Those who have qualified with a law degree and completed their articleship can start their career as an advocate or a solicitor.

ADVOCATES

Plead in court and are actively involved in litigation. They give advice on legal matters and use their critical judgment in deciding what legislation and what precedents are relevant in any particular case. Advocates are normally consulted by solicitors on behalf of their clients. 

Initially a junior assistant to an advocate performs routine jobs like filing, researching, securing adjournments, and attending court with the senior. Gradually the assistant begins working on briefs and the drafting of plaints is an important aspect of an advocate's job. 

After several years of drafting work with an advocate, a lawyer can start actively appearing in court.

SOLICITOR

Provides legal advice to clients on a wide variety of personal and business matters. Where the case is taken to court it is the solicitor who instructs and briefs the advocate to appear for a client. A junior can join a solicitor's firm either as an articled clerk while pursuing a law degree, or after articleship as a solicitor's assistant. 

The assistant will be required to read up case laws and look up authorities from time to time, or file suits and notices. A large firm may provide junior assistants an opportunity to gain valuable experience in a range of matters from labor and industrial disputes to taxation under the guidance of seniors. 

After several years, a junior can rise to the level of senior
solicitor's assistant, and ultimately be invited to join the partnership.