Lawyers
When trained to a high level in the legislature of their country, a person may be referred to as a lawyer; often referred to as an attorney or an advocate, they can fulfill a number of roles depending on the circumstances. In criminal or civil trials in court, the lawyer representing the client is then called an advocate; this arena where law is practiced is not one that suits everyone and many never step foot into a courtroom. Not every situation requires representation and quite often they are employed as legal advisors; clients use them for suggestions on available courses of action relating to legal issues which affect them.
A lawyer who primarily spends time in court is called a trial lawyer; this is an area that requires the advocate to be quick thinking and a competent speaker.However a great deal of a trial lawyer’s time is spent outside the court; they investigate the case they are representing, talk to witnesses and arranging evidence, for example.
The law is a great guiding force in our world and every aspect of our lives is touched by it too some degree; it affects everyone’s life from negotiating a house purchase to organizing a will and the reason why lawyers are governed by a very strict code of practice. Some areas of law are so highly specialized that legal representatives may never have to appear in a courtroom; although they are all licensed too represent in court when required.
Many areas of law now exist to meet the needs of a complex society; such as:
*Probate *Aviation Law *International law *Adoption, *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; for instance:
*Recycling Companies *U.S. Environmental Protection Agency *Airports
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. Lawyers who have decided to become experts in Insurance Law are often used by insurance companies in a permanent capacity; insurance contracts and claims are often investigated which is an are where their expert knowledge will be invaluable.
Much of law might be considered mundane as the majority of attorneys carry out their work in private practice involved with minor criminal and civil law. in criminal law, they represent individuals who have been charged with crimes and argue their cases in courts of law; civil law uses their talents to argue in a civil court over claims, mortgages and other types of litigation.
Some handle only public interest cases both civil and criminal; these can include law suits and legal representation that affects the general public for instance. Lawyers who are endowed with a little more social conscience are the ones who work for charities and legal aid schemes; this type of work is more about helping those are not able to have legal representation any other way.