Types of Lawyers in UK: Solicitor vs Barrister

This report discusses the different types of lawyers in the UK, namely solicitors and barristers, and highlights the differences between them. It also compares the UK legal profession with other countries and addresses the issue of unwarranted expensive legal fees. The report emphasizes the importance of following business laws and ethical practices in the legal profession.

INDIVIDUAL REPORT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Two types of lawyer....................................................................................................................3
Difference between types of lawyer............................................................................................3
Comparison with other country...................................................................................................4
Consumer reaping off with unwarranted expensive legal fees...................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Business law is defined as the different laws and the rules and regulations which guides
and direct the business how they have to work (Field and Spearing, 2019). The law is very
essential to be followed as this makes the working of the business much good and effective.
Also, the law ensures that all the working within the business is ethical and correct. The present
report will outline the different lawyers which are applicable in UK along with difference
between both. Also, the comparison with other country and the unwarranted high legal fee will
be discussed.
MAIN BODY
Two types of lawyer
The lawyers are the people who work in the field of law in order to provide justice and
help the people who are in need of getting justice. In UK there are two different types of lawyer
which can be practiced within the legal profession that is solicitor and the barrister. The solicitor
is the junior lawyer and is the largest part of the legal profession in UK. These solicitor has a
direct contact with the client and they provide for the legal guidance and assistance to the client.
Also, in the court cases the solicitor represents the case of the person and fights for justice for
their client. On the flip side the barristers are the senior lawyers in the legal profession and form
the second largest part in the legal profession of UK. These are the legal advisors and the
advocates within the courtroom and are authorised to conduct the reserved legal activities only.
Difference between types of lawyer
Though the combination of both the solicitor and barrister makes the legal profession
within the UK (Ahmed, Khan and Safdar, 2019). But then also there are some of the differences
between both the type of lawyers which are as follows-
Basis Barrister Solicitor
Meaning The barrister is a type of
qualified professional working
in the legal sector and offering
special advice along with
representing and defending the
client in the tribunal and
On the other side the solicitor
is a legal practitioner who are
juniors and less experienced
and are responsible for
preparing legal documents in

courts (Collier, 2016). order to fight the court cases.
Training To become a barrister the
person need to complete the
Bar Professional training
course (BPTC)
Whereas the solicitor need to
complete a vocational course
of 1- 2 year which is Legal
Practice Course (LPC)
designed for solicitor practice.
Work pattern The barrister work as a self-
employed person and are
affiliated to different
chambers as they are senior.
On the flip side the solicitors
are the people who are
employed by some companies
or legal firms and they receive
a monthly salary.
Comparison with other country
Every country is distinct with one another and all the working and activities of the
country are different form each of the country (Pandit, 2019). Thus, there is a requirement that
all the working of the country is seen and then the legal system of the country is being designed
by the government of the country. This is particularly that the requirement of the different
countries is different and due to this the need of every legal system is different for others. Thus,
due to this reason that UK is having a distinct system for the management of law within the
country. Thus, for this the two legal profession are being practices within the country that is
solicitor and barrister. This type of system is not followed in other countries and the other
countries generally prefer a single system for dealing with all the legal issued within the country.
For instance, the country New Zealand is smaller and the number of cases relating to
legal obligations are also less and because of this reason that single system of legal profession is
better there. Also, when the cases are less than they can be handled with limited number of legal
practitioner only (Gray, 2016). Hence, the limited number of professional and the single system
of law is enough for the smaller countries. On the other side the UK is a big country and also the
legal cases are very high in the country. Thus, there is requirement of very strong legal system so
that it can be solved within the country itself. Also, the two legal profession are present in the
legal system of UK as this combination will be more strong and effective in solving the legal
issues being faced by the employees.

In addition to this the area of New Zealand is very small as compared to the UK and
because of this reason the use of single system of law is enough for the company (Sommerlad,
2016). On the other side the UL is a large country wherein there are many different cases and
problems being faced by the country with respect to legal issues. Thus, the use of two legal
professions in UK is very helpful for the country in managing large country and the legal issues
in it. For the case of smaller countries, the single system of legal profession is enough as the
people are less and the legal cases are also low in countries like New Zealand and others. Also,
the single system of law will be more beneficial as here the time taken for providing justice will
be less as compared to other countries wherein the two legal system is used. Also, the legal
sentences will be more effective as a single person has to take the decision and no other
interference is there.
Consumer reaping off with unwarranted expensive legal fees
The legal profession of the different countries is different as the government of the
countries are different. Also, the working of the countries and the way of working is also
different and this influences the government of country to make the different legal system
pertaining to the requirement of the country itself (Molot, 2018). Thus, because of this reason all
the countries have different set of legal system. In UK the legal profession consists of the two
professionals that is barristers and solicitors. But in the other countries mostly there is single
legal system only and because of this the legal system in those countries is less expensive as
compared to UK.
In this case sometimes the consumer of justice not get the actual work and they are just
reaped off with the unwarranted high legal fees. This is particularly because of the reason that
when there is only single person to deal with the case then they charge the fees according to them
only which can also be very high. Also this fee is unwarranted as they do not provide
confirmation that they will get justice or not. Thus, there are high fees being charged by the
lawyers in order to provide justice to the person coming to the them.
For example, in New Zealand the legal profession includes the single system only and in
this case if the lawyers are not able to provide for justice to the person then no other alternate is
available for them (Kebbell, 2017). Thus, here in this case the lawyers charge high fees and also
not guarantee the person that they will get justice or not. On the other side in UK there are two
different legal professions that is solicitor and barrister and if the person is not satisfied with the

solicitor then they can go to the barrister as well (Tomlinson and et.al, 2019). This is due to the
fact that the solicitor are the junior lawyers and it might be possible that they are not enough
capable of providing the legal services. Thus, in this case they can go for the barrister who are
expert and mainly provides for the advice relating to the case. This is an unethical practice of
charging the high fees from the people who are trouble.
In the end it is said that the use of all the different types of laws and other rules and
regulation must be applied in the same and ethical manner. This is essential that all the laws are
applied in the effective manner so that the sufferer gets justice and are free to use all the rights
which they possess. Thus, the legal profession will make sure that the business is using all the
good and ethical practices and they do not make use of any fraudulent or malpractices which
may hamper or create problem for the other people (Obukhova, 2019).
CONCLUSION
In the end it is concluded that the business law is very essential for the business to follow
and work in good manner. This is essential as the laws will guide the companies that how they
have to operate and work in proper manner. Also, the business laws will make sure that the
working of the business are taking place in ethical manner or not. The report discussed about the
different types of legal profession present in UK that is solicitor and barrister along with the
difference among them. Also, the report discussed and compared the UK legal profession with
New Zealand. In the end the unwarranted expensive fee of the legal profession was discussed.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ahmed, R.N., Khan, M.D. and Safdar, M.A., 2019. Gender Discrimination in Legal Profession:
A Case Study of Punjab Province. Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences (PJSS). 39(3).
Collier, R., 2016. Wellbeing in the legal profession: reflections on recent developments (or, what
do we talk about, when we talk about wellbeing?). International journal of the legal
profession. 23(1). pp.41-60.
Field, R.M. and Spearing, R., 2019. Well-Being and a Positive Professional Identity in the Legal
Profession: A Snapshot of the UK Bar. In Educating for Well-Being in Law: Positive
Professional Identities and Practice (pp. 42-57). Routledge.
Gray, J., 2016. Lawyers and systemic risk in finance: could (and should) the legal profession
contribute to macroprudential regulation?. Legal Ethics. 19(1). pp.122-144.
Kebbell, S., 2017. “Everybody’s Looking at Nothing”—the legal profession and the
disproportionate burden of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Criminal Law
Review. 2017(10). pp.741-753.
Molot, J.T., 2018. Purism and Pragmatism in the Legal Profession. Geo. J. Legal Ethics. 31. p.1.
Obukhova, E., 2019. Social Mobility and the Legal Profession: The Case of Professional
Associations and Access to the English Bar.
Pandit, N., 2019. Artificial intelligence and its impact on the nature of the legal profession and its
regulatory framework.
Sommerlad, H., 2016. “A pit to put women in”: professionalism, work intensification,
sexualisation and work–life balance in the legal profession in England and
Wales. International Journal of the Legal Profession. 23(1). pp.61-82.
Tomlinson, J., and et.al, 2019. Privileges and penalties in the legal profession: an intersectional
analysis of career progression. The British journal of sociology. 70(3). pp.1043-1066.