May 27, 2008
Let’s Talk About Lawyers
A lawyer is someone trained in aspects of law and the legal system usually providing legal advice; they can also be called attorneys and act as both advocates and advisors in American society. When defending or prosecuting a person in court a lawyer will be called an advocate and this doesn’t matter if the case is civil or criminal; this arena where law is practiced is not one that suits everyone and many never step foot into a courtroom. When acting as a legal advisor, their responsibility is to provide legal guidance; this can just be to provide clarification surround a legal matter.
A lawyer who primarily spends time in court is called a trial lawyer; of particular importance in trial work is the ability to think quickly and speak with ease and authority.Trial lawyers spend the majority of their time outside the courtroom; they investigate evidence and interview people involved in the case.
The legal system affects nearly every aspect of our 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. Owing to the nature of specialization with legal representatives, they may never actually attend court; although they are licensed to represent their clients there.
Lawyers can specialize in a number of different areas of society; such as:
* Constitutional Law
* Health Issues
* Civil Law
* Personal Injury
* Identification Theft
This specialization means that some legal representatives may never have to practice their skills in court!
Those specializing in environmental law for example might watch out for the interests of organizations on either side of the argument; for instance:
* Public-Interest Groups
* U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
* Airports
These help clients prepare and file for licenses and applications for approval before certain activities may occur; they also represent clients’ interests in administrative adjudications.
Some attorneys concentrate in the growing field of intellectual property rights; protecting clients’ claims to copyrights, artwork under contract, product designs, and computer programs. Some lawyers who specialize in insurance law are employed in permanent positions within insurance companies; their purpose is to protect the company’s interests against fraudulent claims and advise on the legal terms and conditions used in policies.
Most attorneys are found in private practice, where they concentrate on criminal or 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.
There are those individuals that prefer very high profile, ‘public interest cases’ both civil and criminal; this can be where a large company or government body may be involved with actions that have affected the general public. Still other lawyers use their skills working for non-profit organizations and other charitable bodies; these attempt to serve disadvantaged people wherever they are from often oppressive governments and companies.
