Legal Forms

Some Snippets Regarding Solicitors in the Legal Profession

Most of us know that lawyers are legal practitioners who know the laws of the land and can give legal advice in different areas of law. There are different terms we hear associated with legal professionals like solicitor, barrister, attorney, pleader, notary and so on. Solicitor, is a legal professional, whose specialisation and areas of legal work are not known to most people outside of the legal profession. The following are a few snippets to understand who solicitors are and what they do. 

Legal Forms and Contracts download

Who is a Solicitor?

A solicitor is a legal professional who simply gives legal advice to his clients, prepares and arranges for legal documents for his/ her clients and submits them in the courts but does not argue or plead his client’s case in front of a judge in the court.

What are the differences between a Solicitor and a Barrister?

The major difference between the two is that a solicitor does not argue or litigate the case on behalf of the client in the court of law whereas, a barrister advocates in the legal proceedings held in the court of law. Barristers, in other words, plead and advocate the case on behalf of their clients in the court addressing a judge and a jury, deal with witnesses, evidences etc., whereas a solicitor is primarily a litigator who does all the important paperwork to be presented in the court. The training and areas of expertise for a solicitor and a barrister or an advocate is different and in many cases, tend to coincide too.

In a few countries, the scope, and areas of work between solicitors and barristers tend to overlap. Whereas, in some countries like the United Kingdom, there is a clear distinction between the scope of work of the two legal professionals.

What does a solicitor do?

A solicitor primarily does advisory work, undertakes negotiations, and drafts legal documents for his clients. He may represent and present the client’s case in court. The clients can approach a solicitor directly who then charters the appropriate course of action. The range of legal work performed by solicitors is wide and varied. From civil proceedings to working in conjunction with a barrister to represent a client’s criminal case, the scope of work for a solicitor is vast.

Solicitors can represent both individuals and companies. They are the first and ideal people that lay clients can approach when legal guidance is required. They offer appropriate legal advice on how to tackle business issues, draft contracts for business mergers, takeovers, settlement issues and so on and so forth. In fact, there are solicitors and firms who deal in specialised areas only, for example, tax laws, business laws, labour laws etc.,

Solicitors offer legal advice to their individual clients on personal issues like drafting a will, settling monetary disputes, negotiating alimony etc., The solicitor is almost like a project manager who handles the legal aspects of his clients.

How to choose or find a solicitor when you need one?

When you are looking for a solicitor, it is best to check a few profiles and choose someone who meets your basic requirements. It is very essential to choose a professional with whom you are comfortable and can have a good working rapport. To be able to choose someone who fits your requirements, you need to filter your search to the appropriate geographical location and the areas of the solicitor’s legal specialisation. Laws can be very complex and varied. That is why, there are solicitors who specialise in its different forms and formats. For example, there are solicitors who may specialise in labour laws. If you have been a victim of unfair dismissal or injured when working, a solicitor specialising in labour laws may be the best person to approach.

There are solicitors who deal with clients’ compensation due to medical negligence, professionals who deal with immigration laws, family laws etc., If your issue is complex, a specialist legal guidance can be of utmost value. Otherwise, a general solicitor is ideally enough to sort out all your legal hassles. It is important to check a few law-related websites or speak with your friends, family, and contacts to narrow down your choice and arrive at the best possible one suited for your requirements.

Conclusion:

The above snippets are only some information arranged to throw light on who a solicitor is and be a useful springboard to help you in choosing a suitable legal professional who can resolve your legal issues and conflicts.