2) The difference between a lawyer, a barrister and a solicitor .
A lawyer is a term used to describe a person who is trained in law. There are two types of lawyers, a barrister and a solicitor.
Solicitors are a type of lawyer and are required to take certain matters into consideration before they accept a retainer. Solicitors are not obliged to act for clients and they do not have to accept work. Some legal practitioners, however, believe there is a moral obligation to take on criminal matters in emergency situations or when no other practitioner is available. Solicitors are the people that you would go to initially if you have a legal problem, solicitors can present you in court or complete legal work for you e.g constructing a will. If your case is of a very serious matter they will recommend you to a barrister to represent you in a higher court.
Barristers are a type of lawyer and don't generally deal with the public, although it is not prohibited. Solicitors talk to barristers on behalf of their clients if they feel it is necessary. Solicitors come to barristers and ask for them to act as an advocate for the court if it is necessary. The solicitor will brief them on the case and give them all the relevant information, the barrister will then accept if the case is within their expertise, the fee is acceptable and if there is no conflict of Interest or such. Barristers are eligible to be appointed as senior counsel or be made judges, if they have attained a level of recognition and seniority.
3) The jury's role.
Jury's are only used in the higher courts in more sensitive issues and not generally in the local and/or district courts. Jury's can be used in both civil and criminal cases. The jury's role is to be the adjudicators of matters of fact, as opposed to the judge, who is the adjudicator of matters of law. Juries are used both in civil and criminal law. Jurors are chosen randomly from a computer database.
