The two types of legal professionals are both called lawyers. The barrister will specialise in a particular area of law and will defend in court.
Robbie Higginson AS Law Evening
Exam Question four
A.
The two types of legal professionals are both called lawyers. The barrister will specialise in a particular area of law and will defend in court. There are currently 10,000 barristers in England and Wales. Where solicitors are more general and understand all aspects of law and will transfer you to a barrister in they do not understand that point of law fully. This type of system is seen in the medical profession too, and is a good example. Where all those wishing to become a doctor (general practitioner) take general qualifications. After they have qualified some doctors will go on and take extra qualifications to specialise in different fields perhaps has a surgeon. It is the same for a solicitor their get their qualifications and a bit of experience and they can choose to specialise and become a barrister. The extra training needed is done at the bar which to get entry you usually need a degree, but if the degree is not in law it takes an extra year to complete. The student has to pass the vocational course to move onto the next stage which is called pupillage. The pupillage is where a trainee barrister becomes a pupil to a qualified barrister. This effectively involves watching how the jobs done and picking up the tricks of the trade. You then have to register with one of the inn of courts and then you are a qualified barrister and can find work usually self employed and join a chamber. It is not essential for a barrister to have a chamber in which to operate from but is seen as the back-bone to a successful career.
