many of the reasons which lead a laytnan to consult a lawyer have nothing to do with cases in the accepted sense of the term. there is, for instance, no question of using anyone or putting anyone in court when a client asks about making a will. Nevertheless, a good deal of the work of the lawyer is contentious, that is, concerned with points in dispute between parties, and some of this goes as far as the courts and leads to a civil or even a criminal trial. when a client is liable to be prosecuted, so that a criminal case is pending, the solicitor cannot settle or compromise this for his client out of court. the most that can be done in criminal proceedings is to help the client by preparing his defence and arranging for it to be properly put at the hearing in court