What is the difference between a solicitor and a barrister?
Barristers provide specialist advice on complex legal matters and represent clients appearing in the higher courts - Crown Courts, High Courts, Court of Appeal and House of Lords. They appear in court on instruction from solicitors and put legal arguments to judges, magistrates and juries, and cross-examine witnesses.
Many solicitors work in private practice, providing clients - both individuals and organisations - with legal advice on a wide range of topics, such as divorce, moving house, business law or charity law.
Solicitors have advocacy rights in tribunals, magistrates' courts, county courts and the European Courts.
Solicitors usually brief a barrister on cases appearing in the higher courts, although some obtain rights of audience to present in the higher courts.