Working in the Law

Roles in Legal Profession

The legal profession has various roles, including solicitors, barristers, paralegals, legal executives, and judges.
Solicitors offer specialist legal advice to clients, draft legal documents, negotiate on their behalf, and can represent them in lower courts.
Barristers typically represent clients in court. They provide expert legal advice and argue their client’s position during trials.
Paralegals are legal professionals who may do much of the same work as a solicitor. They often work under the supervision of solicitors or barristers.
Judges decide on the facts in a case, apply the law and make decisions about legal disputes.

Legal education and Career Progression

Becoming a legal professional involves extensive education and training. This often includes studying law at university, attending law school, and completing a period of supervised practice.
Legal professionals must maintain their continuing professional development (CPD) to keep updated with latest developments in legislation.
Career progression in law is based on experience, skill, and specialisation. Solicitors can become partners in their firm, while barristers can become Queen’s Counsel or judges.

Ethics in Legal Practice

Legal professionals must adhere to the laws and ethical standards of their profession to maintain integrity and trustworthiness.
They should act in the best interests of their clients, maintain client confidences, and avoid conflicts of interest.
Breaking these rules can lead to disciplinary action, including disbarment or striking off the roll.

Dispute Resolution Methods

When legal disputes arise, they can be resolved through various methods, such as negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation.
In negotiation, the parties resolve the dispute themselves, sometimes with the help of legal advisors.
In mediation, a neutral third party helps to guide the negotiation process, but does not make a decision.
Arbitration is a private process in which a neutral third party called an arbitrator hears evidence and makes a decision.
Litigation is a public process that takes place in court, where a judge makes the final decision after hearing both sides.

Consumer Rights and Businesses

Consumers have legal rights when making purchases from businesses, such as rights to a fair sales contract, safe products, and fair service.
Businesses have a duty to uphold these rights. They must provide accurate information about their goods and services, act in a way that is fair and transparent, and handle complaints professionally and promptly.
If businesses fail to uphold consumer rights, they can face legal consequences, including penalties and negative publicity.