1. Week 4 - Personnel of the courts
Unit 3 – Law for Business
Week 4 - Personnel of the courts
Fda Business
Victoria Grace

2. Objectives of session Re-cap from previous week
Start to examine the role, work and training of a variety of personnel involved in the legal system
Fda Business
Victoria Grace

3. Solicitor Description Training Work alone or in partnership
Deal directly with the public
Approx. 80,000 solicitors in England and Wales
Accountable to the Law Society
Training
Law degree
Legal practice course (1yr)
Training contract (2yr)
Fda Business
Victoria Grace

4. Barrister Description Training Work alone Offices called ‘chambers’
Represent people in court mainly
Must take instruction from a solicitor not directly from public
Approx. 9,500 barristers in England and Wales
Governed by the General Council of the Bar
Training
Law degree
Bar vocational course (2yr)
Join one of the ‘inns’ and complete 12 qualifying sessions
Middle temple
Gray’s inn
Inner temple
Lincolns inn
Complete a pupillage (1yr)
Fda Business
Victoria Grace

5. Barrister cont’d….. Queens Council Juniors More senior and experienced
Take more complicated cases
Must have minimum 10yrs experience
Majority of Judiciary taken from QC
Juniors
Less experienced
Juniors can help QC’s deal with cases in court
Fda Business
Victoria Grace

6. Legal executive Similar to solicitors
Specialise in a particular area of law
5 yrs of experience working under a solicitor
Includes property, contract and family mainly
Complete an ILEX qual in law
Fda Business
Victoria Grace

7. Paralegal Not qualified solicitors or barristers
Carry out duties such as;
Legal research
Interviewing witnesses
Attending court
Clerical tasks
Providing legal info.
Drafting legal documents
Need a good standard of education
Good understanding of the legal system
Usually have a law degree
Fda Business
Victoria Grace

8. Legal services ombudsman
Current is Zahida Manzoor (CBE)
Role is to ensure complaints raised by public are dealt with in a fair and impartial manner
Fda Business
Victoria Grace

9. ACTIVITY 1
In pairs list the top 6 skills you feel are important for someone wanting to become a barrister – record your answers on flip chart paper and present to the rest of the group
Fda Business
Victoria Grace