Explanation of types of solicitor firms, barrister chambers and legal organisations

• Lawyers in Australia are usually called either solicitors or barristers.
• Solicitors in private practice are usually ‘sole practitioners’ who work without other solicitors or are part of a firm of solicitors. A firm may employ solicitor
• Barristers generally work for themselves but frequently share office space with other barristers. The office of barristers in private practice (and some solicitors) are called ‘chambers’.
• Many barristers have or share a ‘clerk’ who assists to organise their work-load and to undertake administrative tasks.
• Some solicitor firms and barristers’ chambers are general practices where lawyers will accept instructions on most types of legal matters. Other firms and chambers specialise in a narrow set of types of legal matters. A large solicitors’ firm or large barristers’ chambers will often have an experienced lawyer to handle any type of matter.
• Each state and territory has a legal aid department that employs lawyers who provide legal services to the public for free in limited circumstances.
• Similarly, each state and territory has community legal centres and Aboriginal legal centres that provide free legal services in limited circumstances.
• Some solicitors and barristers work for each states’ and territories’ Director of Public Prosecutions known as the ‘DPP.’
• Governments employ lawyers at different levels and in different sections to provide them with advice and representation.
• While firms and chambers may be reluctant to publish their average standard fees, if you ask directly they will usually provide them and are usually obliged to disclose them prior to you engaging them.