The full and accurate name for a solicitor is a “Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales”. A solicitor is a person that practices law, by being a legal practioner and they give legal advice on a variety of proceedings. In some cases, solicitors are still called attorney’s, which is an old term that was used but is still in use in English Law. However, this terminology is more focused on someone who has been chosen to be someone’s ‘power of attorney’ or a ‘last power of attorney’. Creating their own responsibilities to their friend and/or relative.
If you wanted to practice in England and Wales then you must pay an annual fee to attain your practising certificate. There are two bodies that make up the professional regulation for solicitors in England and Wales. The Law Society of England and Wales represents the profession and the Solicitors Regulation Authority acts independently. If complaints are received about a particular solicitor, then these aredirected at the Legal Ombudsman. An investigation is then started.
To become a solicitor there is extensive training and qualifications that must be achieved, all of which is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. If you wanted to gain the status, there are two paths you could take as a graduate. If you hold a qualifying Law Degree you can enrol with the Law Society and study the Legal Practice Course. Candidates holding a non-law degree but nonetheless a qualifying degree must undertake a conversion course before enrolling with the Legal Practice Course. When you have completed your Legal Practice Course the future solicitor must complete a two-year training contract in order to complete this.