Solicitor Job Description

What is the job description of a Solicitor? What are the duties and responsibilities of a Solicitor? What does a Solicitor do?

Job description of a Solicitor

Solicitors act on behalf of and give legal advice to private and commercial clients. Solicitors may also use some of their time to represent clients who are unable to pay for legal services themselves. Once qualified, solicitors can work in private practice, in-house for a commercial or industrial organisation, in local or national government or in the court services.

Specific work activities will vary depending on the setting. Activities will also depend on the solicitor’s area of specialism and the nature of the case. Solicitors who work with commercial clients often specialise in one legal area such as litigation, property or tax. Private client work usually involves minor legal matters such as writing wills, property conveyancing, custody cases, divorce settlements and so on.

This Solicitor job description example includes the list of most important Solicitor duties and responsibilities as shown below. It can be modified to fit the specific Solicitor profile you're trying to fill as a recruiter or job seeker.

Solicitor Duties and Responsibilities

Solicitor job description should contain a variety of functions and roles including:

  • Acting on behalf of clients in disputes and representing them in court, if necessary;
  • Instructing barristers or specialist advocates to appear in court for the client in complex disputes;
  • Giving legal advice
  • Taking a client’s instructions;
  • Advising a client on the law and legal issues relating to their case;
  • Liaising with other professionals such as barristers
  • Representing clients in court.
  • Writing legal documents
  • Checking all documentation prior to signing and implementing;
  • Calculating claims for damages, compensation, maintenance, etc;
  • Preparing papers for court;
  • Attending meetings and negotiations with opposing parties;
  • Working in a team, sometimes referring cases to the head of department;
  • Supervising and delegating work to trainee solicitors, paralegals and legal secretaries as appropriate;
  • Arranging and attending further client meetings where necessary to progress with the case and finalise documentation;
  • Negotiating with clients and other professionals to secure agreed objectives;
  • Researching and analysing documents and case law to ensure the accuracy of advice and procedure;
  • Supervising the implementation of agreements;
  • Keeping up to date with changes and developments in the law by reading journals and law reports;
  • Meeting and interviewing clients to establish the firm’s suitability to provide the necessary advice and services, based on the firm’s specialism and likely cost;
  • Corresponding with clients and opposing solicitors;
  • Administrative duties, e.g. completing time sheets so that charges for work can be calculated and billing clients for work done on their behalf;
  • Taking referrals from other firms of solicitors when a conflict of interest arises or if they have no specialist practitioner available;
  • Drafting documents, letters and contracts tailored to the client’s individual needs;
  • Undertaking a range of continuing professional development (CPD) activities.
  • Coordinating the work of all parties involved;

Solicitor Requirements / Skills / Qualifications

Solicitor job description should include these common skills and qualifications:

  • Law degree.
  • Completion of pertinent exit training; preferably, the Legal Practice Course.
  • Demonstrable experience as a Solicitor.
  • Commendable morals, plus steadfast observance of our firm's guidelines.
  • A resolute, solution-focused, and empathic disposition.
  • Clear criminal record.
  • Sharp investigative, interpersonal, and bargaining capacities.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

As a hiring manager, recruiting an ideal Solicitor starts with crafting a good job description. Use this Solicitor job description template to save yourself time and help you attract the most qualified candidates. Feel free to revise it to meet your specific needs.

Job seekers interviewing for the role of a Solicitor may also reference it in preparation for the interview.