Criminal law: ELS - Legal personnel

Role of solicitor

Prepare documents

Offer legal advice

Represent client in the mags

Negotiate on behalf of client

Law society

All solicitors are members

Responsible for training and advice

Barristers

16k

Referred to as the bar or counsel

Accessing barristers

Civil cases can go straight through barristers

Role of barristers

Give advice on points of law to solicitors

Representing clients usually in higher courts

Interview witnesses

Draft legal documents

King’s Council

Deal with more important work - higher profile cases

Roughly 10% of barristers

Legal ombudsman

Set up by office of legal complaints

Further investigation of unresolved compaints

Differences between solicitors and barristers

Barristers typically represent you in court

B specialise in 1 area of law

S usually work for a from but B are self employed

Legal executives - requirements

Need profession and higher professional diploma in law

Roughly 25k

Role of legal executives

Perform similar tasks to solicitors

Not tied to single institutions

Specialise in an area of law