solicitoradvocates

Solicitor advocates are solicitors who have been granted rights of audience in the higher courts, enabling them to appear and advocate in court in addition to performing standard solicitor duties. In England and Wales, higher rights of audience are conferred after completion of approved advocacy training and examinations, overseen by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Once authorised, solicitor advocates can appear in civil matters in the High Court and Court of Appeal, and in criminal matters before the Crown Court, subject to the scope of their granted rights. They may act as sole counsel or as the instructing solicitor in partnership with barristers, depending on the case and jurisdiction, or work independently in firms or in-house.

Training and regulation: After qualifying as a solicitor, candidates undertake advocacy-specific training including practical advocacy assessments and written and oral examinations. The SRA sets professional standards, and solicitor advocates must maintain their continuing professional development.

Role and practice: Solicitor advocates provide courtroom advocacy across civil and criminal work, often handling interlocutory hearings, trials, and appeals. They offer direct client representation, potentially reducing the need for separate barristers in certain proceedings, though many cases historically involve a barrister as independent counsel.

Distinction: The key distinction is that solicitor advocates are solicitors with higher rights of audience; they combine general legal practice with advocacy rights, whereas barristers are typically separate from solicitors and traditionally specialize in advocacy.

See also: Solicitors Regulation Authority, Rights of Audience, Higher Rights of Audience, Barristers, Direct Access.