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Lawyer, Solicitor or Barrister: What’s the Difference?

23 July 2025

When people hear the word "lawyer," they often picture dramatic courtroom scenes from television, someone confidently shouting “objection!” on behalf of a client.

While this may be true in some cases, the reality of legal work in the UK is much broader and more nuanced. Interestingly, the term lawyer doesn’t have a formal definition in UK law. It’s a general term that refers to any licensed legal professional qualified to offer legal advice or services. In the UK, both solicitors and barristers fall under this umbrella.

So, what does a lawyer actually do? And how do solicitors and barristers differ? Let’s break it down.

What Does a Lawyer Do?

A lawyer’s responsibilities can vary significantly depending on their role and legal specialism. Broadly, lawyers may be involved in:

• Advising clients (individuals or organisations) on legal matters
• Drafting and reviewing legal documents and contracts
• Preparing evidence and documentation for court
• Representing clients in legal proceedings (especially barristers and some solicitors)

What Is a Solicitor?

A solicitor is a legal professional who provides advice and representation to clients. These clients could include individuals, companies, or public bodies.

Solicitors typically:

• Handle legal paperwork
• Manage legal transactions
• Provide ongoing legal advice
• Communicate directly with clients and third parties
• Represent clients in some courts (usually lower courts)
• Instruct barristers for court appearances in complex cases

Areas Solicitors May Specialise In:

• Family law (divorce, child arrangements)
• Criminal law
• Employment law (e.g. discrimination, unfair dismissal)
• Personal injury
• Wills, trusts, and probate
• Commercial and business law

How Can a Solicitor Help You?

Solicitors are often the first point of contact in a legal matter. Here’s how they typically assist:

Legal Paperwork & Advice

From drafting contracts to reviewing legal documents, a solicitor ensures everything is accurate and compliant with UK law.

Negotiation

They help negotiate settlements, financial claims, and terms of agreements with opposing parties.

Case Preparation

If your case goes to court, your solicitor will prepare all necessary documentation and may instruct a barrister to represent you.

What Is a Barrister?

A barrister is a type of lawyer who specialises in courtroom advocacy and giving expert legal opinions. They are usually brought into a case when it requires specialist legal argument or is going to court.

Most barristers are self-employed and work from chambers, although some work for government agencies or large firms.

Key Responsibilities of a Barrister:

• Represent clients in court
• Provide legal opinions to solicitors and clients
• Cross-examine witnesses
• Argue legal points and present cases before judges
• Negotiate settlements

How Is a Barrister Instructed?

In most cases, you will not contact a barrister directly. Instead, your solicitor will “instruct” a barrister on your behalf. However, in certain situations (via the Public Access Scheme), individuals can go directly to a barrister for legal advice or court representation.

Barrister vs Solicitor: What’s the Difference?

Aspect	Solicitor	Barrister
Role	Day-to-day legal advice, paperwork, case  management	Specialist court representation and legal advocacy
Client Contact	Works directly with clients	Usually instructed by a solicitor
Regulation	Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)	Bar Standards Board (BSB)
Court Appearance	May appear in lower courts	Appears in higher courts
Work Setting	Law firms or in-house	Usually self-employed, based in chambers
Special Rule	N/A	Must follow the Cab Rank Rule (they can’t refuse a case without a valid reason)

 

Do You Need a Solicitor or a Barrister?

It depends on the nature of your legal issue:

• Choose a solicitor if: you need legal advice, document drafting, negotiation support, or your case is at an early stage.
• You may need a barrister if: your case is going to court, or your solicitor advises that expert representation is required.

Need Legal Help?

Whether your situation calls for a solicitor, a barrister, we can guide you through the process. We can support clients across a wide range of legal matters, from everyday legal concerns to complex court cases.

Call us on 01202 294411  or contact us online to find out how we can help you.

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