Legal Personnel - English Legal System

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Legal Personnel

The judiciary:

Appointed by the Judicial Appointments Commission are responsible for appointing/recommending judges for appointment.

Usually judges started as barristers and started off with part time judicial work. Can now also be solicitors.

The independence of the judiciary from the legislature is EXTREMELY important and fundamental principle of the English Legal System.

Solicitors:

Usually the first port of call

Give legal advice, draft documents and now often advocacy

Might be very general legal work or specialise

Most form partnerships but could work in house as solicitors for large organisations

Professional body = Law Society.

When training, do 2 year training contracts before qualifying.

Barristers:

Usually the client is instructed by the solicitor to go and see a particular barrister and take cases under the cab rank rule (first come first serve basis)

Senior barristers known as Queens Council/Silks

Act as advocates in all courts (with wigs & gowns), write opinions on law and draft legal documents

Usually specialise

Usually self employed sitting in chambers (sharing overheads & a clerk with other barristers)

Professional body = Bar Council

Do a pupillage for 1 year before qualifying.

Legal executives:

May work in a variety of legal areas/specialise

Trained in law but no law degree

Professional body - Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX)

Paralegals:

Carries out legal work but not a solicitor/barrister/legal exec

No formal qualifications are needed

Professional body - Institute of Paralegals

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