Why do I need a barrister?
You may have a court date coming up, do you need a barrister? That will largely depend on what the purpose of the court date is, but firstly let’s look at what the difference between a solicitor and barrister even is.
On a basic level, a solicitor is a highly trained legal professional that focuses on the day-to-day legal matters of their clients. While in Queensland they can appear in court on behalf of their client, if necessary, they typically spend most of their time outside the courtroom.
A barrister is a lawyer who specialises in court advocacy, including the preparation of pleadings for those court cases, and the preparation of specialist legal opinions. They don’t prepare wills and contracts, though they do advise on them, nor do they undertake conveyancing. Typically spending most of their time actually in court.
We, as solicitors, do recommend the engagement of a Barrister if a case is proceeding to a final hearing or a hearing requiring legal argument. A barrister can provide effective representation and advocacy, with:
- Specialised knowledge of their area of law. For us, that is family and relationship law;
- Detailed knowledge of the rules of evidence and their application;
- Full understanding of litigation tactics;
- The skills to identify the most appropriate case preparation; and
- The ability to persuade the other party or the court of the merits of the case.
The usual route to becoming a Barrister is from having initially been a solicitor. Judges are usually appointed from experienced Barristers. Solicitors forge good working relationships with Barristers and are likely to be able to identify the most suitable Barrister to deal with your case.
If you are about to separate or are separated, and have any questions about Family and Relationship Law – contact Michael Lynch Family Lawyers on (07) 3221 4300 today.
