MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

HANOI LAW UNIVERSITY

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ASSIGNMENT
COURSES: BASIC LEGAL ENGLISH 1
Legal profession (Solicitors + Barristers)

GROUP :3
CLASS : A.CNBB01-2-21 (N01)

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Ha Noi, 2022
 BIÊN BẢN XÁC ĐỊNH MỨC ĐỘ THAM GIA VÀ
KẾT QUẢ THAM GIA LÀM BÀI TẬP NHÓM

Nhóm số: 03 Lớp: N01 Khóa: 45

Tổng số thành viên của nhóm: 05
Tên bài tập nhóm: Legal profession (Solicitors + Barristers)
Xác định mức độ tham gia và kết quả tham gia của từng sinh viên trong việc thực
hiện bài tập nhóm. Kết quả như sau:

Đánh giá Đánh giá

của SV SV của GV
S Mã SV Họ và tên ký GV
T A B C tên Điểm Điểm ký
T (số) (chữ) tên

1 453102 Đặng Mai Linh X

2 453104 Đỗ Trần Trà My X
3 453108 Nguyễn Hồ Kiều Mi X
4 453111 Nguyễn Phạm Trà My X
5 453120 Tiết Thu Quỳnh X

Hà Nội, ngày 14 tháng 04 năm 2022

Kết quả điểm bài tập nhóm NHÓM TRƯỞNG

............................

Đặng Mai Linh

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 Table of Contents
I. Introduction: Group 3......................................................................................3
II. Definition.........................................................................................................3
1.What is a barrister?..........................................................................................3
2.What is a solicitor?..........................................................................................3
III. Roles and responsibilities of solicitors in the UK.......................................3
IV. Roles and responsibilities of barristers in the UK......................................4
V. The difference in role and purpose between solicitors and barristers.......6
VI. The procedure for becoming a solicitor, a barrister (video)......................6
VII. The condition to pursue the dream of becoming a lawyer in VN............6
VIII. Conclusion:..................................................................................................8

I. Introduction: Group 3
 Topic: Legal profession
 MC: Dang Mai Linh
 Solicitor: Nguyen Ho Kieu Mi
 Barrister: Do Tran Tra My
 Professor: Nguyen Pham Tra My
       Tiet Thu Quynh
 Minigame: Spin a rotation

II. Definition
1.What is a barrister?
A barrister is a qualified legal professional who offers specialist advice
while representing, advocating, and defending his clients in court or tribunals.

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Many barristers specialize in one area of the law, although some may have a
more general practice covering a variety of areas.
2.What is a solicitor?
  A solicitor is a qualified legal practitioner who is responsible for preparing
legal documentation in the run-up to and during a court case. A solicitor provides
specialist legal advice on contentious and non-contentious work to their clients
in a variety of areas of law. 

III. Roles and responsibilities of solicitors in the UK

A  solicitor in the United Kingdom will take instructions from clients and
advise on necessary courses of legal action. Clients can be individuals, groups,
public sector organizations, or private companies.

Depending on the area of expertise, a solicitor can advise on a range of

issues, including:

- Personal issues - buying and selling residential property, landlord and

tenant agreements, wills and probate, divorce and family matters, personal injury
claims, and criminal litigation

- Commercial work - helping new enterprises get established, advising on

complex corporate transactions (including mergers and acquisitions) and
business-related disputes

- Protecting rights - making sure individuals are treated fairly by public or

private bodies and receive compensation if unfairly treated.

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 Once qualified, they can work in private practice, in-house for commercial
or industrial organizations, in local or central government, or the court service.

I have a practical example: A partner in a law firm - Hélène, from

Monaco, is an advocate admitted to the Paris Bar - the professional association
for lawyers. She graduated with a Bachelor of Law (LLB) in Paris and obtained a
Master's Degree (LLM) in European Law from University College, London. She
is a graduate of the Paris Institut d'Etudes Politiques. She said she joined
Applewood Branston two years ago and was promoted to partner in the corporate
and banking team in Paris. Before that, she worked for twelve years for other
leading international law firms. She has extensive experience in privatizations,
mergers, and acquisitions, and she advises investment banks and corporations.

The actual work carried out varies depending on the setting, their
specialist area, and the nature of the case may use some of their time to give free
help to clients who are unable to pay for legal services themselves.

IV. Roles and responsibilities of barristers in the UK

Barristers are regulated, specialist legal advisers, and courtroom

advocates. They can provide a range of services, including:

- Representing people or  businesses in court or tribunal or another formal

setting, making their case for them;

- Advise their clients on the strengths and weaknesses of their case.

- Starting a legal proceeding in a court on behalf of their client (providing

they are specially authorized by us to do so, known as being “authorized to
conduct litigation”)

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 Barristers can specialize in a range of different areas of the law. These are
known as “practice areas”. There are many “practice areas” but the most
common include: Criminal Law, Family Law, Commercial Law, and
Immigration Law, I’ll be more specific

Firstly- Criminal Law - barristers can represent either the defense or

prosecution side in criminal trials;

Secondly- Family Law - is something related to legal matters such as

divorce and child welfare issues;

Thirdly- Commercial Law - is a legal problem that can occur in the

running of businesses and commercial transactions including Employment Law;

And the last - Immigration Law – is legal issues involving matters of

immigration and asylum.  

Most barristers are self-employed. This means they are either “sole
practitioners” or they work on a self-employed basis with other barristers in
organizations known as “chambers”. Barristers working in chambers share
services such as buildings and IT. Countless barristers are employed directly by
organizations such as large companies or public bodies like the Crown
Prosecution Service.

Barristers are individually regulated by us. This means that even though
they might belong to a set of chambers or be employed, their professional duties
and obligations are theirs alone.

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V. The difference in role and purpose between solicitors and barristers

Barristers are engaged by solicitors to work on their client’s case (referred

to as “being instructed”). Solicitors will usually have a good knowledge of the
different barrister's chambers and the specialisms of the barristers working
within them. This means they are in an ideal position to match up clients with the
most appropriate barrister for their case.

Barristers are essentially advocates whose role is to explain an individual’s

case in court and argue their position. They are less likely to be involved with a
case until it is apparent that it will end up in a court hearing – many cases settle
before this stage, so there is never any need to get a barrister involved.

Barristers can also advise clients on the strength of their case, assist with
drafting documentation before any court hearing, and help with negotiations.
Generally, this will be handled by a solicitor. Solicitors will often attend court
with their barrister but only to take notes and help with the documentation.

VI. The procedure for becoming a solicitor, a barrister (video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjGF0ajvfhw&t=1s

VII. The condition to pursue the dream of becoming a lawyer in VN

In Vietnam nowadays, lawyers have the following obligations: To comply

with the principles of law practice prescribed in Article 5 of the Law on
Lawyers; Strictly abide by the internal rules and relevant regulations with the
procedure-conducting agencies; Have a cooperative attitude and respect the
procedure-conducting persons that lawyers come into contact with while
practicing; Participating in legal proceedings fully and promptly in cases
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requested by procedure-conducting agencies; provide legal aid; Participating in
compulsory professional training and other obligations as prescribed by the Law
on Lawyers. 
The legal profession in Vietnam is first and foremost a legal profession, in
which lawyers, with their legal knowledge, independently perform activities
within the scope of their practice by the law and regulations on professional
responsibilities to serve justice, contribute to the protection of the rule of law and
to build the rule of law in Vietnam. 
Honestly, becoming a lawyer in Vietnam is an arduous learning process.
You must undergo a variety of training programs from the university to institute
and then practice at law practice organizations. Specifically, the steps to become
a lawyer in Vietnam include:
Step 1: Having a bachelor's degree in Law:
That is, the individual must graduate from Law School, Law Faculty of the
University (usually 4 years of study)
Step 2: Having a diploma from a lawyer training program:
The class is registered at the Judicial Academy (current regulations are
studied for 12 months), then passed the graduation exam of the Judicial
Academy, and graduated from the Law class.
Step 3: Going through an internship at a Law Practice Organization: 
After graduating from a lawyer training class, an individual is required to
register as an apprentice at a law practice organization for 12 months.
Step 4: Overcome the test at the end of the lawyer's probationary period: 
After completing the probationary period, the intern can take the exam at the end
of the lawyer's probationary period. and if they pass, they will be granted a law
practice certificate or vice versa they will be allowed to extend the probationary
period and take the re-examination. If the re-examination test still fails, the law-
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practicing apprentice must register to practice again from the beginning (12 more
months).
Step 5: Issue a certificate and join the Bar Association, issue a lawyer
practicing card: 
Once the individual passes the test for the end of the lawyer's probationary
period, the individual shall make a dossier according to regulations to apply for a
law practice certificate. The lawyer profession is granted by the Ministry of
Justice, and the law practice card is issued by the Vietnam Bar Federation.
Step 6: Practicing Law: 
After being granted a certificate, joining a union, and issuing a lawyer
practice card, a lawyer can choose a law practice organization to practice, or
practice as an individual and must register with the local Department of Justice
where practicing.

VIII. Conclusion:

The information mentioned above helps us to understand what solicitors

and barristers are, and the differences between these two positions. Each position
has its role and importance. Hence, we could have a deeper understanding of the
legal profession.

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 References
1. Cambridge, “Professional English in Use Law”,
https://www.academia.edu/33465768/Cambridge_Professional_English_in
_Use_Law;
2. The Lawyer Portal, “Difference Between Solicitor and Barrister”,
https://www.thelawyerportal.com/careers/difference-between-solicitor-
and-barrister/;
3. Springhouse solicitors, “What’s the difference between a solicitor, a
barrister, and a lawyer?”, https://www.springhouselaw.com/knowledge-
hub/legal-costs/whats-the-difference-between-a-solicitor-a-barrister-and-a-
lawyer/;
4. Bar Standards Board, “Information about barristers”,
https://www.barstandardasboard.org.uk/for-the-public/about-
barristers.html/;
5. Prospects, “Solicitor”, https://www.prospects.c.uk/job-profiles/solicitor;
6. The Legists, “Solicitors Roles and Responsibilities”,
https://www.thelegists.co.uk/solicitors-roles-and-responsibilities;
7. Lawyers For Lawyers, “Vietnam”,
https://lawyersforlawyers.org/en/countries/vietnam/;
8. Vietnam Lawyers Journal, “Conditions, standards, and processes to
become a lawyer in Vietnam”, https://lsvn.vn/dieu-kien-tieu-chuan-quy-
trinh-de-tro-thanh-luat-su-tai-viet-nam.html;
9. World of law, “Essays on lawyers and the legal profession”,
https://thegioiluat.vn/bai-viet-hoc-thuat/tieu-luan-luat-su-va-nghe-luat-su-
3535/.

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