You have probably heard the terms ‘lawyer’, ‘solicitor’, and ‘barrister’ to describe a legal professional. The terms may have come up in an article you read about a recent court case, or you may be involved in legal proceedings, and your lawyer has informed you that they will need to instruct a barrister.

While all describing a type of legal professional and often arise in the context of court proceedings, there are differences between the three, which we explain below.

What is a Lawyer?
A lawyer is a person who has had obtained a legal qualification (generally either a Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor degree) and has had the requisite legal training to permit them to give legal advice. It is, therefore, a generic term to describe a legal practitioner, and applies to both solicitors and barristers.
What is a Solicitor?
The definition of a solicitor under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW), is a legal practitioner who holds a practising certificate. They may be supervised or unsupervised – a solicitor must complete 24 months of supervised legal practice before they can be unsupervised. The term ‘solicitor’ is not commonly used – they are simply known as lawyers.

A solicitor is a lawyer that provides legal advice to clients in one or more areas of law. They are the first port of call when an individual or a business needs legal advice on an issue, or legal services such as drafting contracts, protecting intellectual property, or assisting with business sales and purchases. They manage the daily legal affairs of their clients.

For solicitors that deal with disputes, most of their time is spent out of court and dealing with preparatory matters for litigation such as preparing claims and evidence or conducting settlement negotiations. However, solicitors will appear in court unless a barrister is required.

What is a Barrister?
Where a court matter involves complex issues, often a solicitor will instruct a barrister (sometimes referred to as ‘counsel’) to appear in court on behalf of their clients. A client cannot retain a barrister directly.

A barrister is an expert advocate. They provide specialist legal advice in specific areas of law and spend much of their time representing individuals and businesses in court.

The relationship between a solicitor and a barrister can be likened to your general medical practitioner (GP) and a specialist that they may refer you to (for example, a cardiologist). Your GP will assess your problem, do some preliminary tests and give you their advice, and then they may refer you to a specialist to explore that advice and get their expert opinion. Your GP and specialist will often then work together to assist you.

A barrister will assist their instructing solicitor with drafting court documents and will focus on giving strategic advice on how the case will run, and preparing submissions for when the case proceeds to a hearing. In other words, a solicitor engages a barrister for specific items of work that require their specialist skills and advice, and a client should not be concerned about duplication of work.

What is an Attorney?
In Australia, the ‘attorney’ or ‘attorney-at-law’ term is not commonly used except in the case of ‘trade mark attorney’. Instead, ‘lawyer’ or ‘solicitor’ is more commonly used. For example in the US, an attorney is a lawyer that has passed a bar examination and has been admitted to practice law in the particular jurisdiction. Attorneys act as lawyers but not all lawyers can perform the work of attorneys except in some jurisdictions like Nigeria where the practice of law as a solicitor and barrister is fused. A lawyer in Nigeria, hence can practice either as a Solicitor or Barrister or as both.

Key Takeaways
The term ‘lawyer’ is an umbrella term for both solicitors and barristers. Solicitors provide general legal advice on a variety of issues. Barristers are specialists in certain legal fields and only solicitors can instruct them on behalf of their client to appear in court for complex legal issues. However, in some jurisdictions like Nigeria a lawyer is always both barrister and solicitor. If you need legal advice, contact our law firm (temiDlaw Chambers) dieectly or via WhatsApp on +2348080769766

TemiDlawChamber:
You have probably heard the terms ‘lawyer’, ‘solicitor’, and ‘barrister’ to describe a legal professional. The terms may have come up in an article you read about a recent court case, or you may be involved in legal proceedings, and your lawyer has informed you that they will need to instruct a barrister.

While all describing a type of legal professional and often arise in the context of court proceedings, there are differences between the three, which we explain below.

What is a Lawyer?
A lawyer is a person who has had obtained a legal qualification (generally either a Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor degree) and has had the requisite legal training to permit them to give legal advice. It is, therefore, a generic term to describe a legal practitioner, and applies to both solicitors and barristers.
What is a Solicitor?
The definition of a solicitor under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW), is a legal practitioner who holds a practising certificate. They may be supervised or unsupervised – a solicitor must complete 24 months of supervised legal practice before they can be unsupervised. The term ‘solicitor’ is not commonly used – they are simply known as lawyers.

A solicitor is a lawyer that provides legal advice to clients in one or more areas of law. They are the first port of call when an individual or a business needs legal advice on an issue, or legal services such as drafting contracts, protecting intellectual property, or assisting with business sales and purchases. They manage the daily legal affairs of their clients.

For solicitors that deal with disputes, most of their time is spent out of court and dealing with preparatory matters for litigation such as preparing claims and evidence or conducting settlement negotiations. However, solicitors will appear in court unless a barrister is required.

What is a Barrister?
Where a court matter involves complex issues, often a solicitor will instruct a barrister (sometimes referred to as ‘counsel’) to appear in court on behalf of their clients. A client cannot retain a barrister directly.

A barrister is an expert advocate. They provide specialist legal advice in specific areas of law and spend much of their time representing individuals and businesses in court.

The relationship between a solicitor and a barrister can be likened to your general medical practitioner (GP) and a specialist that they may refer you to (for example, a cardiologist). Your GP will assess your problem, do some preliminary tests and give you their advice, and then they may refer you to a specialist to explore that advice and get their expert opinion. Your GP and specialist will often then work together to assist you.

A barrister will assist their instructing solicitor with drafting court documents and will focus on giving strategic advice on how the case will run, and preparing submissions for when the case proceeds to a hearing. In other words, a solicitor engages a barrister for specific items of work that require their specialist skills and advice, and a client should not be concerned about duplication of work.

What is an Attorney?
In Australia, the ‘attorney’ or ‘attorney-at-law’ term is not commonly used except in the case of ‘trade mark attorney’. Instead, ‘lawyer’ or ‘solicitor’ is more commonly used. For example in the US, an attorney is a lawyer that has passed a bar examination and has been admitted to practice law in the particular jurisdiction. Attorneys act as lawyers but not all lawyers can perform the work of attorneys except in some jurisdictions like Nigeria where the practice of law as a solicitor and barrister is fused. A lawyer in Nigeria, hence can practice either as a Solicitor or Barrister or as both.

Key Takeaways
The term ‘lawyer’ is an umbrella term for both solicitors and barristers. Solicitors provide general legal advice on a variety of issues. Barristers are specialists in certain legal fields and only solicitors can instruct them on behalf of their client to appear in court for complex legal issues. However, in some jurisdictions like Nigeria a lawyer is always both barrister and solicitor. If you need legal advice, contact our law firm (temiDlaw Chambers) dieectly or via WhatsApp on +2348080769766

good one Op

Nice explanation

montana1965:
Thanks for the explanation. I'm not particularly familiar with legal terms but I'm trying to learn as much information about lawsuits as possible. I have had an unpleasant experience in my life and soon there will be a trial, after which I hope to receive compensation. In short, a year ago I used contraceptives that caused me severe pain in the lower abdomen, all this led to internal injuries that I still treat. Unfortunately, I'm not the only victim, there are a lot of the same women! And the company that provides these deleterious services does not want to be held responsible. My friend advised me to contact https://www.drugwatcher.org/paragard-lawsuit/ to prepare for a lawsuit and I hope that we will receive compensation!

I had an almost similar situation but it had ended not as well as yours

Very useful post, many thanks! Different cases require different lawyers, that's clear. I would like to say that reading reviews on a certain lawyer company is a must, otherwise you can get a disappointing experience, just consider something like myler disability reviews from trustworthy source.

Thank you for this article, very useful indeed! When I had my first legal issue, I had no idea where or who I could get any legal advice from, and these different terms were a bit overwhelming for me. So, when the law firm I turned to told me I needed help from a solicitor(I didn't know what it meant at the time), I got perplexed. Thankfully, the company(I worked with https://federal-lawyer.com/criminal-law/, and I highly recommend them) explained the term to me in a similar way as you did here. But, I keep finding out new things, like what a barrister is!

Navigating the aftermath of car accidents in New Orleans demands both legal acumen and supportive guidance. Akin to a beacon in tumultuous times, expert legal firms in the city, armed with profound insights and representation, stand ready to assist. Seasoned in the nuances of Louisiana law, these firms offer invaluable counsel, ensuring victims comprehend their rights and legal options. Click here to visit https://www.akdlawyers.com/practice-areas/car-accident/ for more information. Amid the complexities of insurance claims and legal proceedings, reputable attorneys provide adept representation. They aim not only for compensation but also to alleviate the stress for affected individuals. With meticulous attention to detail and unwavering dedication, these legal professionals endeavor to secure fair resolutions for their clients. Their commitment serves as a source of assurance for those embroiled in the aftermath of vehicular mishaps, providing hope for a smoother path to recovery.

Actually, this is very useful information, because I'm always confused about how all these specialists differ from each other, and who exactly I need right now.

Hello there! Placing trust in an admiralty lawyer proved to be crucial for our friend, assuring comprehensive legal protection in maritime matters. The experience underscores the importance of expert guidance in navigating the intricacies of maritime law. That will help you in the right time, trust me!