Legal Personnel (Paper 1)

Question 1

Two main types of legal personnel

Answer 1

Solicitors and barristers

Question 2

Role of solicitors

Answer 2

Advocacy in court, interviewing clients and taking statements, drafting documents and writing letters, representing clients in a police station, advising clients on a range of issues

Question 3

Regulation of solicitors

Answer 3

The Law Society represents solicitors, the Solicitors Regulation Authority deals with complaints about solicitors

Question 4

Role of barristers

Answer 4

Majority will focus on advocacy, they have full rights of audience so can present cases in any court in England and Wales, may also do some paperwork, writing opinions on cases, giving advice, drafting documents for use in court, can also become a member of the King’s Counsel (KC) when they get enough experience

Question 5

Regulation of barristers

Answer 5

The General Council of the Bar represents barristers, and the Bar Standards Board sets training, conduct, and regulates barristers

Question 6

Role of legal executives

Answer 6

Qualified lawyers who have worked in a solicitor’s firm for 5 years, can become a solicitor if they pass the LPC, usually deal with more straightforward aspects of a solicitor’s job

Question 7

Regulation of legal executives

Answer 7

The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) provides training and code of conduct for legal executives, the CILEx Regulation Board investigates complaints and provides punishment