Solicitors vs. Barristers: Roles, Justice, and Legal Fees in the UK

This report provides a comprehensive comparison between solicitors and barristers within the UK legal system, focusing on their distinct roles and responsibilities. Solicitors are highlighted as legal professionals offering advice, preparing documents, and representing clients in lower courts, while barristers specialize in higher court advocacy and often act as independent legal experts. The report delves into their differing duties, court representation, and training requirements. It also assesses whether clients receive adequate access to justice, considering legal fees and adherence to principles like natural justice, as exemplified in key case laws. The conclusion emphasizes the barrister's role in legal proceedings and the solicitor's function in client representation. This analysis offers a valuable understanding of the UK legal landscape and its impact on individuals seeking legal assistance.

Assessment

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Legal profession is considered to be as a profession which focuses on developing and
applying laws which helps in solving disputes between various set of entities. It is useful in
gaining access to the legal advice within the court (Mortensen, 2018, July). This study will
examine the key difference between the solicitors and Barristers. This study is useful in
evaluating whether the customers are getting access to the justice which are reaped off by
unwarranted expensive legal fees. This study will highlight on evaluating the legal profession of
the UK from a legal perspective.
MAIN BODY
Examining the key difference between the solicitors and Barristers.
A solicitor is considered to be as key member of the legal profession who has been
qualified to effectively deal with range of other legal matters. A solicitors tends to offer legal
advice and also tends to prepare legal document and is useful in representing the clients within
the lower court (Boon and LEVIN, 2016). The solicitor key role is to meet and also interview the
clients which helps in providing the necessary service and advice on the legal issues and
grievance faced by the customers. The solicitors within the court tends to effectively represent
the clients in order to appear within the court. The solicitors tends to provide only general legal
advice on range of issues which has been faced by the client.
Barrister is considered to be as a lawyer who is eligible to practice as an advocate
especially in the higher court (What is the difference between a barrister and solicitor?, 2020).
Barristers usually do not deal with the clients directly. The work of the Barristers is considered to
be more lucrative and rewarding. The key significant role of the Barrister is to carry out legal
process and are the leading advocate within the case for trial. They are considered to provide
independent legal source in order to provide legal advice in order to meet the needs of the
customers. On the other hand, Barristers are considered to be as the specialist in various set of
legal field.
PARTICULARS SOLICITORS BARRISTERS
Meaning A solicitor is referred to as the
qualified legal professionals
who is qualified to prepare
The Barrister is referred to as
the qualified l customers are
getting access to the justice

various legal documents at the
time of run up or proceedings
within the court (AMAH,
2020).
legal profession who offers
specialist advice whilst
advocating, representing the
client within the tribunal and
court.
Roles The solicitor key role is to
interview and meet the clients
to establish the suitability of
the firm to provide legal
advice and services (May,
2016).
They work as a higher level
within the court who tends to
act as an advocate for the legal
hearing. They present the case
on behalf of the court.
Court The solicitor is referred to as
the junior lawyer who
represents clients within lower
courts
The barristers is referred to as
the senior lawyer who work as
an advocate within the higher
court.
Training Complete 1 to 2 years of the
vocational course referred to
as the legal practice course for
performing duties of a
solicitor.
Completing the Bar
professional training to act as a
Barrister (Boundy, 2018).
Other countries uses one lawyer
Country like New Zealand tends to use only one lawyer because the duty of the solicitor
can be easily performed by the Barrister. New Zealand has less population that is why only one
lawyer represent the key problems of the clients within the courts to resolve the disputes.
Barristers can perform all the legal duties in the eyes of law which helps in reaping of the various
legal benefits to resolve any disputes and problems of the customers (Lorenz, 2019). There are
several range of duties of the solicitor which mainly includes access to the legal advice,
researching about the case and key legislations, drafting of the legal document, representing
clients within the court and liaising with the clients, etc. are considered to be as the key legal

duties which in turn can be easily performed by the Barrister. However, Barristers are considered
to be as the specialist advocate within the specific area of the law (Lee, 2017). Barristers tends to
attend the court without the need of the solicitor because of the cost effective measure. Barristers
tends to largely specialize within the case in order to provide the best possible services to the
customers. This helps the client in reducing the fees which has been paid to the solicitor. This
helps New Zealand to function with only one lawyer i.e., Barristers which in turn is significant in
taking the various legal action in a legal manner with utmost degree of accuracy and efficiency
(What is the difference between a barrister and solicitor?, 2020). Hence, the Barrister can legally
perform all the set of duties which in turn is highly significant in taking action on the court and
tribunal to provide justice to the customers.
Evaluating if customers are getting access to the justice or they have been simply reaped off by
unwarranted expensive legal fees.
Access to the legal justice is of utmost importance and is the key fundamental principle
related with the rule of law (Miller, 2017). Access to the justice is useful in providing the
customers with the seeking and obtaining the remedy with the help of formal and informal
institutions for any sort of grievance faced by the customers. This can be done easily by
effectively complying with the human right standards. Natural justice is one of the key legal
doctrine which tends to effectively require right to the fair hearing proceedings and absence of
bias.
As per the Case law of the Ridge v Baldwin [1964] AC 40 within the UK law has been
effectively heard by the House of Lords. The police authority of the Brighton has dismissed
Ridge without offering him with the key opportunities to defend the key actions. However, the
chief constable has appealed in the court that Baldwin has acted in an unlawful manner and
following the criminal legal proceeding against him. However, the house of lords state that, the
Committee of the Baldwin have violated the doctrine of the natural justice and cannot be applied
to administrative decision.
Within the case law of the R v Lord Chancellor [2017] UKSC 51 the court has
significantly accepted the better right to access to the justice which is one of the key fundamental
common law principle. This case held that, the fees for the employment tribunal are considered
to be unlawful. The supreme court has significantly stated that, the employment tribunal fees is
unlawful.

The law within the UK tends to focus on protecting the various rights of the customers to
get access to the justice in case of any grievance and disputes (Sinenko and et.al., 2020).
Providing the customers with adequate and reliable set of solutions with effective legal
proceedings is highly significant because it helps in effectively resolving the key issues which
has been faced by the customers. The Justice system within the Wales and England is considered
to be fit for the victims. The access to justice is highly vulnerable because it helps in
guaranteeing the legal representation by complying with the human right standards (McWilliams,
2019). The English law of the Wales and England, where both criminal and civil matters has
been discussed in order to get access to the legal justice which has been provided to the
customers. The customers tend to get access to the legal processing and the court in order to
enforce the rights and responsibilities. The key rule of the justice tends to ensure that every
person gains legal justice against any sort of dispute, injustice and grievance.
Access to justice tends to reinstate the legal aid which helps in protecting the rights of the
customers and providing them with the best possible legal services. Access is considered to be
one of the key essential ingredient associated with the rule of the law. However, proper
administration of the law with the equitable and fairer treatment to all the individuals within the
law (Kuksin and et.al., 2019). Access to the justice is significantly crucial because it helps in
reducing the effect of the society as a whole.
CONCLUSION
From the study it has been concludes that, Barrister carry out legal process and are the
leading advocate within the case for trial. The solicitors within the court tends to effectively
represent the clients in order to appear within the court. There are several range of duties of the
solicitor which can be easily performed by the Barrister. This is the key reason because only one
lawyer is significant to perform the duties of the solicitor as well. Natural justice is one of the
key legal doctrine which tends to effectively require right to the fair hearing proceedings and
absence of bias.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
AMAH, E.I., 2020. TOWARD A HOLISTIC REFORM OF LEGAL EDUCATION IN
NIGERIA. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF LAW AND JURISPRUDENCE (IRLJ), 2(2).
Boon, A.N.D.R.E.W. and LEVIN, J., 2016. The Legal Professions. New Handbooks: Narratives,
Standards and Values, 19.
Boundy, C., 2018. Australian solicitors' conduct rules under review. Bulletin (Law Society of
South Australia), 40(8), p.8.
Kuksin, I.N and et.al., 2019. Organization of advocacy in various legal systems: comparative
analysis.
Lee, M.Y.K., 2017. Beyond the ‘professional project’: The political positioning of Hong Kong
lawyers. International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice, 50, pp.1-11.
Lorenz, K., 2019. CEO report: Barristers as trusted advisors to corporate counsel. Victorian Bar
News, (165), p.12.
May, G., 2016. From the Conduct Commissioner: Paying barristers' fees: Obligations and
liabilities. Bulletin (Law Society of South Australia), 38(6), p.34.
McWilliams, D., 2019. Barristers v Solicitors football match Sunday, 6 October 2019-Sir Doug
Nicholls Oval. Victorian Bar News, (166), p.26.
Miller, K., 2017. Flos Greig: Solicitor, Woman, Pioneer. Victorian Historical Journal, 88(1),
p.89.
Mortensen, R., 2018, July. Professional Legal Ethic in Australia. In 1st International Conference
on Indonesian Legal Studies (ICILS 2018). Atlantis Press.
Sinenko, V.S and et.al., 2020. Legal Representation in Russia and the United Kingdom: a
Comparative Legal Analysis. Journal of Talent Development and Excellence, 12(3s),
pp.1291-1296.
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