The law is a very diverse and challenging profession. If you are planning to join it, you will need to conduct plenty of research into the law and yourself.

The legal profession in England and Wales is split into two branches, Solicitors and Barristers.

Role of Solicitors

Solicitors have direct contact with their Clients, providing legal advice and assistance, and may represent the Clients in the lower Courts (County Courts and Magistrates Courts). Solicitors do not normally represent their Clients in higher courts (Supreme Court and Crown Court). However, with additional training Solicitors with the requisite experience may qualify as Solicitor Advocates and, thereby, acquire the right to represent their Clients in the higher Courts, where cases are normally prepared by Solicitors and Barristers normally undertake advocacy.

Currently there are over 68,000 Solicitors in England and Wales working in private practices, within Companies or Local and Central Government.

How to qualify as a Solicitor

The mechanics of qualification are discussed in the booklet “Becoming a Solicitor” which will be available at The Law Workshop, but apart from the question of passing the right examinations and getting through the training process, the people who are attracted to the profession are usually those with good communication skills, the ability to work under pressure, and high academic ability. At present, firms of Solicitors are becoming very selective in choosing candidates, and high academic qualifications together with strong personality are usually looked for. It should also be stressed that Solicitors should have a very high standard of integrity and respect for the Clients who come to them for help.

Role of Barristers

The Bars work comes from Solicitors, and also recently from other professionals such as Accountants and Surveyors as well as from foreign lawyers. Barristers fulfil two closely related functions. The first is advocacy from an enormous variety of Clients in all Courts and Tribunals. The second is to provide specialist advice in specific areas of law. These two functions combine when Barristers undertake the Trial preparatory work, which involves drafting Pleadings and advising on both evidence and tactics. Whether in Court or advising in Chambers, the Barrister is on show, living on his/her nerves and having to absorb and deploy an enormous range of often poorly organised material quickly, and under pressure. Therefore, preparation and attention to detail are essential, and working long hours, usually in the evenings and at the weekends, is commonplace.

How to qualify as a Barrister

Please refer to the leaflets “Routes into the Profession” available from The Law Workshop.

Profile of Facilitators

Jilu Ahmed (Chair)

Jilu is a Solicitor working in private practice for a firm in Sutton, Surrey, specialising in Commercial litigation work. As General Secretary of the British-Bangladeshi Professional Association he advises on procedural and legal matters, having drafted the Constitution he is currently in the process of submitting the BBPA’s application to the Charity Commission for registration as a Charity.

Leo Rahman

Leo is a Barrister practising in London. He is also an Advocate of the High Court in Bangladesh.

Supriya Nessa

Supriya is a trainee solicitor working in Local Government in London. She is a graduate of Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London.