If you’re a female and you’re goal is to become a solicitor then this sites purpose is to help you to achieve those goals.
In the United Kingdom, a male or female solicitor is simply a person who strives to provide their clients with advice and assistance on legal matters. Along with barristers, they are classified as lawyers, although solicitors differ from barristers in many ways.
Who do Solicitors work with?
Female solicitors can have a wide range of different clients, depending on what sector they are working in.
Clients can be individuals, companies, government bodies or charities. When solicitors are working on behalf of a company, they are likely to interact with a number of different individuals in that organisation, although they will continue to represent the interests of the organisation as a whole.
Although solicitors may represent individuals or organisations that have been accused of breaking the law, they also represent individuals and organisations in a lot of other legal matters.
What Areas do Solicitors work in?
As well as dealing with clients who are accused of breaking the law as already mentioned, solicitors can also make sure that their clients stay on the right side of the law. For example, a sector specialist solicitor may be consulted over a planned action, so that the client knows that the action which they are planning to perform is legal. If the action is deemed to be something that does not abide by legislation, then the specialist solicitor may be able to help the client to make changes to the planned action so that it does fall within the bounds of the law.
Solicitors are also able to help clients with complex negotiations. A personal injury solicitor for example may have to negotiate with a large motor insurance company on behalf of a client that is making a personal injury claim after a traffic accident. Or divorce solicitors could be handling sensitive negotiations during divorce proceedings. The solicitors work on behalf of the client to help them to secure the best outcome. They draft and prepare legal contracts and other legal documents.
They also assist with things such as making wills or doing the conveyancing work for people who are buying a property.
Do Solicitors work alone?
Solicitors can work independently although most work as part of a private practice. In each practice there may be a large number of solicitors, each with their own areas of specialism. Others work in a legal department of part of a larger organisation.
In certain cases, a team of solicitors may work together with a barrister to help to provide the barrister with the information that they require to produce a strong case. In these types of cases, the solicitors may interact directly with the client; however the barrister will represent the client in court.
How do Solicitors interact with their Clients?
Solicitors must act on the instruction of their clients, but their clients can instruct them in a variety of different ways. Solicitors often work by talking to their clients in person, so it is important that they have the necessary personal skills to deal with their clients in a professional yet sensitive manner.
Face-to-face communication is one of the most common communication methods for solicitors, and these interactions may take place in the solicitor’s office, at the client’s home or workplace, or in a neutral place.
Telephone, letter and email are also used for correspondence with clients. As well as interacting with clients, a solicitor will also interact with others on behalf of their clients. On some occasions the clients may be present, but on other occasions they may meet with people alone on behalf of the client.
Gaining higher rights of audience allows solicitors to appear in court on behalf of their clients, although a solicitor is unlikely to act as an advocate in court if their client is accused of committing a more serious crime.
Solicitors are more likely to interact with clients than barristers are, although barristers will have direct contact with clients in some cases.
Are Solicitors Regulated?
Solicitors in England and Wales should be properly qualified if they want to continue to practice law.
They are regulated and monitored by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The SRA aim to enforce high standards in solicitors and they may start disciplinary procedures against solicitors who are not acting according to regulations.
Before using a solicitor in England or Wales, it is possible to check with the regulatory bodies to make sure that they are allowed to practice in the jurisdiction.