The legal profession in England and Wales is divided into two distinct branches: solicitors and barristers. Solicitors are responsible for processing cases for representation in court, while barristers are responsible for bringing cases to court. Other legal professions in England and Wales include acting as a judge, Attorney General, or Director of Public Prosecution. Lawyers in England and Wales are one of the two main categories of lawyers, the other being attorneys. Lawyers typically provide advice, draft documents, conduct negotiations, prepare cases for trial, and hire lawyers to advise them on special issues or to advocate before higher courts.
Attorneys do most of the legal office work and, in general, a lawyer does not do any work except through an attorney. In some jurisdictions, whether the judiciary or the Ministry of Justice, directly oversee the admission, licensing and regulation of lawyers. In other jurisdictions, these powers have been granted to a professional association to which all lawyers must belong.
