What do lawyers do? e


verywhere you look there’s a little bit of law


Everyone has their favourite scurrilous lawyer joke, but on the whole it’s not actually a profession made up of ambulance chasers and fat cats. Lawyers perform a valuable role, especially as law is entwined with every aspect of our society - from the age at which you can take your driving test to the speed at which you can drive when you pass it; from the minimum wage you can expect to earn in a new job to the rights you have should you lose it.


The first thing to know is that the profession has two main branches – you can become either a solicitor or a barrister. Generally speaking, solicitors give advice and assistance on matters of law. They are the first point of


contact for people and bodies (eg, companies and charities) seeking legal advice and representation. Most solicitors work together in firms, while others work in central or local government, or in a legal department within a company or organisation.


While solicitors are found in a variety of areas of law, the fundamentals of the job remain largely the same. These include:


• meeting clients, finding out their needs and establishing how to help;


• researching relevant areas of law and proposing courses of action to clients;


• drafting letters, contracts and other legal documents; and


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