How solicitors and barristers differ

Legal systems and terminology vary greatly between countries. In Australia, even different states have variations. The Queensland Law Society uses the following terminology.

Solicitors are lawyers who specialise in a wide range of legal documentation (for example, wills and contracts). While they do have a right of appearance, they usually restrict themselves to representing clients in the Magistrates Court and briefing barristers in the higher courts.

Barristers are lawyers who specialise in court advocacy (including the preparation of pleadings for those court cases) and the preparation of specialist legal opinions. They do not prepare wills and contracts (although they do advise on them) and do not undertake conveyancing.

Judges are usually chosen from experienced barristers, although solicitors have been appointed as judges. More information about barristers is available from the Queensland Bar Association.

Other terms such as attorney and advocate are generally not used in Queensland to describe lawyers.