Whats in a name?

[searchlight]

Could you answer me these points please...
Is a solicitor the same as a lawyer, or if of different qualifications can both or only a lawyer prosecute or defend in a crown court? Is a barrister more qualified and does a lawyer wear a wig in court as a barrister does?
Thanks

[dzug2]

Both solicitors and barristers are lawyers

Sorry, not up to date with who can do what and no idea on wigs.

[boxtops]

IMO - you consult a solicitor, they are the people who liaise with the public. The solicitor then briefs the barrister to act on your behalf in the Courts of Law. http://en.wikipedia.o..._in_England_and_Wales

[society]

http://tinyurl.com/zv8vn

Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers, and a lawyer will usually only hold one title. However, in Canada, New Zealand and most Australian states, the legal profession is now for practical purposes "fused", allowing lawyers to hold the title of "barrister and solicitor" and practice as both. The distinction between barristers and solicitors is, however, retained. Some legal graduates will start off as one and then decide to become the other.

[mike11111]

Some solicitors, called solicitor-advocates, have the right of appearance in the higher courts, They wear gowns, but cannot comment on wigs.the term 'lawyer' just means anyone versed in the law. There are plenty of 'academic' lawyers in universities who probably know a lot more about the law than many barristers/solicitors, but who have not taken the necessary qualifications to enable them to practise.

[Buenchico]

As has been said, solicitors and barristers are both lawyers, as are legal executives and notaries public.

Solicitors don't wear wigs. Barristers do in some, but not all, court proceedings.

There are certainly plenty of members of the Bar who look down upon solicitors (and who regard themselves as being above them) but their roles theoretically operate in parallel. See the job descriptions here for further information:
https://nextstep.dire...67/Pages/default.aspx
https://nextstep.dire...25/Pages/default.aspx

The majority of barristers are self-employed which means that many people who start the training fail to enter the profession simply because they haven't got the cash flow to allow them to work for many months without receiving any income. Law graduates seeking a more secure job generally opt to become solicitors.

Chris

[jaydah]

Only barristers act in Crown Court and are versed in Court protocol. Barristers voice actions from solicitor to judge.

[buildersmate]

It's all a necessary part of ensuring the profession continues to look after itself by employing two people to deal with the job when one could do it, as the punter has to deal through a solicitor yet the barrister deals with the court issues.
Rather akin to employing a plumber's agent to deal with customer-relationship issues when it is the plumber that fixes the problem.