Types of legal career
There are essentially two main branches of the legal profession – solicitors and barristers.
Solicitors
Solicitors advise individuals and organisations on legal matters and ensure that their clients act in accordance with the law. Solicitors usually work in an office rather than in court.
There are around 104,543, i.e. over 100,000 practising solicitors in England and Wales, governed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Barristers
Barristers provide two main services – advocacy (representing clients in court) and giving specialist opinions on complex legal matters. They generally receive instructions through solicitors.
There are around 14,400 barristers practising in the UK, governed by the Bar Standards Board.
Blurred boundaries
The distinction between solicitors and barristers has blurred slightly over time. Since the 1990s solicitors have been able to represent clients in the lower courts (such as Magistrates Courts) and, if they have enough experience and gain specific ‘higher rights’ qualifications, they can become ‘solicitor advocates’ and represent clients in higher courts (such as Crown Courts or the High Court).
