To have so much admiration for solicitors?!

[User3152672]

I've just been through a 3 day court case and I have so much admiration for my solicitor who defended me. She was so proffesional and clever and did such a good job. I don't know how they think on Ghent feet like that and answer questions without forgetting where they are etc.

I know it pays a lot but AIBU to think it should do because it's a hard job that has to attract the best?

Sorry for typos should be professional and no idea where Ghent came from lol

YANBU I’ve never used a solicitor but I always admire professionals that are good at what they do and being a solicitor is definitely a challenging job.

I often wish I went into that type of field but I know I couldn’t do it as well as they do.

I’m glad it made your court case a good experience for you.

I’ve only ever used a solicitor when moving house and all three have been unbelievably terrible. I’m sure there are loads of fantastic ones though and I’m glad yours was great! In fairness a lot of jobs rely on you not forgetting where you are..

Tbf I had a terrible one when I moved house too. Maybe that's where the duffers end up 😂

My take, and I deal with them a fair bit, is that solicitors can vary from brilliant to appalling in their day to day work. In courts or Tribunals I have little or no experience of solicitors, just Barristers. They vary from superhuman to reasonably good!

I admire them, but I am a retired Solicitor and I loved being in Court acting for my Clients

Nope. I used to think that people were hard on solicitors - then I had to deal with them in a civil case. Some are outright crooks in my opinion, a lot are very poor at their job and make huge mistakes (that would get you sacked in any other job) and all of them charge huge fees regardless of whether they actually help you or not. I’m sure there are some that are worth paying for but I’ve not come across one yet. The real problem is that they are allowed to self-regulate as a profession and that is a huge mistake. The SRA is not fit for purpose and needs to be abolished in my experience. There is an illusion that ordinary people can get redress in law, it’s not really true. You need very deep pockets to have a chance of winning a civil case in the UK. I managed a reasonable outcome due to a mixture of luck and having some cash that I risked. It was a hair-raising experience and left me very disillusioned with the law in this country. I hate to think what it’s like to need help with a criminal case.

YABU
Even the efficient solicitors I've known are paid hundreds of pounds an hour just because their particular field of knowledge is in demand. Nothing especially admirable about it.

The pay is massively variable. Criminal solicitors are not highly paid.

@Chisandbiscuits

Nope. I used to think that people were hard on solicitors - then I had to deal with them in a civil case. Some are outright crooks in my opinion, a lot are very poor at their job and make huge mistakes (that would get you sacked in any other job) and all of them charge huge fees regardless of whether they actually help you or not. I’m sure there are some that are worth paying for but I’ve not come across one yet. The real problem is that they are allowed to self-regulate as a profession and that is a huge mistake. The SRA is not fit for purpose and needs to be abolished in my experience. There is an illusion that ordinary people can get redress in law, it’s not really true. You need very deep pockets to have a chance of winning a civil case in the UK. I managed a reasonable outcome due to a mixture of luck and having some cash that I risked. It was a hair-raising experience and left me very disillusioned with the law in this country. I hate to think what it’s like to need help with a criminal case.

Your post made me think of this.

mobile.twitter.com/channel4news/status/1398181555768549378

(Scroll down for the (short) interview.)

I’m not a solicitor but I worked as a “presenting officer in the Civil Service- I loved being in the tribunal. I think once you have a good memory you are halfway there. And the art of cross examination comes naturally to some but it was something I had to work at as I’m not naturally “confrontational” but I sure as hell will argue till I’m blue in the face on a point.

I think if I'd had to argue like she did I would have cried! She was so calm. And she would be so fiesty in the court room then step outside and be so calm with me.

Haven't actually had a judgment yet so don't know if it's going to go my way but even if we lose I'm impressed, it won't be because of her.