Legal personnel Flashcards
completed deck
What is a lawyer?
The Solicitors Regulation Authority states that the term ‘lawyer’ is a general term used to describe a person who provides legal advice. In UK law, a lawyer has no defined meaning - anyone can call themselves a lawyer, regardless of whether they have any professional legal qualifications.
What does the term ‘lawyer’ cover in terms of other regulated individuals?
barristers, solicitors, and legal executives
What work do most solicitor carry out?
They work in High street firms and are employed. They carry out day to day legal work. Clients come to their office seeking advice. The solicitor will assist them if they can.
What do solicitors with higher rights do?
Spend a lot of time in the various courts advocating
Who are in control of solicitors?
The Law Society
Which government body may soliciors work for?
The CPS - advising on likely charges that have been brought against a defendant
What type of work will a solicitor carry out?
conveyancing
wills and probate
consumer problems
business matters
family matters
How does a solicitors become King’s counsel? how long may this process take?
Kings counsel are selected by an independent panel of senior lawyers, a retired judge and non lawyers once a year in what is known as the competition. Applying to become kings counsel can take between 3 to 5 years
Where may solicitors work?
Private practices
Local/central government
Magistrates court
In house for commercial and industrial organisations
The CPS
If a person wishes to make a complaint about a solicitor they must first contact who? and what is this process referred to as?
Head of Firm
In house complaints
What does the Law Society ensure in relation to complaints?
That all law firms have a complaints procedure and a nominated person to deal with complaints
With in house complaints, who are the two governing?
The Law society
The Solicitors Regulatory Authority
What is the law society?
the governing body for solicitors in England and Wales - they represent the interest of their members much like a union
What is the Solicitor Regulatory Authority and what Act gives them their powers?
Regulates the profession and deals with complaints. Their powers can be found in s.44D Solicitors Act 1974
What complaints would a SRA deal with?
negligent advocacy and/or negligence advice/work
What case is the case of professional negligence?
White v Jones
What happened in the case of White v Jones?
Mr White wished to change his will to leave his money to his two daughters, but his solicitor was took too long to actually implement this request after receiving it and during this period Mr White passed away and the will remained unchanged. Mr White’s daughters brought a claim against the defendant contending the amount of time it took for him to fulfil the request
Which Act sets up the Office for Legal complaints?
S.114 and S.115 Legal Services Act 2007
Why would a legal ombudsman be contacted?
If a person isn’t happy with the way their complaint to the firm in which the solicitor worked was handled
What are barrister’s employment status and where do they work from?
Whilst practicing for the bar they are self-employed, and usually work from a set of chambers where they share administrative expenses with other barristers