Historically Barristers conducted cases in Court - and Solicitors ‘solicited’ briefs for them from the public
What are the differences between Barristers and Solicitors ?There are about 50,000 Solicitors and 10,000 Barristers in practice in England
Solicitors train in a huge variety of areas - from commercial contracts to conveyancing
Barristers train in litigation
Most QCs and senior Judges are still Barristers
Most Solicitors work in Law Firms alongside Legal Executives, Paralegals and Secretaries
Most Barristers are ‘freelance’ lawyers who share office facilities with other Barristers in ‘chambers’
Solicitors generally charge an hourly rate in six minute ‘billing hours’
Barristers usually charge fixed ‘brief fees’ for doing specific work for their clients
Traditionally a Barrister would advise clients through their ‘Instructing Solicitors’ and represent those clients in court - while Solicitors would manage their client’s affairs in their offices.
Today many Solicitors do their own ‘advocacy’ in court - with Barristers now doing much of the ongoing ‘client care’ Solicitors once did