Are solicitors lawyers?

Are you considering a career in law? It's an exciting world to work in, and there are a lot of different types of lawyers, fulfilling lots of different roles.  You may have heard of solicitors, barristers, legal executives and paralegals, all of whom are involved in practicing law in different ways. Looking at what they do and the skills that they use can help you decide on your future career path. So, if you’ve ever pondered questions such as 'what is the difference between a lawyer and solicitor' or ‘are solicitors lawyers’ then read on.

Lawyer is a general term and can describe anyone involved in the law. Unlike terms such as solicitor or barrister, lawyer has no defined meaning in UK law.

A solicitor has met the standards required of the Solicitor’s Regulatory Authority and can provide legal advice to their clients who could be an individual or a group or a company. Solicitors may specialise in a particular area such as family law, business law, wills and trusts etc. Generally, in England Wales, solicitors do not represent a client in court particularly in more complex cases and will instruct a barrister to do so instead.

There are various routes to becoming a solicitor. You can take the university route, do a degree level apprenticeship, or work towards becoming a solicitor with a legal firm undertaking on-the-job training.

If you choose the university route, you could choose a qualifying law degree such as the LLB. You can choose a non-qualifying law degree, but you would then need to a one-year conversion course.

Regardless of the route you take you would need to also fulfil the following criteria:

• Pass parts 1 & 2 of the SQE (The Solicitors Qualifying Examination)
• Gain two years of qualifying work experience
• Demonstrate the character requirements of the SRA (Solicitors Regulatory Authority)

See gov.uk for more information on becoming a solicitor.

A barrister is hired by a solicitor or legal firm to represents their client in court. They are experts on how the courts work and can give their expert advice / opinion on matters such as what strategy to take in court cases. They’re skills lie in looking at the evidence available for court, cross-examining witnesses, making and presenting persuasive arguments.

To become a barrister, you can take the university route or work towards the role. With the university route, one option would be to complete a qualifying law degree such as the LLB and then complete the Bar Professional Training Course which takes one year and a year of practical training called a pupillage. If you’re already a solicitor, you can change your career and become a barrister by sitting the Bar Transfer Test and gaining approval from the Bar Standards Board.

See gov.uk for more information on becoming a barrister.

A legal executive is known in the industry as a Chartered Legal Executive. They specialise in a single area of law and work alongside solicitors. The types of work they cover include:

• giving legal advice
• liaising with clients and other legal representatives
• drafting and producing legal documents
• researching legislation and cases

A legal executive’s work differs from that of a solicitor in that there are certain activities they are not allowed to undertake, unless under the supervision of a qualified solicitor. These include conveyancing, probate, notarial, litigation and exercise of a right of audience.

To become a Chartered Legal Executive, you can take the university or college route. If you choose the university route, you could undertake a law degree like the LLB, then complete the Graduate Fast-Track Diploma and three years qualifying employment.

The college route means completing a course such as CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice or CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice plus the three years qualifying employment.

More information on becoming a legal executive from gov.uk.

There are different types of judges including District Judges, Circuit Judges, Recorders, High Court Judges, Judges of the Court and Appeal and Justices of The Supreme Court.  In criminal cases, Judges manage the trial, and after the jury have made their decision having heard the evidence provided by the prosecution and defence, they either release the defendant or pass sentence. In civil cases, the Judge listens to the evidence of the complainant and the defendant and makes a ruling. In the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, the Judge will hear evidence where one party is challenging the decision of a lower court, and they alone will make the decision.

You’ll need to apply through the Judicial Appointments Commission. To apply, you will five to seven years of experience as a qualified legal professional (solicitor, barrister or chartered legal executive).

As well as solicitor, barrister and legal executive, other law professions to consider include:

• Immigration Consultant
• Paralegal
• Company secretary
• Conveyancer
• Legal secretary
• Costs lawyer
• Arbitrator
• Patent attorney
• Trademark attorney

People with law degrees have been brilliantly trained for a whole range of careers. They are analytical problem solvers, negotiators, mediator and advocates. So, as with the traditional legal careers, any aspect of business, local or national government, the civil service or indeed any career where there are difficulties that need dealing with, people with law degrees are a huge asset.

Research the different career options within the law industry. It’s a tightly regulated area of work so make sure you understand the routes to get to your desired legal career and the qualifications to get there. Here are some resources to get you started:

• Law job profiles | Prospects.ac.uk
• Explore careers | National Careers Service
• Online Law & Criminology Degrees | ARU Distance Learning (anglia.ac.uk)
• Career advice | The Law Society