the legal profession Flashcards
work of solicitors
- interview clients
- paperwork
- prepare clients for court appearances
- giving legal advice
organisation of solicitors
- work in firms run by partnerships
- also work for authorities such as CPS, courts and large companies
- join the law society
- conduct regulated by SRA
organisation of barristers
- self employed
- work from chambers
- chambers have clerks navigating work
- can also work for CPS and large firms
- regulated by bar standards council
work of barristers
- specialise in all areas of law
- cab rank system
- experienced become QC’s and take most serious cases
- can prosecute a defendant
- act as pupil master and train younger barristers
- advising solicitors
- legal research
- advocacy
- negotiation skills
training of solicitors route 1
- law degree
- LPC
- 2 year training
- 20 day professional skills course
- admitted to roll of solicitors
training of solicitors other degree
- degree in other subject
- complete GDL
- LPC
- 2 year training period
- admitted to roll of solicitors
training of solicitors ILEX route
1. need 4 GCSE's 2 institute of legal executives (ILEX) exams 3. work in solicitors office for 2 years 4. fellow of legal executives 5. LPC 6. 2 year training period 7. admitted to roll of solicitors
training of barristers route 1
- law degree
- join an inn of court
- bar professional training course
- called to the bar
- pupilage
- qualified as a barrister
training of barristers other degree
- complete GDL
- join inn of court
- bar professional training course
- called to the bar
- pupilage
- qualified as a barrister
advantages of training
- academic and practical
- supervised during advocacy work
- supervised during pupilage offers good practice before working independently
- obtain funding from firms/chambers for training
- more places offered onto LPC
- flexible courses
Disadvantages of training
- early choice has to be made to become barrister or solicitor
- LPC covers too much ground in one year
- very expensive for degree and training courses
- lack of pupil masters
- quality of pupilage varies
legal service board (LSB)
- oversees legal complaints for solicitors and barristers.
- set up in 2010 by the LEGAL SERVICES ACT 2007
the legal ombudsman
set up in 2010 and tell the firm to;
- apologise to client
- give back any documents that the client may need
- refund or reduce the legal fees
- pay up to £30,000 in compensation
solicitors regulation authority
if the case is serious enough the SRA can put the case before the solicitors disciplinary tribunal and face suspension or strike
bar standards board
if the case is serious enough the BSB can put the case to disciplinary tribunal of the council of the inns of court who can suspend or disbar a barrister
