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A solicitor's role is to give specialist legal advice and help. As society becomes more complicated the need for the services of the solicitor rises, and the profession's influence expands.

Solicitors are the main advisers on all matters of law to the public. Studying law for a career as a solicitor offers the chance to combine intellectual challenge, interest and variety with the opportunity to work with and for people. Training is very competitive, and anyone intending to become a solicitor should be aware of the commitment which is required.

The Role of the Solicitor

There are over 60,000 solicitors practising in England and Wales and their work varies enormously. A solicitor's job is to provide clients (members of the public, businesses, voluntary bodies, charities etc.) with skilled legal advice and representation, including representing them in court. Most solicitors work in private practice, which is a partnership of solicitors who offer services to clients. Others work as employed solicitors for Central and Local Government, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Magistrate's Courts Service, a commercial or industrial organisation or other bodies. If you become a solicitor, you can choose the kind of environment which suits you best.

Private Practice

You will find a solicitor's firm in nearly every town in England and Wales. A solicitor is usually the first point of contact for anyone looking for legal advice. A solicitor's firm can vary from a large organisation with hundreds of partners, thousands of employees and offices all over the world, to a small firm above a shop in a local high street.

General Practice

Solicitors in general practice usually work in a small or medium-sized firm, and serve the local community, dealing with the legal problems of the public. They may carry out conveyancing (the buying and selling of houses and land), investigate claims which arise from injury, or advise and represent people in court on their client's behalf in criminal matters. Family law and childcare law are important nowadays, and solicitors often represent clients in court in divorce cases. They make wills and administer the estates of people who have died.

Solicitors often advise businesses on such matters as employment laws, contracts and company formations. Solicitors are often at the centre of a local business community.

Specialist Practices

Many large firms, particularly those in the City of London, or the business areas of other large cities, specialise in the large, corporate client who sometimes has urgent, multi-million pound deals. Such firms often have multi-national clients, and may have offices in major financial and business centres throughout the world. Many solicitors and firms specialise in areas of law in which they are expert, and specialisms can include corporate and commercial law, insurance, the registration of patents and copyrights, shipping, banking, entertainment and media law and many others.

Legal Aid Practices

Many firms specialise in issues brought by the legally aided client, the client who cannot normally afford a solicitor's fees. Solicitors here will concentrate on such matters as divorce law, welfare benefits, crime, claims when someone has been injured, giving help to clients who are unable to pay their rent, and assisting those who are victims of medical negligence.

Meeting Clients

Solicitors with good communication skills, whether they are written, verbal or interpersonal, are in demand. Intending trainees should be aware that a high standard of literacy is required. Some solicitors spend a lot of time with clients but others in big commercial practices may very rarely have direct contact with the source of their work. You should think carefully about which area of the law you want to enter. Although the training for all solicitors is the same, many will specialise after qualifying.