(a) Outline the steps you would need to follow in order to become a barrister, solicitor or legal executive. (b) Describe the work of barristers, solicitors and legal executives
...nty earn £1 million plus. Most solicitors have a university degree but this does not have to have been a law degree. However, any other degree or a non-qualifying law degree has to be followed by the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). After gaining a degree in law or any other degree plus the GDL, potential solicitors take the Legal Practice Course (LPC), and then undertake a two year training period with a firm of solicitors, during which they have to finish a twenty day professional skills course. With these qualifications, prospective solicitors are entered onto the rolls of the Law Society and are entitled to practise as solicitors. After qualification, a solicitor has to continue his/her training by attending different courses. As a trainee, solicitors usually earn about £21000 a year in London and £12000 a year else ware. Fully qualified solicitors can earn from £42000 a year as a new solicitor, up to £100000 plus a year as partners of a firm. Although the majority of solicitors who qualify each year are graduates, it is possible to qualify as a fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX). Legal executives must pass the LPC in order to become a qualified solicitor. To qualify as a legal executive you must meet the qualifications set by ILEX. Would-be legal executives have to pass Parts I and II of ILEX and then work for five years in a solicitor’s firm (or other legal organisation) to become a Fellow of ILEX. There are approximately 23000 legal executives. Legal executives can earn from £9000 a year after leaving school to £20000 - £25000 after qualifying. (b) Describe the work of barristers, solicitors and legal executives Barristers belong to a ‘referral profession’, which means that members of the public cannot directly to them; they must first talk to a solicitor. The solicitor will then instruct a barrister if it is necessary. The process is similar to going to see your GP who then refers you to a specialist in the area of medicine concerned. Barristers may however be directly instructed by professionals such as accountants, and since 1996, members of the public whose cases are handled by the Citizens’ Advice Bureau can instruct a barrister directly. Barristers are obliged, under the ‘cab-rank’, rule to accept any work referred to them, as long as it is within their legal expertise, the fee has been agreed and they are free at the time to accept the case. This means that barristers cannot simply refuse work on grounds of their own belief, the nature of the case or the character of the client. Most of the work of barristers involves advocacy in any court as they have full rights of audience in all English courts. The other main activity of barristers is that of providing counsel’s views to solicitors on behalf of clients who require an expert second opinion. Barristers are self-employed and work from a set of chambers with other barristers, who share administrative and accommodation expenses. A clerk is employed whose work involves booking cases and negotiating fees. After ...