a legal case to go ahead. | | | | experience, your expertise will be in demand from |
| If a party settles out of court, then they could be the | | | | anyone from government departments to multinational |
| only legal professionals to even deal with a case; | | | | businesses. |
| barristers generally only become involved in a case | | | | |