What is a solicitor?
A solicitor is a legal professional who offers expert advice, guidance, and representation to clients on various legal matters.
Unlike barristers who typically specialise in courtroom advocacy, solicitors are versatile legal practitioners involved in a broad range of legal tasks, ranging from providing legal advice and drafting documents to negotiating settlements and representing clients in legal proceedings.
Harewood Law has over 40 years’ experience as criminal defence solicitors. This is what we do:
What is the role of a solicitor?
Solicitors act as the first point of contact for legal advice.
The role of a solicitor is multifaceted, encompassing responsibilities aimed at protecting the interests of their clients. This involves proactively preparing a case for a barrister that puts you in the best position possible when placed before a court of law. Solicitors will:
Advise clients
Solicitors provide legal counsel to individuals, businesses, and organisations. They assess legal issues, provide guidance on rights and obligations, and strategize courses of action tailored to their clients' specific needs and circumstances.
Draw up contracts
One of the fundamental tasks of solicitors is drafting legal documents and contracts.
Whether it's agreements between parties, employment contracts, or property transactions, solicitors meticulously draft documents to formalise legal relationships and protect their clients' interests.
Negotiate and mediate
Solicitors often engage in negotiations and mediations to resolve disputes outside the courtroom. Through skilled negotiation techniques and alternative dispute resolution methods, they strive to achieve favourable outcomes for their clients while mitigating conflicts and avoiding costly litigation.
Conduct legal research
Solicitors conduct thorough legal research to analyse case law, statutes, and regulations pertinent to their clients' cases, ensuring informed decision-making and effective representation.
Court Representation
While solicitors primarily operate outside the courtroom, they may also represent clients in certain legal proceedings, such as small claims court, tribunals, and some civil hearings.
Do solicitors represent clients in court?
It is not common for solicitors to represent clients in court. In High Court and complex litigation cases, solicitors will prepare the case for a barrister.
In lower courts, and in non-contentious legal matters, they can represent clients in court under certain legal circumstances. They will advocate on behalf of their client, present arguments, examine witnesses and make submissions to the court. However, it is more common for the barrister to perform these duties.
Types of solicitor
Within the legal profession, solicitors often specialise in specific areas of law to provide focused expertise and tailored solutions to clients. Some common types of solicitors include:
Commercial Solicitors: Specialising in business law, commercial solicitors advise businesses on corporate governance, contracts, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance.
Family Solicitors: Family law solicitors handle legal matters related to marriage, divorce, child custody, adoption, and domestic disputes, providing compassionate support and guidance during emotionally challenging times.
Property Solicitors: Property solicitors assist clients with real estate transactions, including buying, selling, leasing, and resolving property disputes, ensuring smooth and legally sound property transactions.
Employment Solicitors: Employment law solicitors advise both employers and employees on employment contracts, workplace discrimination, wrongful termination, and other labour-related matters, advocating for fair treatment and compliance with employment laws.
Criminal Defense Solicitors: Criminal defence solicitors represent individuals accused of criminal offences, defending their right to be heard in court, preparing defence strategies, and advocating for fair treatment within the criminal justice system.
What do Harewood Law’s solicitors cover?
Harewood Law are expert criminal defence lawyers specialising in:
Serious crime
Financial crime
Road traffic offences
Criminal appeals
Inquests
Regulatory law
Our aim is to give every person a chance to fight for justice, as the law allows. We make sure you have the most experienced criminal defence team in your corner to build a robust case defence, and provide legal advice throughout the duration of your case.
Contact Harewood Law today, we work on both privately funded and serious Legal Aid cases across Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Keighley and across West Yorkshire and the UK.
0333 3448377 | info@harewoodlaw.com
