A barrister is a legal professional who:

• Represents clients in court (especially in serious or complex cases)
• Gives specialist legal advice
• Prepares for hearings and trials using the legal work done by solicitors
• Works mostly in courtrooms and chambers

🏛 Most barristers are self-employed, and they work in shared offices called chambers. Getting into a good chamber is very competitive.

🎩 In court, barristers wear gowns and wigs, while solicitors usually wear normal business suits.

To become a barrister in England and Wales, follow these steps:

1. 🎓 Law degree (LLB), or do a law conversion course if your degree is in another subject.
2. 📚 Bar Practice Course (BPC)
3. This is a special training course that teaches you how to argue cases, write legal documents, and behave in court.
4. 👨‍🏫 Pupillage (like an internship):

• It lasts 12 months, divided into two parts called "sixes":
• First 6 months: You shadow a barrister (observe and learn)
• Second 6 months: You start handling your own small cases

1. ✅ If you pass everything, you can officially be called to the Bar and work as a barrister

A solicitor is a legal professional who:

• Gives legal advice to clients (people, companies, organizations)
• Is usually the first person someone contacts when they need legal help
• Can work in:
• Law firms 🏢
• Private companies 🏦
• Government or public service 👨‍⚖️
• Works in many areas of law:
• Criminal law (crime)
• Family law (divorce, custody)
• Business law (contracts, mergers)

💼 Most of their work happens outside of court, but they can sometimes appear in lower courts.

🧑‍🎓 Step 1: Legal education

You need to:

Complete a Bachelor of Laws (LLB)

OR

If your degree is in another subject, take a law conversion course (called PGDL or GDL)

This makes sure you have the legal knowledge to move to the next stage.

📘 Step 2: Professional training – 2 possible routes

🔹 Route 1: Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) — new system

Two national exams:

SQE1: legal knowledge (multiple-choice)

SQE2: practical legal skills (interviews, writing, advocacy)

You also need 2 years of qualifying legal work experience

(this can be done in a law firm, charity, legal clinic, etc.)

After completing both, you apply to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to become a solicitor

🔸 Route 2: Legal Practice Course (LPC) — traditional path

A full-time course that covers:

Core legal subjects

Practical skills (e.g. legal writing, research, client interviewing)

You then complete a 2-year training contract in a law firm

Once done, you apply to the SRA for admission

📌 Note: The LPC route is being phased out, but still available to some students who qualify under previous rules.

The French word “avocat” can be translated in several ways in English: lawyer, attorney, solicitor, barrister, which can cause confusion.

• Lawyer: general term for someone who practices law; like “juriste” in French.
• Attorney and counsel: used in the USA, referring to a legal practitioner.
• → “Attorney” can be translated as “Maître” when used before a name.
• Barrister and solicitor: used in the UK and other countries (e.g. Ireland, Australia):
• → A barrister gives legal advice and represents clients in court
• → A solicitor usually does not plead, except in some cases; works mainly on legal documents and client advice.

📌 In the US, all lawyers must pass the bar exam and are part of the Bar Association, though the word “barrister” isn’t used — similar to the French “barreau.”

• In France, a magistrat is a professional judge or prosecutor, part of the judiciary, trained at a high level.
• In England and Wales, a magistrate is a lay judge:
• A volunteer, without necessarily having legal training
• Sits in Magistrates’ Courts or Family Courts
• Also called Justices of the Peace, and they are not paid

🔹 In contrast, District Judges, Circuit Judges, High Court Judges, and Court of Appeal Judges are professional judges, appointed by the King following a formal selection process.

The title of King’s Counsel (KC), formerly Queen’s Counsel (QC), is an honorary distinction awarded to experienced barristers, and since 1995, also to certain solicitors, who have demonstrated excellence in advocacy. Those appointed are said to “take silk” because they wear silk gowns, earning them the nickname “silks”. KCs usually handle the most complex and high-profile legal cases, often assisted by junior barristers. Although the system was suspended in 2003 and nearly abolished, it was reformed in 2004: a new independent panel of 9 members—including lawyers and laypeople—now selects candidates, under the supervision of the Lord Chancellor, who ensures fairness but no longer comments on individual applications. In 2023, 95 out of 283 applicants were appointed, including 30 women, 13 ethnic minority candidates, and 8 individuals with disabilities. Becoming a KC is often seen as a step toward a career as a senior judge.

Criminal law deals with offenses that harm society as a whole, such as theft, assault, or murder. These cases are usually prosecuted by the state (via the Crown Prosecution Service) in courts like the Magistrates’ or Crown Court. If found guilty beyond reasonable doubt, the offender is punished with a fine, prison, or community service. Civil law, on the other hand, addresses disputes between individuals or organisations, such as divorce, injury claims, or breach of contract. Civil cases aim to compensate the injured party and do not involve prison. The key difference lies in the purpose: criminal law punishes, while civil law seeks compensation or remedy. Civil cases are filed by private parties, while criminal ones are led by the state. A person can face both types of cases for the same act, as criminal and civil justice are separate systems.

Magistrates’ courts were formally established in 1285 under Edward I, when trusted citizens were appointed to help maintain public order as Justices of the Peace. These magistrates have since played a central role in the English and Welsh legal system, handling the majority of judicial cases. Designed to resolve minor criminal offences quickly, these courts are the starting point for all criminal cases, with over 95% concluding there. Only the most serious crimes are passed on to the Crown Court.

The Crown Court in England and Wales deals with serious criminal cases not handled by the Magistrates’ Courts. It operates in around 92 locations. Magistrates’ Courts can transfer cases to the Crown Court if the offences are too serious for their limited sentencing powers (typically up to 6 months, or 12 months for multiple offences). The Crown Court hears indictable offences and certain either-way offences. Cases are overseen by professional judges—more serious cases by puisne judges, others by Circuit Judges or Recorders.

The County Court is a national civil court for England and Wales, handling cases such as personal injury, negligence, contract disputes, property claims, and bankruptcy. It operates across multiple locations but is centrally managed as one system. Most cases are heard by a district or circuit judge without a jury. Claims are classified into tracks based on value: small claims (under £10,000), fast track (£5,000–£25,000), and multi-track (over £25,000). In debt cases, a County Court Judgment (CCJ) may be issued, enforceable by various legal means. Judgments affect credit scores unless paid within 30 days.

Equity in law refers to remedies like injunctions and specific performance, differing from monetary damages in common law. These remedies are discretionary, based on fairness and the defendant’s conscience, and are now merged with common law procedures. Equity prevails in case of conflict between the two systems.

The Family Court is a national court for England and Wales that handles all family-related legal matters. It covers both public family law (e.g., government protecting children from harm, possibly placing them in care or adoption) and private family law (e.g., divorce, custody, financial arrangements after separation). Judges of varying levels preside over cases depending on their complexity. Appeals usually go to a more senior judge, and complex cases may be handled by the Family Division of the High Court.

The case briefing process involves:

1. Reading the full judgment to understand the case.
2. Identifying the case name, court, and decision date.
3. Summarizing the facts (parties involved, timeline, background).
4. Defining the legal issue(s), the court’s decision (holding), and its reasoning (rationale).

The High Court in England and Wales hears important civil cases and occasionally criminal matters. It sits mainly at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as well as in other cities. It has original and appellate jurisdiction, and is divided into three divisions:

• Family Division: Handles complex family issues such as defended divorces, child welfare, wardship, adoption, and medical matters.
• Chancery Division: Deals with business and property law, trusts, estates, partnerships, bankruptcy, and intellectual property disputes.
• King’s Bench Division: Covers tort law (e.g. libel, slander), contract breaches, and hears applications for habeas corpus, a legal action challenging unlawful detention.

Habeas corpus (Latin: “to have the body”) allows a court to determine if a person is being held lawfully. Though still available today, its use has declined due to other legal protections.

To become a High Court judge, a candidate must have significant legal experience (at least 10 years or 2 years as a Circuit Judge). Judges are appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor and the Judicial Appointments Commission. Though judges can sit in any division, they are usually assigned specific roles.