Erika, I'll take a stab at that last question. Different types of lawyers do have different images, but I'm not sure which would be the most respectable.
I could see Giles as a partner in a very old, established small firm. The firms' clients are largely the local social elite, who have turned to Mason, Rivington, and Giles since their grandparents were children.
Giles himself probably does a lot of estate planning. This involves quite a bit of writing wills. He can discourse ad nauseum on obscure points of (real) property law that still exist mainly because the medieval English went to great lengths to ensure that land stayed in the family. (Unfortunately, all I remember about the Rule in Shelley's Case is that such a thing exists.)
He probably acts as trustee on a number of trusts. Occasionally, he'll appear in court to probate a client's estate.
IOW, very respectable. Not very exciting. Very in keeping with Giles' personality in the early seasons.
Yeah, I kind of thought it would be that sort of thing, as opposed to say, representing smutty comedians or something.(Although they need representation, too, sometimes.)
Or, read the first 20 pages of Josephine Tey's
Brat Farrar,
in which a long-lost older son returns to home and hearth -- he contacts the nice, respectable family lawyer first, because he is polite that way -- and because he is the older (of twins), he inherits and his brother gets practically nothing. Sort of explains (to me) old-school British lawyering and the weird way property works in Britain, all in one.
Trinkets from Spain: there is a particular kind of damascene pottery made in Toledo, which is black pottery with intricate gold-wire twirlies on the side, made almost exclusively these days for tourists. Cordoba seems to be where people buy swords, if they're going to buy swords. All I can remember that they sell in Barcelona is flipflops, which you can get anywhere.
Also, if the Giles is in England, he would probably be a solicitor, not a barrister.
That means civil law, not criminal? Or not?
It's more of a split between trying cases in court and focusing on the things that happen outside of court, as I understand it. I'll try to dig up a link for you that explains the differences.
Yeah, I think a barrister is basically a litigator and a solicitor isn't.
Oh, ok. Cause even being a Christie, Marsh, and James fan I've never been clear on that.Thanks.
Erika,
This should help. Though it is a little snarky.
This might be better.
