An English question for our cousins across the pond?

Question by Randy P: An English question for our cousins across the pond?
I am American. To me, an attorney and a lawyer are the same thing. We don’t use the word “barrister” or “solicitor”. “Lawyer” is more common, and “attorney” tends to be used in more formal settings.

But in England (and possibly other UK countries) you use all four of those words, and I gather they aren’t interchangeable. Can somebody explain to me the difference, if they really are different?

Best answer:

Answer by Fran UK Man
Incorrect. The word ‘lawyer’ is creeping into the language because it is common through films, etc.

There is an Attorney General (boss of the Crown Prosecution Service), but in general there are two types of representation:

a) solicitor – these are your first port of call: police/criminal things, divorce, etc

But they cannot represent you in a Crown Court (usually serious criminal matters). They are physically allowed into the building, but not to participate.

So, what happens is that if your case (as a defendent/client) is going to a Crown Court, the solicitor asks a barrister to take up the case. These are the people you see with wigs on.

Solicitors are allowed in Magistrates’ Courts (traffic offences, minor violence, drunks etc).

Other UK-related places have slightly different systems – I am not sure about India or Sri Lanka, but in Scotland they have Sherrifs.

What do you think? Answer below!