What lawyers do Lawyers perform an important role, as law covers every aspect of society – from the age you can take your driving test to the speed you can drive when you pass; from the minimum wage you can earn in a job to the quality of the water you drink.
work together in law firms, while others work in central or local government, in companies’ legal departments (in-house) or in alternative business structures – a type of business that provides the same services as a law firm, but is controlled by non-lawyers (eg, the Co-operative Group). Solicitors’ jobs differ depending on the area of law they work in (eg, crime or family) and whether their work is advisory (eg, helping one company buy another) or involves legal disputes (eg, one company suing another). All solicitors’ jobs involve some or all of the following: • meeting clients, finding out their needs and establishing how to help; • researching relevant areas of law and advising clients of their options; • drafting letters, contracts and other legal documents; and • acting on behalf of clients in negotiations and representing them at tribunals or in court. Being a solicitor is a demanding but rewarding job. Many solicitors in law firms work their way up from trainee to associate to partner.
The first thing to know is that traditionally, the legal profession is divided into two main branches – solicitors and barristers. However, these aren’t the only types of lawyer. There are CILEX Lawyers, paralegals, apprentices and more – find out more in ‘Apprenticeships’ on page 6 and ‘Paralegals’ on page 7, and in the companion to this booklet, The Law Apprenticeships Guide , which is available free at schools and online at www.lawcareers.net. For now, here’s an introduction to what solicitors and barristers do. Solicitors Solicitors provide advice and guide clients through legal issues. They’re the first point of contact for people and organisations seeking legal advice and representation. Most solicitors
Practice area snapshot Below is just a small selection of the vast array of practice areas out there:
Company/ commercial
Employment
Environment
Family
Environment law offers the opportunity for individuals to be involved in a range of matters, such as health and safety, contaminated land and renewable energy. Biodiversity loss, climate change and the ever-present net-zero pressures make this area of law a fascinating and dynamic one.
Commercial lawyers help businesses trade and work on a range of commercial agreements dealing with the manufacture, sale, supply and distribution of goods and services, as well as identifying and establishing the best routes to market, which could be via an agency, distribution or franchise model. Commercial law is often a key component in other projects and touches many areas of law, making it a varied legal area.
Employment solicitors can work on disputes that end up in employment tribunals or in the High Court, helping to draft employment contracts, advising on working hours,
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 pre
handling discrimination, staff restructuring and
whistleblowing issues. Your client could be the employer or employee. As a barrister, you’ll appear on behalf of your client in either a tribunal or court, often in different parts of the country.
and post-nuptial/ civil partnership agreements.
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