Solicitor Vs Lawyer Vs Barrister: What Is The Difference?

Picture this: you are suffering a legal issue, you need to instruct a legal professional, but which do you need? A solicitor? A lawyer? A barrister?

It can be a bit confusing to navigate the world of legal professionals, but fear not – we’re here to shed some light on the matter.

At the core, a lawyer is essentially your go-to person for legal advice and support in a specific area of law. So, when you hear the terms solicitor and barrister, remember they both fall under the umbrella of lawyers.

Now, let’s dig a little deeper and unravel the distinctions between a solicitor and a barrister.

What is a solicitor?

A solicitor is a qualified legal professional who prepares legal documentation in preparation and during a court case. The work of a solicitor can range from commercial work, to personal injury cases, family law issues and criminal law.

Did you know there are 143,400 solicitors practicing in the UK?

After being instructed by a client, a solicitor will give legal advice on the necessary legal action to be taken. Solicitors will also ensure that their firm is suitable to provide all of the necessary legal advice and services. Solicitors within the same firm cannot work on opposite sides of the same legal dispute as this would be a conflict of interest.

Solicitors work directly with clients and deal with all of the paperwork involved with their client’s case such as writing documents, contracts, letters, preparing papers for court and ensuring their legal advice and procedures are correct.

Another role of solicitors is to negotiate between their clients and opposing parties. This can be to:

• Gather evidence
• Implement agreements
• Calculate loss of earnings
• Calculate maintenance
• Calculate compensation and damages
• Coordinate the work of all parties involved
• Secure agreed outcomes.

At Harry Suleman Solicitors, we bring a unique blend of expertise to the table – not just in the office but also in the courtroom when needed. Our team is equipped to represent you in court proceedings, ensuring you have comprehensive legal support every step of the way.

Solicitors primarily operate within office settings. However, should your case demand courtroom representation, rest assured that our team is ready to step up. In situations where a case escalates to court proceedings, solicitors often collaborate with barristers, leveraging their specialised courtroom experience for complex cases.

What is a barrister?

A barrister is a qualified legal professional who represents, advocates and defends their clients in a court or tribunal. Some barristers specialise in one area of the law whereas others are more general.⁠

Barristers are generally instructed by solicitors to represent their clients in courts and, therefore, only become involved in a case once legal advocacy is required in court.

A barrister will usually specialise in an area of law like commercial law, criminal law and common law.

When a barrister represents a client in court, they will be tasked with such things as:

• Presenting their case
• Examining and cross-examining witnesses
• Advise the client on the law
• Negotiating settlements

Did you know that the majority of barristers are self-employed? In fact, around 80% of the 15,500 barristers in the UK are!

Self-employed barristers work in Chambers, comparable to an office, which they usually share with other barristers. Barristers working within chambers are all independent from each other; therefore, they can both act on different sides of the same legal dispute.

Barristers can also be employed by solicitor firms, legal departments for industries, charities, local governments or in agencies such as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). These barristers will only advise the organisations which they are working for.

So…Barrister or Solicitor?

Now that we’ve explored the world of barristers and solicitors together, you’re well on your way to making an informed choice about who can best support you with your legal matters. It’s like having a roadmap to navigate through the legal landscape – pretty cool, right?

Typically, you’ll kick things off by teaming up with a solicitor who’ll guide you through the various aspects of your case, offering advice, managing paperwork, and handling negotiations. But, if your legal journey takes a detour to the courtroom, that’s when your solicitor might bring in a barrister.

Feeling a bit fuzzy on which legal whiz to turn to for help? Contact our team at Harry Suleman Solicitors. Ask Harry anything you need to know – whether it’s about choosing the right legal pro for your situation or getting some clarity on the legal maze you’re navigating.

We’re here to lend a hand, provide support, and steer you in the right direction.