A lawyer is anyone who makes his living from the law, including judges for example. In England and Wales most lawyers are either Barristers or Solicitors . Barristers and Solicitors Solicitors are the general practitioners of the English legal system.
Solicitors conduct all types of legal business.
Barristers are specialist trial lawyers who also often have expertise in particular areas of the law. Barristers can only accept instructions from Solicitors, or certain other professionals under the Direct Professional Access rules. In other words, a business or a member of the public with a legal problem should go to a solicitor in the first instance. The solicitor will, if necessary, bring in a barrister of the client's choice. In theory QCs are barristers who have been appointed to advise the monarch.