Barrister vs Solicitor: What's the Difference?

Many people use the term lawyer to describe anyone working in the legal field, but in the United Kingdom the profession is split into two main roles: solicitors and barristers. If you’re a student considering a career in law, you might wonder what the difference is between these two roles.

The distinctions cover each role’s typical work, training, and even what they wear. This guide will break down the differences between barristers and solicitors, answer common questions, and help you understand which path might suit you best.

Lawyer vs Solicitor vs Barrister: Understanding the Terms

The term lawyer isn’t a specific job title in UK law – it’s a generic word for any licensed legal practitioner qualified to give legal advice. In other words, both solicitors and barristers are types of lawyers. However, just calling someone a “lawyer” doesn’t tell you which type they are or what kind of work they do.

In the United Kingdom, the legal profession is split: most lawyers choose to qualify as either a solicitor or a barrister. (By contrast, in countries like the United States, a single attorney can perform all legal tasks without this division.)

If you’ve watched courtroom dramas, you might picture lawyers as people dramatically shouting “objection!” in court. In the UK those courtroom lawyers are usually barristers, whereas solicitors handle much of the preparation and client-facing work outside the courtroom. The day-to-day duties of a lawyer here will differ greatly depending on whether they’re working as a solicitor or as a barrister.

What Does a Solicitor Do?

A solicitor is usually the first person you go to for legal help. Solicitors handle a wide range of legal work – providing advice to clients, drafting documents like contracts or wills, and negotiating settlements in disputes. They manage the day-to-day aspects of a case and guide clients through legal processes. Solicitors usually work in law firms (or sometimes within companies or government bodies as “in-house” lawyers) and often have direct contact with clients from the start to finish of a matter.

Compared to a barrister, most of a solicitor’s work happens outside the courtroom. They prepare cases for trial (for example, by gathering evidence, filing applications, and corresponding with the other side) and may represent clients in lower courts or straightforward hearings. However, if a case needs to go to a higher court or requires special advocacy skills, a solicitor will typically enlist a barrister to argue the case in court on the client’s behalf. (We’ll explain why and how they work together shortly.)

What Does a Barrister Do?

A barrister is a lawyer who specialises in courtroom advocacy – in other words, barristers are the ones who represent clients in front of a judge or jury. Their main tasks include presenting legal arguments, examining and cross-examining witnesses, and persuading the court to support their client’s case. Barristers often provide specialist legal opinions on complex matters as well. Notably, a barrister wears a wig and gown in court – the traditional court attire that visually distinguishes them from solicitors.

Unlike solicitors, most barristers are self-employed and work independently. They usually group together in offices called chambers (sharing administrative staff and resources, but not as a single company) rather than being employees of a firm.

Barristers typically become involved in a case when advocacy (courtroom representation) is needed. A barrister will use the groundwork prepared by a solicitor (all the documents, evidence, and legal research) to build and present the argument in court. In many cases, a client might never directly meet their barrister until the day of the hearing, because communication often goes through the solicitor.

Why Do Solicitors Instruct Barristers?

You might be wondering why a client needs two lawyers – a solicitor and a barrister – for one case. The main reason is that barristers are specialists in courtroom advocacy, whereas solicitors handle the groundwork.

In general, solicitors will bring in a barrister when a case goes to court because barristers excel at presenting cases, cross-examining witnesses, and arguing fine points of law before judges. Barristers also have broader rights of audience (the right to appear and speak in higher courts). While solicitors can represent clients in some courts, they cannot automatically appear in every court unless they obtain additional qualifications. So for serious or complex trials, a solicitor will instruct a barrister to represent the client in court.

This partnership plays to each lawyer’s strengths. The solicitor, who knows the client and the details of the case, prepares everything needed for trial – documents, evidence, and legal arguments. The barrister, as an independent advocate, then presents that case in court in the most effective way. The theory is that working together, they give the client the best chance of success in their case.

Solicitor Advocate vs Barrister

You may have heard of solicitor advocates – these are solicitors who have obtained extra qualifications to act as advocates in higher courts, essentially blurring the difference between solicitor and barrister.

A solicitor advocate is fully qualified as a solicitor but also has the same “rights of audience” as a barrister, meaning they can represent clients in all courts. In recent years, more solicitors have pursued this route, allowing them to handle a case all the way from preliminary advice to courtroom advocacy without needing to bring in a barrister.

Despite these similar courtroom rights, there are still some differences between a solicitor advocate and a traditional barrister. One is court attire: barristers wear wigs and gowns, whereas solicitor advocates generally do not have a specific court uniform and typically wear ordinary business dress in court.

Another difference is in their working structure – a solicitor advocate usually remains an employee of a law firm, working as part of a team, while a barrister is self-employed and part of an independent chambers. This means a solicitor advocate enjoys a stable salary and employee benefits (like paid holidays or sick leave), whereas a self-employed barrister’s income can vary and they don’t get those benefits.

For clients, using a solicitor advocate can be convenient: the same lawyer who has been handling their case from the start also represents them in court. However, barristers still maintain a distinctive role, especially in highly specialized or complex cases where their singular focus on advocacy can be an advantage. Solicitor advocates are a bridge between the two worlds, but the traditional split between solicitor and barrister remains an important feature of the UK legal system.

Qualifying as a Solicitor or Barrister

Whether you become a solicitor or barrister depends on the training you complete. Typically, future lawyers either earn a law degree or another degree followed by a law conversion course, to cover the necessary legal basics. (One exception to this is Cilex Lawyers – solicitors who can qualify without going to university.)

After that, the paths of a barrister and solicitor diverge:

Becoming a Barrister

After your degree (and conversion course if needed), you must complete a specialized postgraduate Bar training program (currently called the Bar Practice Course, BPC). This course focuses on advocacy skills, evidence, and procedure.

Once you pass the BPC, you undertake a one-year apprenticeship called pupillage. Pupillage is divided into two six-month periods: in the first “six” you shadow experienced barristers, and in the second you begin to take on cases yourself under supervision. Upon completing pupillage, you can officially qualify and practise as a barrister.

Becoming a Solicitor

After university, an aspiring solicitor must complete the professional training for solicitors. As of 2021, the new route involves passing the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) – a set of two rigorous exams – and also acquiring at least two years of practical work experience in law.

This work experience is often gained via a training contract (a two-year period working under supervision at a law firm) or other equivalent placements. After passing SQE Stage 1 and 2 and finishing the required experience, you can apply to be admitted as a solicitor.

Learn more about becoming a solicitor in our dedicated guide.

Is It Harder to Become a Barrister or Solicitor?

It’s worth noting that the barrister route is generally more competitive, since far fewer people qualify as new barristers each year compared to new solicitors. With only limited pupillage spots available, excellent performance in your academic career is needed.

The solicitor route also requires strong credentials, but there are more positions available in law firms for trainees.

Barrister vs Solicitor Salaries

One common question is whether barristers or solicitors earns a higher salary. In truth, it depends – earnings in both careers vary widely based on experience, area of law, and where you work. That said, both solicitors and barristers have the potential to earn high incomes as they become more senior, though their earnings patterns differ.

Solicitor Salary

As employees, solicitors receive a regular salary. A newly qualified solicitor’s pay can range from around £25,000 at a small regional firm up to £50,000 or more at a large London firm for a first-year solicitor.

With experience, solicitor salaries rise. The average solicitor in the UK earns about £55,000 a year, and those at big commercial firms or in highly paid specialties can earn six figures. Senior solicitors who become partners (owners) in major firms can even earn salaries or profit shares in the hundreds of thousands of pounds annually.

Barrister Salary

Barristers, being self-employed, don’t have a set “salary” – they charge fees per case or hearing. In the early stage of a barrister’s career (during pupillage and the first few years of practice), income is relatively low.

The Bar Standards Board sets a minimum pupillage award (around £18,000–£20,000), and many junior barristers in fields like criminal law struggle with modest earnings. However, as barristers gain experience, their potential income can become quite large.

After a few years, a barrister’s annual earnings might range roughly from £50,000 to £200,000 (especially in London), but there is huge variation. Top barristers in lucrative areas (like commercial or corporate law) can earn well over £200,000 per year – some leading barristers charge astronomical hourly rates.

On the other hand, those in lower-paid areas (for example, criminal defense work funded by legal aid) may earn much less. This disparity has even led to recent strikes by criminal barristers seeking better pay.

Barrister vs Solicitor Salary: Conclusion

Overall, both careers can be financially rewarding, especially after the first few years. Solicitors often enjoy more financial stability early on (with a guaranteed salary), whereas barristers have a higher risk-and-reward profile – their income can leap significantly with a strong reputation, but it can also be inconsistent month to month.

Is a Barrister Better Than a Solicitor?

Neither role is inherently “better” than the other – they are simply different. Solicitors and barristers each have their own strengths and serve crucial functions in the legal system. One is not ranked above the other; in fact, they often work together as partners in a case. The question for an aspiring lawyer is really which role better fits your skills and interests.

Some people frame the choice in terms of personality or working style. For example, it’s often said that a barrister is more suited to an “individualist” who enjoys independent work and public speaking, while a solicitor is ideal for a “team player” who likes collaborative problem-solving.

There is some truth to this: barristers spend a lot of time working solo (researching and preparing arguments) and advocating in court, whereas solicitors work in teams within firms and interact frequently with clients. However, the reality is not so black-and-white – both barristers and solicitors need a mix of teamwork and independent thinking.

When deciding between a career as a barrister vs a solicitor, consider what day-to-day work appeals to you. If you love the idea of arguing a case in court, crafting persuasive speeches, and don’t mind being self-employed, the barrister path might attract you.

If you prefer building long-term client relationships, working as part of an organization, and having a bit more routine in your schedule, you might lean toward becoming a solicitor. Some lawyers even qualify as both, or switch from one branch to the other during their career, but this is relatively uncommon.

Finally, remember that you do not have to decide immediately. Many law students explore both options through work experience – for instance, doing a mini-pupillage (shadowing a barrister for a short time) and a vacation scheme (internship at a law firm) – before choosing their path.

Both solicitors and barristers play vital roles in upholding the law, and neither can do the job of the other alone. The “best” choice depends on what kind of legal career you want and where you think you’ll thrive.

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