Lawyer

Overview

Who is Lawyer?

Lawyers are professionals who are licensed to practice law and represent their clients in legal proceedings. They offer legal advice to their clients in civil or criminal proceedings by counselling them about their legal rights and obligations. They are allowed to represent the defendant, the party on the receiving end of the legal action or the plaintiff, the party filing the legal action. They use their legal expertise to uphold the law and protect the rights of their clients.

They assist the client throughout the legal case, including initiating the lawsuit, drafting legal documents, attending formal hearings, filing legal documents, assessing the case to generate solutions. Lawyers can work in different roles such as environmental lawyers, intellectual lawyers, family lawyers, securities lawyers. They obtain extensive training to be well-versed with the laws laid down by the constitution and the legal procedures prescribed by the law.

Typical day at work

What does Lawyer do?

A Lawyers job involves the representation of clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, drawing up legal documents, or managing or advising clients on legal transactions. It also involves counselling the clients about their legal rights and obligations and suggesting courses of action in business and personal matters.

• Meet with the clients to collect information about their case and offer legal guidance, support and advice to clients.
• Counsel the clients regarding the interpretation of regulations, laws, rulings as it applies to their case.
• Represent the clients in courts, government agencies as well as in private legal matters.
• Perform case research by interviewing witnesses gathering and reviewing evidence, attending site inspections, reading depositions.
• Devise the best legal strategies for defending the client in proceedings.
• Draw up and file appeals, discovery, motions, contracts, wills, lawsuits, and other legal documents.
• Help the client to execute plea bargains, agreements.
• Collect retainers and implement contracts determining the parameters of their professional relationship with the client.

Abilities & aptitude needed

What are the skills, abilities & aptitude needed to become Lawyer?

For one to function successfully as a lawyer, one should be equipped with excellent analytical, conceptual, and research skills. They are expected to be skilled at critical thinking and logical reasoning to investigate and resolve legal cases. Communication skills are crucial for a lawyer as they need to have a flair for expressing information in a clear, understandable manner. Their negotiating and mediation skills are paramount. Public speaking skills are also required as they need to be able to present information in front of the clients, board, judge, juries, as well as opposing counsel. Time management and organization skills are also needed for a lawyer to be able to perform well under pressure and meet deadlines. Leadership skills coupled with excellent observation abilities shall allow the individual to efficiently carry out their duties as a lawyer. They should be skilled at producing written documents in a clear and precise manner.

Courses

Which course I can pursue?