Legal Personnel Flashcards
What are solicitors?
A client’s first point of contact with the legal profession
What do solicitors do?
Solicitors provide legal advice, negotiate on behalf of their client, do advocacy work which is mostly limited to pre trial hearings in the court. Some go on to do a extra qualification which gives them the higher rights of audience required to appear in the higher courts and the skills needed to conduct trials ( these solicitors are known as solicitor) advocates.
Solicitors can work in small Highstreet firms dealing with a wide range of everyday issues or in large city law firms dealing with multi nation corporate clients some solicitors work in house for the government or local insurance companies. The work of solicitors can be in court or not in court
Training and qualifications to become a solicitor?
Traditional route is studing for a 3 year qualifiying law degree studying the core subjects such as tort, criminal and land law then this is folloowed by the completion of the legal practice course which is a post gradute lasts a year if you do it full time and can cost between £10,000-15,000. After completing the legal practice course the student will hope to get a training contract with a law firm and this is plaid employment and lasts to years which means you will be getting experience in court and outside of court and you will be getting experience within the different areas of the firm. Once this stage is completed the trainee solicitors is admitted to the roll and becomes a fully qualified solicitor
What’s another way of becoming a solicitor?
Student can opt to a non law degree which means an extra year of post graduate study is required and this course is known as a graduate Diploma in law and takes a year and after that the student can progress to the Legal practice course and after that get a training contract and then once that is done they can be admitted to the roll.
What is the new route to become a solicitor?
The SQE
This requires students to complete a degree level qualification or an equivalent such as a solicitor apprenticeship, 2 years qualifying work experience and two sets of assessments known as SQE 1 and 2. Students must also meet the character and suitability requirement. The SQE will replace the previous qualification
Who are solicitors regulated by?
Solicitors are regulated by the solicitor regulation authority, an independent body which seeks to ensure that high standards are maintained.
The SRA sets standards for qualifying as a solicitor, monitors the quality of training and refers complaints to the solicitor disciplinary tribunal
Who are barristers?
Barristers are specialist advocates who have higher rights of audience, work in chambers. Barristers also provide expert opinions on a point of law to solicitors, draft complex documents for solicitors and conduct conferences with witnesess and clients
What is the training and qualifications of barristers?
Student who want to become a barrister will complete the 3 year qualifying law degree or the non law degree which means they will have to study for a extra year for the Graduate diploma in law course. After completing the law degree they go on to study for the Bar professional training course which is a post graduate course focusing on the specialist skills and knowledge required to become a barrister. This course last for one year if studied full time and costs around £13-18,000.l At this point the students join Inn of court which play a role in training of barristers and student are required to complete 12 qualifying sessions at their in known as dining at the Inn before they are Called to the Bar which means becoming a qualified barrister . Students must secure a pupillage which lasts a year. In the first 6 months a pupil barrister does not appear in court but observes cases and conducts research for other barristers under the supervision of a senior barrister. In the second 6 the pupil barrister starts appearing in court on simple matters to begin with. Once the pupillage is complete the pupil barrister will hope to gain a tenancy which mean they have a permanent place in chamber
Who are barristers regulated by?
Barristers are regulated by the Bar Standards Board. This independent body oversees the training an professional conduct of barristers and deals with disciplinary matters
Who are legal executives
