The legal profession in England is divided into two main groups, barristers and solicitors. A popular definition of the distinction between solicitors and barristers is that barristers do the court work and solicitors do the office work. In practice, the major volume of court work is done by solicitors and barristers do much "office" work. At present no solicitor, however experienced, may represent a client at a full hearing in any of the higher courts. On the other hand, a barrister, however inexperienced, may represent clients in the House of Lords.. Since 1 October 2009 this role is now held by the newly created Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.
Being a solicitor does not simply involve acquiring knowledge of the theory and practice of the law. It also requires high standards of conduct and an onerous obligation to the courts. The full title of a solicitor is "Solicitor of the Supreme Court". All solicitors are automatically officers of the court. They have duties to the court which sometimes override the duties to their clients. For instance, solicitors must not knowingly allow their client to tell lies in the witness box. If a client confesses their guilt to a solicitor, the solicitor would be committing an offence if he or she then called the client to give evidence that they were innocent.
Many barristers, especially junior barristers, spend much of their time on paperwork, giving opinions, drafting pleadings and other documents related to court proceedings, but also drafting contracts, trust deeds and other formal legal documents which are not immediately connected with litigation.
A person seeking to qualify as a solicitor can become a trainee solicitor after three years of university legal education and one extra year doing the legal practice course. As a trainee solicitor it is possible to obtain a paid position even before qualifying.
The young would-be barrister has much less chance of earning anything before he qualifies, must then obtain a seat in chambers from which he can try to build up a practice, knowing that times will probably be hard for a few years. He has to meet his own expenses, cover his own holidays and buy his own (very expensive) sick-pay insurance. In return he gets the satisfaction of wearing a wig, and of being self-employed. Doubtless also, being a barrister still sounds a much more glamorous occupation than being a solicitor.
Notes:
legal profession
barrister ,
solicitor
to do the court work
to do the office work
to represent a client at full hearing
acquiring knowledge of the theory and practice
onerous
officer of the court
to have duties to the court
to override
|
|
|
witness box
to confess a guilt
offence
to give evidence
innocent
to draft
pleadings ,
court proceedings
trust deed
legal documents
litigation
trainee
legal education (practice) ()
ould-be barrister
to obtain a seat in chambers
sick-pay insurance
to build up a practice
I. , . 410. , 1, 2, 3.
II. ing-, , , .
III. . .
legal, lawful, legitimate
Any action which is allowed by law is legal: It's legal for people over 18 to buy alcohol.
Legal also means "connected with the law": the legal profession.
Lawful means "existing according to law" and suggests that the law has moral or religious force: lawful marriage.
Legitimate means "accepted by law, custom or common belief ": the legitimate government
1. She is the................. owner of the property.
2. Is the procedure perfectly................?
3. The company intends to take.......... action.
4. The Crown Prince has a.................. claim to the throne.
5. The defendant applied for............. aid.
6. Schooling is a............... requirement for children over five years old in Britain and the USA.
7. He was attacked while going about his business.
IV.
| a) to carry a case b) to bring a case ) to drop a case d) to close a case e) to initiate a case f. to argue a case |
1)
2)
3)
4)
5) ,
V.
.
To negotiate, to litigate, to engage, to oppose, to assess, to advise.
VI. .
1. What are the main types of legal profession in Great Britain?
2. What duties to the client and to the court do solicitors have?
3. What kind of paper work do barristers do?
4. What is the usual way for solicitors and barristers to build up a practice?
VII. -.
