Lawyers
To become a lawyer, a person must be fully trained in the law of the country in which they reside; they may also be known as attorneys or advocates depending on the particular role they are fulfilling. When a lawyer appears in court to represent a client in either a civil or criminal case he may be called an advocate; for many, this is not something they wish to pursue, passing over cases to others that prefer this type of legal representation. When employed to provide advice on the law they are known as legal advisors; providing recommendations to clients in matters that could be civil or criminal.
Representation in a courtroom is carried out by trial lawyers; this is an area that requires the advocate to be quick thinking and a competent speaker.Trial lawyers actually spend more of their time outside the court; much of the work involved is looking into the case with interviews, statements and evidence plus legal procedures to check and follow.
The law is a great guiding force in our world and every aspect of our lives is touched by it too some degree; whether buying a home to crossing the street, lawyers hold positions of great responsibility and are obliged to follow a strict code of ethics. 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.
Many areas of law now exist to meet the needs of a complex society; some of the areas of specialization could be:
*Probate *Health Issues *International law *Divorce Law, *Identification Theft
Depending on their area of expertise, some may never see the inside of a courtroom!
Representing environmental issues can mean they may work for the government or private companies; an example of this group could be:
*Waste Disposal Companies *U.S. Environmental Protection Agency *Large Corporations
Representatives in this field may be arranging for their clients to carry out certain actions; they might also represent a company in a civil action resulting from work they have already undertaken.
Some attorneys concentrate in the growing field of intellectual property rights; protecting clients’ claims to copyrights, artwork under contract, product designs, and computer programs. Lawyers who have decided to become experts in Insurance Law are often used by insurance companies in a permanent capacity; their purpose is to protect the company’s interests against fraudulent claims and advise on the legal terms and conditions used in policies.
The vast majority of attorneys work within the private sector where they can devote their energies to either criminal or civil law; criminal lawyers defend or prosecute persons charged with a crime; civil law uses their talents to argue in a civil court over claims, mortgages and other types of litigation.
Close to the top of the ladder are those legal specialists that manage what are known as high profile ‘public interest’ cases; these usually involve disputes or claims against governments or large corporations. Lawyers with a more rounded social conscience can work for non-profit organizations or legal-aid centers; they help to look after the legal rights of disadvantaged and less fortunate people around the world.