Considering Lord Bridges statement and other relevant case law discuss whether lower courts should be bound by an erroneous decision of the supreme court until the latter has had the opportunity to correct the mistake when a similar case returns to it.

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Nicky Fathi                                                                                                                English Legal System

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Critically discuss the following statement: In modern- day Britain, it is highly debatable whether there is a continued need for the separation of the profession of barrister and solicitor.

The legal profession of Britain is split between the solicitors' and barristers' profession (unlike most other countries), 'lawyer' is a general term that covers both professions.

There are just under one hundred thousand solicitors practising in England and Wales, controlled by a professional body known as the Law Society. A solicitor is a 'general practitioner' of law and they have direct contact with their clients to which they give advice. A law degree (LLB) or a Common Professional Examination (CPE) conversion course is required to initiate the  process of becoming Solicitor or Barrister. Thereafter, to become a solicitor a Legal Practise Course (LPC) followed by a two year training contract is required. This enables the solicitor to be registered by the Master of the Rolls as a solicitor and will be given a practise certificate. A solicitor deals with a lot of paperwork, for example, drawing up wills and contracts as well as giving legal advice to clients.

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Solicitors have conventionally been able to do advocacy work in the magistrates court and the county court but not generally in the higher courts. This position was altered by the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 and the Access to Justice Act 1999, enabling equalising rights of audience between both types of lawyers.

Following the completion of a law degree or conversion course, a bar vocational course is required to initiate the path of becoming a barrister, followed by a pupillage (a barristers equivalent of a training contract). A client cannot liaise or instruct the barrister directly and it ...

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