Legal Personnel

Question 1

Barristers

Answer 1

• Act as specialist advocates
• Preparing and representing cases
• Full rights of audience
• Work in sets of chambers
• Instructed by solicitors
• After a decade, can apply to King’s Counsel

Question 2

Solicitors

Answer 2

• More varied roles:
• Consumer issues
• Housing
• Business matters
• Family matters
Rights of audience in Magistrate’s and County Courts

Question 3

Legal executives

Answer 3

• Institute of Legal Executives’ Qualification in Law
• Work in solicitor’s firms
• Specialising in one field
• Dealing with straight forward matters
• Limited rights of audience in County Court when a case is not being represented
• Can apply for rights of audience only in Magistrate’s Court

Question 4

The Legal Service Board

Answer 4

• Responsible for overseeing legal regulators
• Independent of the government

Question 5

The General Council of the Bar

Answer 5

• Representing the views of barristers collectively

Question 6

Bar Standards Board

Answer 6

• Sets training and entry requirements
• Maintains codes of conduct
• Investigates alleged breaches

Question 7

Law Society

Answer 7

• Includes all practising solicitors
• A governing body representing their views
• Working with the government and Parliament on a range of legal issues

Question 8

Solicitors Regulatory Authority

Answer 8

Sets, monitors and enforces standards of solicitors whilst dealing with complaints.

Question 9

Chartered Institute of Legal Executives

Answer 9

Provides ongoing education and executive training whilst protecting executive status in law.

Question 10

CILEx Regulation Board

Answer 10

An independent regulator of complaints against legal executives.

Question 11

Legal Obudsman

Answer 11

Dealing with complaints in all aspects of the legal professions including how complaints have been handled in other regulatory bodies have dealt with an existing complaint.