Can you really become a lawyer if you are not a brstr/slctr?
Discussion
A lawyer told me the other day that you can become a lawyer by getting a law degree and persuing an academic path rather than practicing. Furthermore if you do that there's none of the pesky requirements to not be a dodgy fellow.
Is that actually correct?
P.S. I told her in reply that I have heard that the overwhelming majority of what I would consider "real" lawyers tend to hold the academics in contempt. Is that correct either?
Is that actually correct?
P.S. I told her in reply that I have heard that the overwhelming majority of what I would consider "real" lawyers tend to hold the academics in contempt. Is that correct either?
Somewhatfoolish said:
A lawyer told me the other day that you can become a lawyer by getting a law degree and persuing an academic path rather than practicing. Furthermore if you do that there's none of the pesky requirements to not be a dodgy fellow.
Is that actually correct?
P.S. I told her in reply that I have heard that the overwhelming majority of what I would consider "real" lawyers tend to hold the academics in contempt. Is that correct either?
A lawyer is a solicitor, right?Is that actually correct?
P.S. I told her in reply that I have heard that the overwhelming majority of what I would consider "real" lawyers tend to hold the academics in contempt. Is that correct either?
The academic route is probably the way to go unless you have a relative who is a solicitor, barrister.
A law degree is useless nowadays unless you plan to go on to do your expensive exams afterwards and they are a long way from what they were 10-20 years back.
Speaking from experience I work with a few people who did law degrees without going on to become lawyers.
How do i put it nicely, they are thick as s
t. You couldn't hold an intelligent conversation with them if you tried.
A law degree is useless nowadays unless you plan to go on to do your expensive exams afterwards and they are a long way from what they were 10-20 years back.
Speaking from experience I work with a few people who did law degrees without going on to become lawyers.
How do i put it nicely, they are thick as s
t. You couldn't hold an intelligent conversation with them if you tried.A lawyer is someone who practises or studies law. An undergraduate law student could quite properly be referred to as a lawyer.
An academic cannot practise law unless he or she is also qualified as a solicitor or barrister (Scotland might be slightly different).
Academics sometimes advise practitioners on the law.
An academic cannot practise law unless he or she is also qualified as a solicitor or barrister (Scotland might be slightly different).
Academics sometimes advise practitioners on the law.
Zeeky said:
A lawyer is someone who practises or studies law. An undergraduate law student could quite properly be referred to as a lawyer.
An academic cannot practise law unless he or she is also qualified as a solicitor or barrister (Scotland might be slightly different).
Academics sometimes advise practitioners on the law.
Most people would look on a lawyer as someone who practises law, not someone who is studying it. But in the UK it doesn't have a specific meaning, in the USA it does, but not here. An academic cannot practise law unless he or she is also qualified as a solicitor or barrister (Scotland might be slightly different).
Academics sometimes advise practitioners on the law.
I have had some legal training, I used to give employment advice, I could have called myself a lawyer, there is nothing to stop me whilst I couldn't call myself a solicitor or barrister because those are specific. If an academic wants to call themselves a lawyer there is nothing to stop them, but it doesn't really mean anything.
Many but not all academics who teach or research law are qualified as barristers or solicitors, and some practise law part time, but it is possible to pursue an academic career without a professional legal qualification. To make progress in academia nowadays, you really need a doctorate in your field.
In the UK the term lawyer usually embraces solicitors and barristers (called advocates in Scotland). The term can also embrace Legal Executives, Notaries, and Patent Agents/Trademark Attorneys.
In the UK the term lawyer usually embraces solicitors and barristers (called advocates in Scotland). The term can also embrace Legal Executives, Notaries, and Patent Agents/Trademark Attorneys.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 21st August 22:36
Somewhatfoolish said:
P.S. I told her in reply that I have heard that the overwhelming majority of what I would consider "real" lawyers tend to hold the academics in contempt. Is that correct either?
No. Several members of my chambers are academics. It is fair to say that academic law and practical law can be far apart, but legal academics are generally esteemed by practitioners, and a small number of eminent academics have quasi-authoritative status when cited in Court.I add that being an academic is not a soft option. In a research led university, the workload is high, and the pay is not that great.
ging84 said:
Zeeky said:
A lawyer is someone who practises or studies law. An undergraduate law student could quite properly be referred to as a lawyer.
if i buy one law text book that i read or intend to read, can i start calling myself a lawyer?i think might do even if you say no
Somewhatfoolish said:
ging84 said:
if i buy one law text book that i read or intend to read, can i start calling myself a lawyer?
i think might do even if you say no
I'm going to call myself a lawyer too because I intend to read it after you havei think might do even if you say no
It is definitely a confusing area, certainly to the layman.
Take for instance a professional who is not a solicitor, but has many years training in, and experience of practising in a specific area of 'Law' I suppose, such as Will advice and creation, conducting Probate duties etc.
would he/she be able to legitimately claim he/she is a 'Lawyer'?
Take for instance a professional who is not a solicitor, but has many years training in, and experience of practising in a specific area of 'Law' I suppose, such as Will advice and creation, conducting Probate duties etc.
would he/she be able to legitimately claim he/she is a 'Lawyer'?
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