Trained in law and able to give legal advice, lawyers are also referred to by other names; also known by the title attorney, advisor or advocate. The term advocate is used when a lawyer acts on behalf of the person he is representing in a courtroom; this arena where law is practiced is not one that suits everyone and many never step foot into a courtroom. When advising on the issues relating to the law they become legal advisors; they counsel their clients concerning their legal rights and obligations and suggest particular courses of action in business and personal matters.
A lawyer who primarily spends time in court is called a trial lawyer; owing to the fast thinking that is required by those who practice this area of law, it is not for everyone.Trial lawyers are extremely competent individuals who are just as proficient outside the courtroom; they investigate the case they are representing, talk to witnesses and arranging evidence, for example.
The law in all its guises affects every aspect of modern society; whether you are buying a house or making an insurance claim, but because lawyers are in a position of authority they must abide by very strict rules to govern their conduct. Depending on what area of specialization they work in will decide whether they practice in a courtroom; although they are all able to represent their clients in this manner when required.
Lawyers can specialize in a number of different areas of society; examples of just a few are show below:
*Intellectual Property Rights *Insurance *Contract Law *Divorce Law, *Fraud
Depending on their area of expertise, some may never see the inside of a courtroom!
Environmental law for instance employs experts who will represent private, government and individuals; some are shown below:
*Waste Disposal Companies *State agencies *Oil Companies
Often this work will be mundane as it involves planning applications and licenses for example; however, they also protect companies where claims for damages are being sought.
Attorneys are also involved with laws protecting intellectual property rights, an area much in the news of late; property like digital media, CD’s, computer games and software for instance, are particularly at risk since the advent of the Internet. Some lawyers who specialize in insurance law are employed in permanent positions within insurance companies; they investigate the legality of insurance transactions, writing insurance policies to conform with the law and protect companies from false claims.
Most attorneys are found in private practice, where they concentrate on criminal or civil law; criminal lawyers try cases or defend the accused party; whereas civil law affects areas like wills, trusts and mortgages for example.
Close to the top of the ladder are those legal specialists that manage what are known as high profile ‘public interest’ cases; these can include law suits and legal representation that affects the general public for instance. Lastly, there are lawyers who work for legal-aid societies and nonprofit organizations; they help to look after the legal rights of disadvantaged and less fortunate people around the world.
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