The Beginner's Guide to a Career in Law 2017

What lawyers do

Solicitors Generally speaking, solicitors provide advice and assistance on matters of law. They are the first point of contact for people and organisations (eg, companies and charities) seeking legal advice and representation. Most solicitors work together in solicitor-owned law firms, while others work in central or local government, in a legal department within a business or organisation, or in an alternative business structure (ABS) – an organisation which provides legal services, but is funded and controlled by a company (eg, the Co- operative Group). While solicitors are found in a variety of areas of law, the fundamentals of the job remain largely the same. These include a mixture of advisory and contentious (dispute) work, such as: • meeting clients, finding out their needs and establishing how to help; • researching relevant areas of law and proposing courses of action to clients; • drafting letters, contracts and other legal documents; and • acting on behalf of clients in negotiations and occasionally representing them at tribunals or in court. Being a solicitor is a tough, but rewarding job. Many of those entering the profession work their way up through the ranks from newly qualified solicitor to associate to partner. (NB Most of the above also describes the work of a chartered legal executive.)

Everyone has their favourite scurrilous lawyer joke, but on the whole it’s not a profession made up of conniving ambulance chasers and fat cats. Lawyers perform a valuable role, especially as law is intertwined with every aspect of our society – from the age at which you can take your driving test to the speed at which you can drive when you pass it; from the minimum wage you can expect to earn in a new job to the rights you have should you lose it. The first thing to know is that traditionally, the profession has had two main branches – solicitors and barristers. However, in recent years the legal landscape has become much more complex, with chartered legal executives, paralegals, apprentices and more. This trend seems set to continue – read more about it in “Apprenticeships” and “Paralegals” on pages 6-7. For now, however, here is a broad introduction to what solicitors and barristers do.

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Practice area snapshot Below is just a small selection of the vast array of practice areas out there:

Employment

Crime

Family

Corporate/commercial

As a solicitor, you’ll be working on disputes that end up in employment tribunals or in the High Court, helping to draft contracts of employment or advising on working hours. Your client could be the employer or employee. As a barrister, you will be appearing on behalf of your client in either a tribunal or court, often in different parts of the country.

Criminal lawyers advise and represent their clients in court on criminal charges that can range from minor motoring misdemeanours to more serious crimes, including murder. Barristers may be called on to act for either the defence or the prosecution.

Family lawyers deal with all legal matters relating to marriage, separation, divorce, cohabitation and legal issues relating to children. Family law also encompasses financial negotiations, inheritance issues and prenuptial contracts.

Commercial and corporate solicitors advise on complex transactions and act for businesses of all sizes, from international corporations to small start- ups. General company law might involve advising on company directors’ rights and responsibilities, board meetings and shareholders’ rights. Corporate work often concerns mergers and acquisitions, demergers, joint ventures and share issues.

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