The Nature of Legal Profession

Throughout the world, the word “ lawyer ” is used to mean someone who has legal knowledge or who is engaged in the practice of law. Those unfamiliar with the English system are often confused by the variety of titles used for members of the legal professions. The confusion is not helped by the fact that there are many English words which may denote a lawyer, and different jurisdictions use different titles for lawyers: “advocate, attorney, barrister, solicitor”.

For example, a lawyer in the United States is often called an “ attorney ”, which in England is a title formerly used by solicitors. Matters are made worse by the fact that not all words have the same meaning in different countries. In England, the word “ solicitor ” is used to denote the majority of lawyers, whereas in the USA the word “ solicitor ” generally refers to a door-to-door salesman – which is not how the English solicitor would really like to be considered.

The number of Barristers practicing in England and Wales is 14,000, with 7,200 of those in Greater London. The Law Society reports that for Solicitors, the numbers are 92,753 in England and Wales with 34,693 of those in Greater London (sources: the Bar Council and the Law Society). These are the two principle branches of the legal profession in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own legal systems, similar but not identical.

Nowadays, the division between solicitors and barristers is quite vague, but generally their functions in law are supposed to be different.

Solicitors are the ‘general practitioners’ in law and in most cases a solicitor is the usual first point of access for a client needing legal services in the United Kingdom. Solicitors give legal advice and prepare legal documents in connection with matters which do not necessarily come to court, such as buying a home, renting out one’s property, renting a home, making a will, getting a divorce, resolving problems at work, setting up in business. They also prepare cases for barristers to conduct in court.

Solicitors generally practice in partnerships and some of the partnerships are now very large multinational organisations.

Barristers are experts in the interpretation of law and advocacy – the art of presenting cases in court. Barristers work mainly in the courts and tribunals. Their work includes presenting evidence, making submissions on behalf of their clients, representing parties in criminal trials, handling domestic disputes in Family Courts, dealing with civil claims for damages and compensations.

Barristers have a relationship with solicitors which is very much akin to that of specialist consultants in medicine to the family doctor. By having such specialists as an independent pool of expertise, the solicitor can choose the best qualified barrister in a specialist area.

Barristers may not practice in partnerships. Instead, they share offices (which they call Chambers) with other barristers, but it is a sharing of expenses only, not of income.

TASK 1. Find in the text above the English equivalents for the following key wods and expressions:

1. юридические услуги
2. адвокатская деятельность
3. группа независимых экспертов
4. палаты барристеров
5. специалист широкого профиля
6. вести дело в суде
7. представлять интересы клиентов в суде
8. решать семейные споры
9. вести гражданские иски о возмещении ущерба

TASK 2. Use the key expressions from the text to answer the following questions:

1. What is general meaning of the word “lawyer”? Does it have different meanings in different countries?
2. Can you give your own definition of the word “lawyer”?
3. What are the main features of solicitors’ work?
4. In what ways do the functions of a barrister differ from those of a solicitor?

TASK 3. Read the text and be ready to give an account of the historical origin of the Inns of Court.