ChatterBank1 min ago
Legal Type Questions
22 Answers
Can someone answer the following legal questions. I am loathe to post anything in "Law" as my last visit there resulted in a short stay in the Sin Bin .
(1) Does a solicitor and a barrister have the same training? Do they both have to study for a law degree?
(2) Is a barrister able to become/act as a solicitor?
(3) Is a solicitor able to work as a barrister or would that person have to undergo further training to become a barrister?
(4) I read on the site somewhere that the barristers are paid more than solicitors - is the difference vast?
(5) Are lawyers and solicitors the same thing?
(6) Does all the above apply to Scotland too?
(7) Do we have Bounty Hunters in the UK? If I became one would they give me a big gun?
(8) I know that there are different types of court - do they all have 'real' judges? i.e. do the judges all have a legal background?
(9) Are judges elected (which seems to happen in the US) or are they interviewed and employed. There is also the possibility of using the 'old boys' network and/or bribery to ensure a person becomes a judge.
(10) There was another question but my brain has ceased to operate
I thank anyone who not only reads this post but who can also answer any of my questions.
(1) Does a solicitor and a barrister have the same training? Do they both have to study for a law degree?
(2) Is a barrister able to become/act as a solicitor?
(3) Is a solicitor able to work as a barrister or would that person have to undergo further training to become a barrister?
(4) I read on the site somewhere that the barristers are paid more than solicitors - is the difference vast?
(5) Are lawyers and solicitors the same thing?
(6) Does all the above apply to Scotland too?
(7) Do we have Bounty Hunters in the UK? If I became one would they give me a big gun?
(8) I know that there are different types of court - do they all have 'real' judges? i.e. do the judges all have a legal background?
(9) Are judges elected (which seems to happen in the US) or are they interviewed and employed. There is also the possibility of using the 'old boys' network and/or bribery to ensure a person becomes a judge.
(10) There was another question but my brain has ceased to operate
I thank anyone who not only reads this post but who can also answer any of my questions.
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2. Barristers have the right to represent their clients in all courts of law, so they can undertake the work of solicitors if they so wish.
3. It would be an unusual route, as they'd still need to go through the 'pupillage'. (See my first link). However some solicitors already have the right to represent their clients in Crown Courts, so they can undertake some of the work done by barristers anyway.
4. See the 'Income' sections in my links above. It's worth noting though that barristers are self-employed and have to start paying substantial fees to their chambers well before they actually start receiving any income. (Many law graduates choose not to become barristers simply because they can't afford to live for more than a year without any income in the early stages of their career).
5. 'Lawyer' isn't a 'protected title' in the UK. Anyone can call themself a lawyer. In practice the term is used generically to embrace barristers, solicitors, legal executives and notaries public.
6. Pass!
7. We don't have the same 'bail bond' system as the USA, so there would be no employment available for potential bounty hunters. You'd have no chance of getting a big gun either. Even the British Olympic Shooting Team has to keep their guns, and train, outside the UK.
8. All courts are presided over by Judges except Magistrates Courts, where three lay Magistrates normally preside. (However a single Judge can sit instead),
9. Judges are appointed by the Judicial Appointments Commission:
http://
10. You're in good company!
and
https:/
2. Barristers have the right to represent their clients in all courts of law, so they can undertake the work of solicitors if they so wish.
3. It would be an unusual route, as they'd still need to go through the 'pupillage'. (See my first link). However some solicitors already have the right to represent their clients in Crown Courts, so they can undertake some of the work done by barristers anyway.
4. See the 'Income' sections in my links above. It's worth noting though that barristers are self-employed and have to start paying substantial fees to their chambers well before they actually start receiving any income. (Many law graduates choose not to become barristers simply because they can't afford to live for more than a year without any income in the early stages of their career).
5. 'Lawyer' isn't a 'protected title' in the UK. Anyone can call themself a lawyer. In practice the term is used generically to embrace barristers, solicitors, legal executives and notaries public.
6. Pass!
7. We don't have the same 'bail bond' system as the USA, so there would be no employment available for potential bounty hunters. You'd have no chance of getting a big gun either. Even the British Olympic Shooting Team has to keep their guns, and train, outside the UK.
8. All courts are presided over by Judges except Magistrates Courts, where three lay Magistrates normally preside. (However a single Judge can sit instead),
9. Judges are appointed by the Judicial Appointments Commission:
http://
10. You're in good company!
Chris seems to have covered it though I don't know about the Scottish system either! I qualified as a solicitor and am able to practice in England and Wales but not as one in Scotland (and other places).
The law degree doesn't distinguish but the year of law school does, LPC for solicitors and BVC for barristers (there is also a GDL option for those with non-qualifying law degrees or other degrees or qualifications).
There is then a different form of getting qualified, pupillage for barristers and training contract for solicitors, essentially working on the job. You can get time to count in a training contract up to a maximum amount of time if you have appropriate experience, such as working as a paralegal before starting the training contract.
There are other routes into being a solicitor, transfer ways for people who did the BVC but want to be solicitors and routes up for people getting qualifications on the Legal Executive route.
When someone calls themselves a barrister though, one thing to note is that people can refer to themselves as a barrister after they have done their BVC at law school without having a day on the job.
Solicitors cannot do this until they have finished their training contract and been formally signed off and all the appropriate checks done and they are "admitted to the roll" and allowed to call themselves a qualified solicitor.
Barristers are generally higher paid although there is a large scope within law and there are large differences in pay depending on what you do, where you do it, your level and experience and how good you are.
The law degree doesn't distinguish but the year of law school does, LPC for solicitors and BVC for barristers (there is also a GDL option for those with non-qualifying law degrees or other degrees or qualifications).
There is then a different form of getting qualified, pupillage for barristers and training contract for solicitors, essentially working on the job. You can get time to count in a training contract up to a maximum amount of time if you have appropriate experience, such as working as a paralegal before starting the training contract.
There are other routes into being a solicitor, transfer ways for people who did the BVC but want to be solicitors and routes up for people getting qualifications on the Legal Executive route.
When someone calls themselves a barrister though, one thing to note is that people can refer to themselves as a barrister after they have done their BVC at law school without having a day on the job.
Solicitors cannot do this until they have finished their training contract and been formally signed off and all the appropriate checks done and they are "admitted to the roll" and allowed to call themselves a qualified solicitor.
Barristers are generally higher paid although there is a large scope within law and there are large differences in pay depending on what you do, where you do it, your level and experience and how good you are.
Wow - thanks to everyone for making me even more confused than I was before I asked the question. Chris and eve - will read the links when I can get some peace from Princess Slasher.
I hope that I never have any dealings with the legal profession - apart from getting my will rewritten (to ensure my little ones are taken care of - my brother said he would 'take care of them' but he sniggered when he said it) or the purchase of a new home. It is all so terribly confusing.
I am away to try and give young Francis a manicure - if I manage to find my Lion taming gear I might try to cut Princess Merlin's too.
The vet tried to cut Merlin's claws on our last visit. I had asked the vet to check Merlin's eyes as she was falling off things etc. The vet checked her out fully and said that the problem was that she was a 'few sandwiches short of a picnic'. She is officially stupid!
The vet resorted to trying to fit a muzzle on Merlin so that she could cut her claws for me. Merlin in a foul mood by this stage and was just getting more and more angry. We gave up.
Cats !
I hope that I never have any dealings with the legal profession - apart from getting my will rewritten (to ensure my little ones are taken care of - my brother said he would 'take care of them' but he sniggered when he said it) or the purchase of a new home. It is all so terribly confusing.
I am away to try and give young Francis a manicure - if I manage to find my Lion taming gear I might try to cut Princess Merlin's too.
The vet tried to cut Merlin's claws on our last visit. I had asked the vet to check Merlin's eyes as she was falling off things etc. The vet checked her out fully and said that the problem was that she was a 'few sandwiches short of a picnic'. She is officially stupid!
The vet resorted to trying to fit a muzzle on Merlin so that she could cut her claws for me. Merlin in a foul mood by this stage and was just getting more and more angry. We gave up.
Cats !
6) Scotland has barriisters and solicitors. They perform exactly the same respective functions as those in England but the barristers are called 'advocates' and belong to a body called the Faculty of Advocates. The official title of a Scottish solicitor is "Writer to the Signet ", but they are called solicitors just the same. They have to qualify in Scots Law, which differs from that of England in some important (and usually better) respects.
4) I can guarantee that the highest paid solicitor earns more than the highest paid barrister. The barrister is paid only for the work he or she does The solicitor will be a full partner and gets a percentage of the profits from the work done by the whole practice, which may consist of dozens or hundreds of solicitors. It follows that partners in quite small practices may earn more than the typical barrister
and 8) the lowest level of court is the magistrates' court. There the bench usually consists of three magistrates who are not qualified lawyers. They must have a barrister or solicitor (the Clerk of the Court), who has some years experience, to advise them on the law. The Clerk's position is salaried; the Clerk does not practice as a barrister or solicitor. Some magistrates' courts have a judge, formerly termed a Stipendiary Magistrate, now Deputy Judge, instead of the three magistrates.
4) I can guarantee that the highest paid solicitor earns more than the highest paid barrister. The barrister is paid only for the work he or she does The solicitor will be a full partner and gets a percentage of the profits from the work done by the whole practice, which may consist of dozens or hundreds of solicitors. It follows that partners in quite small practices may earn more than the typical barrister
and 8) the lowest level of court is the magistrates' court. There the bench usually consists of three magistrates who are not qualified lawyers. They must have a barrister or solicitor (the Clerk of the Court), who has some years experience, to advise them on the law. The Clerk's position is salaried; the Clerk does not practice as a barrister or solicitor. Some magistrates' courts have a judge, formerly termed a Stipendiary Magistrate, now Deputy Judge, instead of the three magistrates.
Are there any judges who know law or are they all elected ?
oi larve dat !
Even the elected judges in the US are from the many many lawyers they have.
Except (US) supreme court judges who are appointed by the Prez.
The ones here were tapped on the shoulder by the Lord Chancellor's monkey. Now they are tapped on the shoulder by the J A C's monkey. I can count five or six from my year in Law School - they didnt stand out as obvious judges-to-be.
There is no reason why you should nt go to Law School if you can read and write (£9k/y for three years) - a years law course (?15k) and then find a berth called a pupillage or articles (further training for peanuts)- clearly you have to have a rich Daddy.
and the fella who did this: [ QC ]
http://
I commented on the legal thread and er didnt get thrown off
earned £688 000 in legal aid fees last y.
Bejayzus - the richest solicitors must get paid a lot ! !
oi larve dat !
Even the elected judges in the US are from the many many lawyers they have.
Except (US) supreme court judges who are appointed by the Prez.
The ones here were tapped on the shoulder by the Lord Chancellor's monkey. Now they are tapped on the shoulder by the J A C's monkey. I can count five or six from my year in Law School - they didnt stand out as obvious judges-to-be.
There is no reason why you should nt go to Law School if you can read and write (£9k/y for three years) - a years law course (?15k) and then find a berth called a pupillage or articles (further training for peanuts)- clearly you have to have a rich Daddy.
and the fella who did this: [ QC ]
http://
I commented on the legal thread and er didnt get thrown off
earned £688 000 in legal aid fees last y.
Bejayzus - the richest solicitors must get paid a lot ! !
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