What is the difference between a solicitor advocate and a solicitor?

Solicitor advocates are, in fact, a type of solicitor. They are solicitors who have undergone extra training and sat extra exams in order to become specialist court lawyers.

While solicitors can argue cases on behalf of clients in courts and tribunals such as the Sheriff Court, Employment Tribunals and Justice of the Peace Courts, they are not entitled to appear in the highest courts in the land - the Court of Session and High Court of Justiciary in Scotland, and the Supreme Court and Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the UK.

Solicitor advocates, because of their extra training, are extended rights of audience solicitors, and are entitled to appear in these higher courts.

Both sets of solicitors are regulated and trained by the Law Society of Scotland, but solicitor advocates have a few extra rules and regulations to follow.

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