Solicitors

• around 220000 solicitors in UK - 160000 officially working
• "On the Roll" = list of solicitors with valid practicing certificates
• Qualification: Law Degree, Legal Practice Cource (LPC), 2 year Training Contract
• new routes for qualification have been introduced: Solicitor's Apprenticeships, CILEX Diplomas, and the 'Equivalent Means' route for those who have experience working in a similar legal role
• solicitors work in firms, are employed
• solicitors are 'fee earners' - charge an hourly fee and that brings in income for the firm, are paid a fixed salary.
• solicitors complete office-based tasks
• Solicitors may work in Large City-Centre firms:

  • Usually London, Birmingham, Manchester.
  • Take on high profile clients
  • Usually specialized in specific area
  • Role includes lots of contracts and negotiations
• Solicitor may work in Smaller High Street firms:

  • may be sole-practitioners or smaller partnerships
  • can be 'General Practitioners' - the don't specialize and may work across a number of different areas of law.
  • some firms may specialize in a select number of areas of law
  • day to day roles: advising clients on the law, writing letters for clients, drafting contracts, wills, leases
• Some solicitors may work for:

  • Crown Prosecution Service
  • Local/ Central Government
  • Legal Departments in Businesses
• Crown Prosecution service - will work alongside police and barristers to prepare prosecution cases for court, and will present the case in Magistrate's Court.
• Local/ Central Government - will be salaried and will provide legal advice on issues like legislation, discrimination, and justice.
• Legal Departments in Businesses - will deal with all legal issues faced by the business - such as negotiations, contracts with suppliers, and legal challenges from customers - referred to as 'in-house' lawyers.
• Some solicitors may also present cases in court - are Solicitor Advocates:

  • isn't automatically given to solicitors for all courts like it is given to barristers.
  • solicitors automatically have rights of audience in the Magistrates Court and the County Court, or to present an appeal in the Crown Court.
  • Courts and Legal Services Act 1990
  • Access to Justice Act 1999, s.36
• Courts and Legal Services Act 1990:

  • Allows solicitors to apply for an Advocacy Certificate.
  • Gives them rights to advocacy in the Crown and High Court
  • To get this, solicitors must have experience of advocating in the Magistrates/ County Court, and have to undergo additional training and exams.
• Access to Justice Act 1999 s.36:

  • extended solicitors advocacy rights to all courts
  • however there may be an issue with training here
• Regulation refers to the way that we check that solicitors are doing the work that they are meant to, and to a good standard.
• are requirements to formally qualify as a solicitor, means if the professional standards are not upheld, this qualification can be taken away from them.