Glossary
No win, no fee An agreement whereby a solicitor acting in a claim is entitled to be paid his or her fee only if he or she wins. Such payment is usually made by the loser or his or her insurance company. Also known as a ‘conditional fee’.
Pupil barrister A trainee barrister who is effectively practising, but is not yet fully qualified. Also known as a ‘pupil’. Pupillage The training period before qualifying as a barrister.
Paralegal A non-lawyer who does legal work which often resembles that of a solicitor.
Pupil supervisor A barrister who oversees an individual’s training during pupillage.
Partnership An association of two or more people who agree to share in the profits and losses of a business venture. Patent A document issued to an inventor, detailing ownership, rights and the nature of the invention. Period of recognised training Introduced in 2014 by the SRA to replace the term ‘training contract’ (although most firms still refer to it in this way), it refers to the two-year pre-qualification training period for a solicitor, normally spent in a law firm.
QC Queen’s Counsel, a barrister who has been appointed counsel to Her Majesty on the advice of the lord chancellor. Also known as a ‘silk’. Qualifying sessions Run by the four Inns of Court, students must complete 12 qualifying sessions before they can be called to the Bar. Sessions can include dinners, workshops, moots and residential weekends. Formerly called ‘dining’. Receivership The appointment by a court of a receiver to take custody of the property, business, rents and profits of a party to a lawsuit pending a final decision. Salaried partner Unlike an equity partner, a salaried partner is still an employee of a firm, though with enhanced status, influence and responsibilities.
Perjury The crime of knowingly making a false statement while under oath in court.
Piercing the corporate veil The concept through which a corporation’s shareholders, who are usually protected from liability for the corporation’s activities, may be held responsible for certain actions.
Seats Periods of training during a training contract. Normally six months long each.
Pleadings The allegations by each party of its claims and defences.
Second six The second six months of pupillage. The pupil continues to train under a barrister, but has rights of audience in all courts. Secondment Placement with a law firm’s client or to an overseas office. Settlement The resolution or compromise by the parties in a civil case.
Power of attorney The authority to act legally for another person. Precedent A previously decided case that is considered binding in the court where it was issued and in all lower courts in the same jurisdiction. Prima facie Latin for ‘at first sight’, meaning that a matter appears to be self-evident on first examination.
SIF The Solicitors Indemnity Fund, covering liability for claims made against its members.
Pro bono The giving of free legal advice and services.
Silk Another term for QC.
Profits per partner A firm’s total profit divided by the number of partners at the firm. PSC Professional Skills Course, which must be passed while training to qualify as a solicitor. Punitive damages Money awarded to a victim that is intended to punish a defendant and stop the person or business from repeating the type of conduct that caused the injury in question.
Slander Defamatory oral statements.
Solicitor A lawyer who provides clients with skilled advice and representation. Mostly works in private practice. Sponsorship The payment of GDL and/or LPC fees by a firm to individuals who have been offered a training contract.
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