A chambers has apologised for stating that barristers are superior to solicitors.
Chartlands Chambers in Northampton stirred up a legal hornet’s nest when it posed the question, ‘Is a barrister higher up than a solicitor?’ in the Frequently Asked Questions section of its website.
“A barrister is generally considered more senior within the British legal system”, it answered.
“Barristers are specialists who represent clients in higher courts, while solicitors typically handle day-to-day legal work”.
Pff. Only if they’re stabding on a chair.
While it may be true that barristers have immense knowledge of their practice areas, the view among briefs that solicitors are only good for trivial busywork is rarely stated so publicly.
Chartlands’ explainer did clarify that “the relationship is not strictly hierarchical”, but the rest of the post made it clear what the author really thought.
Solicitors “serve as the point of contact for clients, providing advice, negotiation and drafting legal documents”, stated the FAQ.
“Their work primarily revolves around the desk”, it continued accurately, if a little hurtfully.
“In contrast, barristers are the legal warriors who stand ready to champion their clients’ cases in the courtroom.”
When solicitor Heledd Wyn posted the controversial Q&A on LinkedIn, she was flooded with responses.
“Misplaced arrogance and a sense of superiority are endemic in the profession” said Aberystwyth University law professor Emyr Lewis.
“Those who display these attitudes often fail to realise that they are wrong until it’s too late, and that pesky solicitor/provincial pettifogger/mere paralegal has got the better of them”.
But solicitors acknowledged that despite themselves, they held barristers in high regard.
“As a solicitor, it really stings that this… kind of rings true, at least in terms of perception by the general public”, said Bindmans partner Alexander Mahdavi.
