A common question that often arises is what the difference between a solicitor and a barrister is, or if a solicitor needs a barrister, why don’t I just engage a barrister directly?
There are more than 10,000 solicitors (that work in law firms) and fewer than 1,000 barristers (that work independently) in Queensland. Unlike shows such as Suits, Boston Legal, and about every other legal TV show and movie around, on average, the main role of most lawyers is not appearing in court, and some solicitors and barristers never appear in court.
As a side note, “lawyer” and “legal practitioner” are both generic terms in Queensland for solicitors and barristers.
This article looks at the differences between solicitors and barristers (Solicitors v Barristers).