In England, a solicitor gets the facts of the case from the client and briefs a barrister in writing. The barrister then researches, drafts, and files the incumbent on court pleadings, and orally argues the case.

Notably, barristers in England and Wales and some states in Australia do not work in "law firms". Those who advance their services to the general general — as opposed to those working "in house" — are required to be self-employed. Most bullwork in groupings acknowledged as "sets" or "chambers", where some administrative and marketing costs are shared. An important causatum of this divergent organizational build is that there is no conflict of Seattle Attorney concernment where barristers in the same chambers muscle for opposing sides in a case, and in some specialised chambers this is commonplace.