What does a solicitor do?

Solicitors are the main legal advisers to the public on all matters of law. Studying law for a career as a solicitor offers the chance to combine intellectual challenge, interest and variety with the opportunity to work with and for people. Training is competitive, and anyone intending to become a solicitor should be aware of the significant commitment required.

The Role of the Solicitor

There are over 60,000 solicitors practising in England and Wales, and their work varies enormously. A solicitor's job is to provide clients (members of the public, businesses, voluntary bodies, charities etc.) with skilled legal advice and representation, including representing them in court.

Most solicitors work in private practice, which is a partnership of solicitors who offer services to clients. Others work as employed solicitors for Central and Local Government, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Magistrate's Courts Service, commercial or industrial organisations, or other bodies. If you become a solicitor, you can choose the kind of environment that suits you best.

Private Practice

You will find a solicitor's firm in nearly every town in England and Wales. A solicitor is usually the first point of contact for anyone looking for legal advice. A solicitor's firm can vary from a large organisation with hundreds of partners, thousands of employees and offices worldwide, to a small firm above a shop on a local high street.

General Practice

Solicitors in general practice usually work in small or medium-sized firms, serving the local community and dealing with the legal problems of the public. They may carry out conveyancing (the buying and selling of houses and land), investigate claims arising from injury, or advise and represent people in court on criminal matters.

Family law and childcare law are particularly important nowadays, and solicitors often represent clients in court in divorce cases. They make wills and administer the estates of people who have died. Solicitors often advise businesses on employment laws, contracts and company formations, placing them at the centre of local business communities.

Specialist Practices

Many large firms, particularly those in the City of London or business areas of other major cities, specialise in serving large corporate clients who sometimes have urgent, multi-million pound deals. Such firms often have multinational clients and may have offices in major financial and business centres throughout the world.

Many solicitors and firms specialise in specific areas of law where they have developed expertise. Specialisms can include corporate and commercial law, insurance, patent and copyright registration, shipping, banking, entertainment and media law, and many others.

Legal Aid Practices

Many firms specialise in issues brought by legally aided clients - those who cannot normally afford a solicitor's fees. Solicitors in these practices concentrate on matters such as divorce law, welfare benefits, crime, personal injury claims, housing issues, and assisting victims of medical negligence.

Skills and Communication

Solicitors with excellent communication skills - whether written, verbal, or interpersonal - are in high demand. Prospective trainees should be aware that a high standard of literacy is required. Some solicitors spend considerable time with clients, while others in large commercial practices may rarely have direct contact with the ultimate source of their work.

You should carefully consider which area of law interests you most. Although the training for all solicitors is similar, many will specialise after qualifying, making early career decisions particularly important.