Solicitors

• There are around 136,000 solicitors working in England and Wales.
• To become a solicitor they must have a law degree or a degree in another subject followed by the Graduate Diploma in Law. Then they must complete a one or two year legal practice course followed by a two year training period.
• The majority of solicitors will work in private practice and some will work for the CPS or government departments.
• Private practice solicitors may work alone or in partnership with one or more other solicitors.
• There are around 10,300 firms of solicitors ranging from high-street to the "magic circle" firms such as Clifford Chance.
• The work of a solicitor will depend on the type of firm they are working in. A solicitor in a high-street firm will advise clients on range of matters/areas in law.
• Solicitors will:

  • Interview clients
  • Negotiating on behalf on clients
  • A large amount of time will be spent on paperwork like writing letters, drafting documents such as wills, and dealing with conveyancing.
• In larger firms, solicitors may specialise in a particular type of law.
• Originally a solicitor was only limited to the Magistrates' Court and the County Courts but since the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, solicitors can apply for a certificate of advocacy to conduct cases in the higher courts.
• If there are complaints against the solicitor then it will be sent to their firm and if unresolved, it moves to the Solicitors Regulatory Authority.
• Solicitors can be sued in the civil courts using the law of contract and negligence.

  Griffiths v Dawson