Is There a Difference Between a Solicitor and Lawyer?

There seems to be quite a bit of confusion about the differences between solicitors and lawyers.

Many people believe that they are one and the same, which is true in some ways. However, many do not know that solicitor does not offer some of the services that are expected of a lawyer, like representing their client in court. That person is actually called a barrister.

Lawyer is a broad term that describes anyone who has studied law and is qualified enough to practice it. Solicitors and Barristers can be considered two different types of lawyers who perform different functions for their clients.

To understand their roles, let us look at them in detail.

Solicitor

A solicitor is basically a legal practitioner who provides legal advice to their clients. They can be considered the first point of contact for individuals who aren’t aware of their current legal standing and what are they supposed to do.

Solicitors may refer a client to a barrister if there is a need to go to court.

Practice of Solicitors

Solicitors can provide legal advice for almost any legal field; however, many solicitors tend to specialise in one or multiple fields. These include immigration, personal injury claims, family law, children law, real estate and taxation.

Solicitor may provide services including but not limited to:

• Creating legal contracts
• Preparation of legal documents
• Handling paperwork related to any legal field
• Legal negotiations with other parties on behalf of client
• Gathering evidence
• Estimating damages, compensation, liabilities
• Appearing in court for testimonies

A solicitor is required to keep the interest of their client at the forefront and provide advice and services that create the best legal course.

Barrister

A barrister is a lawyer who represents clients in court. They can also provide legal advice to a client just before a hearing is due.

Barristers focus on one aspect of the law, for example divorce proceedings.

Since appearance in court is something that should be avoided, barristers are hardly contacted by the clients themselves. They are contacted by solicitors when their clients are needed to appear in front of the court.

The UK has a special law in place called the ‘Cab Bank Rule’ that is designed to keep barristers independent. This law prevent barristers from choosing the cases on their own, and makes it compulsory for them to accept any case that is related to their expertise.

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