The History of Solicitors

The solicitor’ profession has a long history, going back to the 12-th century, when the language of the courts was Norman French and litigants therefore needed a representative to act as a translator. This representative might also appear in court on the client behalf. They were known as attorneys, and were the forerunners of today’s solicitor. Over the centuries a division grew up between the attorneys and court pleaders, or barristers.

The profession was largely unregulated until the beginning of the 19-th century when the Law Society was founded. It was granted a Royal Charter in 1845, which empowered it to enforce national standards of conduct and education. About the same time the term “attorney” was dropped in favour of the title “solicitor”. The duties of the Law Society have been extended by various Acts of Parliament since then.

The Council of the Law Society is its governing body and has the power to regulate the profession. The 75 members of the Council are elected from the profession by constituency or appointment by specialism.

1. The writer says that… a) he language of the courts was English. b) official language of the courts was French. c) people speak Norman French in the courts.	3. A Royal Charter was granted to empower the Law Society… a) to separate national standards of conduct and education. b) to ignore national standards of conduct and education. c) to enforce national standards of conduct and education.
2. The clients’ representatives were… a) forerunners of a translator. b) forerunners of today’s solicitor. c) forerunners of today’s investigator.	4. The duties of the Law Society have been … a) broaden by various Acts of Parliament b) restricted by various Acts of Parliament c) cancelled by various Acts of Parliament

Task 9. Read the text and make comments on it. Regulation

All solicitors must be on the Roll. A register of all persons qualified as solicitors. The Law Society governs admission to the Roll, which is entry to the profession, ensuring that all new solicitors are fit and proper persons and have undergone the necessary training. All solicitors wishing to practice as such must obtain a practicing certificate annually from the Law Society. The Law Society publishes a “Guide to the Professional Conduct of Solicitors” (which includes codes governing cross-border work). If solicitors fail to abide by the rules of conduct they can suffer a range of penalties from a rebuke to being struck off the Roll, which means they can no longer work as lawyers.

There is a special agency of the Law Society, the Solicitors Complaints Bureau, which investigates complaints of professional misconduct. If the Bureau finds that there is a serious case to answer, the solicitor may be brought before a special court, the Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal. Solicitors must have professional Indemnity Insurance and must also contribute to the Compensation Fund, which ensures that if a solicitor is dishonest the public will not suffer financially.

Solicitors have unlimited liability except in relation to advocacy. Both the Indemnity Insurance and Compensation Funds are administered by the Law Society.