They were supposed to study the cases and brief the barristers on this and also do
the paperwork involved but now they have taken everything upon themselves.
In UK basically the system is still divided between the barristers and the solicitors. Typically solicitors look after all the legal affairs outside the court but barristers debates the cases in front of the magistrates. Although in recent times minor developments have taken place where things are changing and the solicitors are playing bigger roles in the courts. Scotland's legal system is also somewhat similar to the UK's system with the responsibilities being divided between the solicitors and the advocates (term advocate is used instead of the barrister). In the recent ruling passed by the Scotland, solicitors have been given the rights to fight the cases in the High court of judiciary as well as Court of Session which were initially restricted to the lower courts only. In Ireland also the legal system is a mirror image of the UK's legal system till now. Although allowed legally from the parliament still only some solicitors practice in the courts.
In Australia this right to determine is vested independently with the states. In some states both barristers and solicitors represent the same identity while in some there boundaries are well defined. If a person is allowed to practice in one state then under the consent that licence is valid nationally.
In USA and France there is no difference between these two. In fact in both countries there is only one term used for barristers and solicitors. Canada has also taken a cue from these countries and has decided to merge both these professions into one. In Japan and Hong Kong the profession is still divided into these two identities. Although both systems have there own merits but it has been found that the ones in which both barrister and UK solicitors are same are more successful and the world is changing according to that.