Difference Between Lawyer and Solicitor

What is the difference between a lawyer and a solicitor? In England and Wales, the word lawyer is a broader term that encompasses both solicitors and barristers.

Solicitors
A solicitor is the initial contact person for an individual or organisation that seeks legal advice or representation.
He or she will offer advice and support across a range of legal issues, such as family law, conveyancing, wills and probate or commercial work. However, these issues may or may not involve any litigation within the court system.

Barristers
The barrister specialises in litigation, acting as an advocate and offering advice on action within the courts. A solicitor usually liaises between the barrister and the client, so barristers do not usually have direct contact with clients. QC's - Queens Councils - are senior barristers and make up around 10% the bar in practice. The Lord Chancellor advises the Queen on who she should appoint as a new QC, and this is based on experience and perceived ability, rather than any new examinations.

We hope this advice proves useful!

More advice: e-learning legal issues including copyright and IP guidance regarding e-learning materials.

Other pages of the site:
Employment Solicitors - companies dealing with employment related issues.
Education Law - firms and free advice for education matters.
Insolvency Solicitors - bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings.
Conveyancing Solicitors - domestic or commercial property conveyancing.
Recruitment services are offered by our featured legal employment agencies in the UK.

Legal Services in the Regions of England

Lawyers South West - Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire in the South West.

Lawyers South East - in addition to London, the South East page includes Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and both East and West Sussex.

Lawyers East of England - Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk in the East of England.

Lawyers West Midlands Region - for the county of West Midlands, plus Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

Lawyers East Midlands - Central England the East Midlands is home to Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire.

Lawyers Yorkshire and the Humber - the counties of North, South, West and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Lawyers North West - Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside in the North West.

Lawyers North East - the counties of the North East are County Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear.

What is the difference between a solicitor and a lawyer - answers from the Law and Legal website for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.