Should I become a Barrister or Solicitor?

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Evil_Genius

Speaking strictly logically, Leeds, you are equating difficulty with desirability, which is a bit of a misnomer.

I do not see your point as logically, if something is desirable it becomes more difficult to obtain. Simple supply and demand.

Reply 41

TommehR

LeedsStude1

I do not see your point as logically, if something is desirable it becomes more difficult to obtain. Simple supply and demand.

Yes, but a lot of the difficulty in pursuing a career at the Bar are the high academic requirements and the relative scarcity of pupillages. A quick Google search suggests that there are around 400-500 pupillages available each year. The MC alone account for the same number of Training Contracts.

Reply 42

Lord Hysteria

LeedsStude1

I do not see your point as logically, if something is desirable it becomes more difficult to obtain. Simple supply and demand.

No.
It becomes more expensive.
The supply and demand of economics are two factors that affect the market equilibrium price.
So more demand = higher price value (or in this case a higher CV threshold)

Reply 43

mikeandikes

Original post by Lord Hysteria

Hang on. You are saying solicitors can earn a QC rank???????? :rofl:

You forgot the key word "SOME" - which probably means you are a solicitor with a grudge, or simply ignorant.

Besides banging on the same point, you forgot the key word "SOME" AGAIN :rolleyes:

Can a solicitor represent someone in the Court of Appeal? No they can't, and therefore it isn't true that "theres nothing a Barrister can do that a Solicitor can't" :rolleyes:

... and many business would choose a barrister over a solicitor, making it economic and business, as well as traditionally.

Maybe the sprinter is more suited to sprinting!! Did you consider that awesome possibility?
And considering the public are famously aware of Paula Radcliffe, I would say that in itself refutes what your rather limited (and somewhat childish) view of why people become sprinters.

Ummm I'm pretty sure solicitors can appear before the Court of Appeal. Lord Collins appeared before it dozens of times as a solicitor advocate.

Reply 44

manty

Original post by Lord Hysteria

Hang on. You are saying solicitors can earn a QC rank???????? :rofl:

You forgot the key word "SOME" - which probably means you are a solicitor with a grudge, or simply ignorant.

Besides banging on the same point, you forgot the key word "SOME" AGAIN :rolleyes:

Can a solicitor represent someone in the Court of Appeal? No they can't, and therefore it isn't true that "theres nothing a Barrister can do that a Solicitor can't" :rolleyes:

Whilst i too enjoy critiquing people's answers, you take it to the next level, revel in your ignorant splendour.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 45

Jagz!!

Original post by nempozpag

Go for the one that is less likely to result in being miserable. My Dad and Stepdad are solicitors and they both hate it with a passion. Becoming a barrister is very difficult and requires insane dedication and no-lifing. Your choice! :biggrin:

LOOOOOL they both lead to misery tbh as both consist of long hours, sometimes getting nothing, failing, hatred but you know sacrifices have to be made :angelwings:

Reply 46

Jagz!!

Barristers demand has gone down now so its really hard to get into that nut you could give it a try :banana:

noob

Barristers earn £100K a year after the 5 year trial which is £8K a month and over £2K a week. What about solicitors? I study law in school and I'm interested in becoming a barrister, does anyone know where I can get the best advice ?? Thank you

Reply 49

nematyansana

what are the differences among solicitors and barristers? :biggrin:

i just know that solicitors cant appear in appeal court

Reply 50

Stewie2011

Would have thought both are pretty boring, lots of studying books all the time, with huge competition these days to secure a job. If you do manage to secure a job then a load more book reading and studying. The graph for the number of people studying law has gone up hugely over the last decade, I think they may have one on the 'prospects' site. Wouldn't bother with law myself, its not a fun subject nor a fun job if you ever get there. Loads of stories of people studying law for years, worked hard, got good degree but only found unemployment at the end of it after applying to loads of law practices. One to steer clear of for sure I think.

Reply 51

TurboCretin

Original post by Mychelle

Barristers are effectively self-employed and it's impossible to generalise like this. Barristers in commercial sets earn significantly more than those in criminal/family sets, like for like. Unless you're talking about the very pinnacle of the profession, most of the people who make it to the bar probably have the credentials to make much more money doing something else.

Reply 52

Vikiboy

Do solicitors represent clients in court?

Reply 53

Crazy Jamie

Careers Forum Helper

Original post by Vikiboy

Do solicitors represent clients in court?

They can do. It depends on the area of law and the nature of the firm. To give some examples, criminal solicitors will regularly represent clients in court both at interlocutory hearings and trials. Personal injury solicitors will very rarely appear in court. Employment solicitors can, but it depends on the firm. Some firms will send the vast majority of their hearings, especially trials, to barristers, whereas other firms will keep a lot of their advocacy in house and will have their solicitors represent clients at trial. Of course there are other firms where you may do a broader range of contentious litigation, and whether you appear in court or not as a solicitor will depend on the particular case and hearing at any give time. So the answer really is that it depends. It is worth noting though that in any event, even solicitors that appear more regularly in court still have to be involved in the more 'traditional' solicitor tasks. They will, for example, be the first point of contact for a client, and will have to deal with them directly throughout the case. They will also have to prepare and manage the case from the start through to conclusion. Certainly elements of that role can be shared by a team, but it is just worth bearing in mind that the general staples of a solicitor's practice will apply in large part to those that do a lot of advocacy as much as those that don't, it's just that the balance is different. The day to day work of a solicitor that does a lot of advocacy will still be very different in many respects to the work of a barrister in the same area.

Reply 54

Umbreen Muhammad

I have seen many argue that the differences between Solicitors and Barristers is shortening, though I do see that in certain aspects, I do have to disagree slightly with that statement. The fundamental difference between the two is how and where they work. Primarily speaking, a Solicitor advises and a Barrister advocates. A Solicitor has a wider range of legal knowledge as that is what is required; you may, as a Solicitor, specialise in housing law but you would know about public laws, taxation laws etc. A Solicitor requires variety. A Barrister on the other hand, works independently, they have a depth of understanding about courtrooms, and their specific law, such as criminal law. Criminal law consists of a wide branch of things from murder to manslaughter, and a Barrister working between those branches would need an intense depth of knowledge. A Barrister requires depths. It is very true that a Solicitor can advocate and a Barrister can advice. However, a Barrister can only advise on a certain wavelength of law, and mostly advice on matters regarding court behaviour and etiquette, and a Solicitor can only represent clients in the Magistrate's Court, unless they have a Certificate of Advocacy in which then they can advocate in the Crown Court, but no further than the Crown Court. This is only applicable to the UK laws and I'm still learning about law so there could be slight inaccuracies, hope this helped :smile: