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The term ‘lawyer’ can be applied to anyone who is qualified as a legal practitioner, which includes solicitors and barristers.

A solicitor is a legal professional who works to bring a case to court. They will work directly with the parties involved, including managing the communication between both sides. However, a solicitor cannot represent you in court. Instead, they will instruct a barrister or another legal professional to speak on your behalf.

A high level of integrity, professionalism, and determination to bring about justice and a fair resolution to your case are some of the top qualities to look out for in a lawyer. This also includes advising you when a case is not worth bringing to court too. The longer a solicitor, lawyer, or notary public has been working in the legal profession, the more experience they have to help you in whatever matter you need them for. Ideally, you should research them beforehand including what they specialise in, and if they offer a free consultation.

The world of law is very complex, and there are many different types of lawyers. Here are some of the most common ones.

• Criminal - A criminal lawyer will represent someone accused of a crime. They will cover the entire case, and often they will be experienced in other areas of related law too such as extradition.

• Divorce - A divorce lawyer will help bring about a dissolve of a marriage which begins by serving divorce papers to the other party. They will also represent their client in court to achieve a fair division of assets.

• Immigration - An immigration lawyer will assist with things such as UK visa applications or deportation issues. They can help ensure someone is fairly granted the right to remain in the country, especially if they have established roots here, or would be in danger if they returned to their country of origin.

• Personal Injury - If you’ve had an accident that wasn’t your fault, then a personal injury solicitor can help bring your case to court. They will strive to bring about monetary compensation or even a change in legislation based on your experience.

To offer the services of a lawyer, solicitor, or notary public, the individual must go through several years of training. This begins with a law degree or a graduate diploma in law. When considering which legal professional to go for, they should state their credentials on their website. Different legal trade bodies are available to point you in the right direction.

A barrister is someone who presents a case before a jury or judge in a courtroom. They will typically specialise in a particular area of law, such as family law. Barristers have less interaction with their clients, especially compared to a solicitor. Instead, they are there to best present the information to the court and use their expertise to argue the case.

If you’ve been told you need a document notarised, then you must consult a notary public. A notary assists in legal matters involving paperwork and the signing or authentication of documents. Usually, these documents are to be filed abroad. For example, if you are buying a house or need a power of attorney in another country.

A notary will make sure you understand the document you are signing, and that you are who you say you are, through what’s known as an apostille. This is an official document from the Foreign Office which provides proof of identity, which is sometimes needed when signing legal documents. A notary public will organise this and make the process as smooth as possible, even when the deadline is urgent. Only around 800 notary publics operate in the UK. In some cases, a solicitor can also perform some of the duties of a notary public.

The cost of hiring a lawyer very much depends on their experience, what you need them for, and where they are based. Every service a lawyer provides will also have a fixed fee, and there could be additional charges if the lawyer has to travel far too.

Definitely! Whatever you're facing, your qualified lawyer, solicitor or notary public will be able to offer expert advice from anywhere in the world via phone or video call, so you can get the support you need.