Legal Profession

• Role of Solicitors:


  • Employment: Most solicitors work in law firms; some work for the CPS, government, or business legal departments.
  • Solicitor Advocates: Can represent clients in all courts.
  • Civil Work: Includes conveyancing, wills, probate, family and personal injury claims, negotiating, drafting wills and contracts, and litigation. They may brief barristers for higher court cases unless they hold a certificate of advocacy.
  • Criminal Work: Involves criminal legal aid, including acting as duty solicitors in police stations and magistrates' courts.
• Regulation of Solicitors:


  ·         Law Society - They represent the interest of their members – much like a union.

  ·         Solicitors Regulatory Authority - Regulates the profession and deals with complaints.

  ·         Sued for negligent advocacy (Hall v Simons)

  ·         Sued for negligent advice/work (White v Jones)

  ·         Office for Legal Complaints Set up by the Legal Services Act 2007, which deals with complaints regarding the way a complaint was handled. The matter is referred to the Legal Ombudsman.
• Role of Barristers


  • Specialise in specific areas
  • Give advice
  • Hold case conferences
  • Draft documents for use in court
  • Accept and undertake work through Public Access
  • Negotiate settlements
  • Undertake legal research
  • Write Counsel’s opinion
  • Prepare cases for court
  • Advocacy
• Specific areas of specialisation

  • Criminal law
  • Family law
  • Commercial law
  • Personal injury
• Role of Barristers


  1. Meet with clients

  2. Assist with legal issues

  3. Meet with relevant parties

  4. Ensure necessary documentation is produced

  5. Produce a written opinion on a case

  6. Represent clients in court
• General Council of the Bar


  • Controls the barristers
  • Sets standards of ethics, equality and diversity
  • Regulates barristers
  • Investigates any alleged breach of code of conduct
  • Can discipline a barrister who is in breach of the code
• Serious matters of professional misconduct

  1. Barrister referred to Disciplinary Tribunal

  2. May be struck off
• Office for Legal Complaints was set up by the Legal Services Act 2007
• Office for Legal Complaints


  Deals with complaints regarding the way a complaint was handled
• The matter is referred to the Office for Legal Complaints


  Referred to Legal Ombudsman