Attorneys are the foot soldiers of a country’s Constitution...Attorneys are operators of toll bridges which anyone in search of justice must pass...At the most practical level, Attorneys are society’s professional problem solvers...they are expected to restore equilibrium, to reinstate balance. Continue Reading
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Explore Career What are the typical responsibilities of an Attorney?
An Attorney would typically need to:
The better part of an Attorney’s workday is spent in offices. An Attorney must sometimes travel to meet with clients and, depending on their specialty, appear in court for trials, conferences, and mediation. Some Attorneys may travel to attend meetings with clients at various locations, such as homes, hospitals, or prisons.
Traditional business attire is normally expected when Attorneys are scheduled to meet with clients or visitors. It is also a good idea to keep fresh, professional business attire on standby, waiting in a closet, if they must dress for unplanned court appearances, client meetings, or other events.
The majority of Attorneys work full time and many work more than 40 hours per week, continuously meeting deadlines. This can result in a lot of overtime, particularly for solo practitioners who may not have associates to rely upon.
Attorneys in private practice and those who work in large firms often work additional hours, conducting research and preparing and reviewing documents.
Part-time work and career breaks are sometimes possible, but you'll need to keep up to date with changes to the law.
Most Attorneys work in private or corporate practice, while the government employs others as legal representatives at various levels.
Attorneys are generally employed by:
Professional associations and organizations are crucial for Attorneys interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more looks excellent on your resume to bolster your credentials and qualifications as an Attorney.
Most employers offering training contracts want to see evidence of relevant work experience as it will help you decide whether becoming an Attorney is right for you.
Part-time jobs or summer internships in law firms, government agencies, and corporate legal departments provide valuable experience. Some smaller firms, government agencies, and public-interest organizations may hire aspiring Attorneys as summer associates after they have completed their first year at law school. Summer associate programs at many larger firms are eligible only to law students who have completed their second year.
Not all such programs are advertised, so prospective Attorneys may want to make speculative applications - particularly to smaller firms. You can also gain useful experience from participating in student law society activities, client interviewing competitions, mooting and pro-bono work, and business simulations. Work shadowing an Attorney can also be a useful experience.
Law students might get practical experience while still in school, including volunteering in community legal clinics, participating in competitions or practice trials, and working in summer or part-time jobs in law firms. Some also write for their school's law journal.
Specific programs required depend on the specific country to which the aspirant Attorney belongs. Still, all of them require the completion of an undergraduate degree, either a Bachelor of Legislative Law (LLB) or in another subject. A more specific and relevant post-graduate degree in the field could come in the form of a Juris Doctorate (JD) or any other postgraduate certification that your specific country recognizes as qualifying. Becoming an Attorney usually takes around seven years of full-time study after high school - a traditional four years of undergraduate study, followed by three years of postgraduate study.
Undergraduate courses in English, public speaking, government, history, economics, business, and mathematics prove useful.
Prospective Attorneys must earn a license in their respective countries to practice law. Licensing is done by individual government entities, which requires the passage of an examination, known as the “bar exams” in the law field, and their admission to their respective bar under rules established by the jurisdiction’s highest court. Requirements vary by location and jurisdiction.
Promotion in private practice depends on an Attorney’s continuing strong performance, especially meeting targets for the amount of work that can be charged to clients. Progression is likely to involve becoming the Head of a department within the firm, responsible for that department's profit levels and staff.
Newly hired Attorneys usually start as associates and work on teams with more experienced colleagues. Gradually, you will take on increasing levels of responsibility, building your technical legal skills. You'll also develop client-handling and business development skills. As you gain seniority, you'll typically start to supervise junior colleagues.
Those Attorneys who do not advance within their firm may feel compelled to leave - a practice commonly known as “up or out.” Depending on the firm’s size, you may find it necessary to change employers to progress.
It may be possible to become a salaried partner and finally, an equity partner. Advancement will depend on a combination of the Attorney’s experience, the scope of earnings, and a willingness to make a financial investment. There's no set time for promotion to partnership. The earliest point for consideration is usually around six to eight years after qualification.
Partners are expected to develop the business and manage the firm while updating their specialist knowledge. After gaining a few years of work experience, some Attorneys go into practice for themselves or move to the legal department of a large corporation.
Very few in-house Attorneys are hired directly out of law school. Career development for in-house and government Attorneys generally follows a set structure and may result in a move into general management.
Because of the stiff competition, a law school graduate’s willingness to relocate and practical experiences are becoming more critical. However, to be licensed in another state, a lawyer may have to take an additional state bar examination.
Many law schools and state and local bar associations provide continuing legal education courses that help an Attorney stay current with recent developments. Courses vary by location and generally cover a subject within the law, such as legal ethics, taxes and tax fraud, and healthcare. Some locations allow an Attorney to take continuing education credits through online courses.
Law is not a “graduate-and-go profession. Hence, a newly minted Attorney must undergo further training and development activities throughout their career. CPD activities include attending training seminars, conferences, and networking events run by legal organizations.
Many bar associations require that members take continuing legal education courses yearly or sometimes every three years to maintain their memberships. An Attorney may undertake mentoring or research in law and writing to further their skills. Large firms may run such courses in-house.
It is also possible to undertake further study and research at the postgraduate level, through a diploma, an MBA, or a master’s. Regular reading of journals and law reports will help an Attorney keep up to date with changes and developments in the law.
Attorneys Can Choose to Specialize
Attorneys can be general practitioners. They might specialize in any one of many areas, such as criminal law, real estate, corporate issues, estate and probate matters, intellectual property, matrimonial and family law, or environmental law.
The Role of Prosecutors
Prosecutors typically work for the government to file a lawsuit, or charge, against an individual or corporation accused of violating the law. Some may also work as Public Defense Attorneys, representing individuals who could not afford to hire their private Attorney.
Others may work as government counsels for administrative bodies and executive or legislative branches of government. They write and interpret laws and regulations and set up procedures to enforce them. Government counsels also write legal reviews of agency decisions. They argue civil and criminal cases on behalf of the government.
Consequences of Growing Price Competition
More price competition over the next decade may lead law firms to rethink their project staffing to reduce costs to clients. Clients may want to cut back on legal expenses by demanding less expensive rates and scrutinizing invoices. Paralegals and legal assistants may be asked to review documents in place of Attorneys. Some routine legal work may be outsourced to lower-cost legal providers located overseas.
A Growing Role in the Corporate World
Although law firms will continue to be among the largest employers of Attorneys, many large corporations are increasing their in-house legal departments to cut costs. This shift will lead to an increase in the demand for Attorneys in various settings, such as financial and insurance firms, consulting firms, and healthcare providers.
Self-employed Attorneys and Additional Duties
A self-employed Attorney may need to carry out administrative duties and complete timesheets to calculate charges for work and bill clients.
A Case for Referrals
Attorneys may need to take referrals from other firms of Attorneys when a conflict of interest arises or if they have no specialist practitioner available.
Working as a Paralegal
An aspiring Attorney often works as a paralegal or assistant to established Attorneys. As a paralegal, they talk to prospective clients and scrutinize their cases to determine if the Attorney can handle the task. They also research on behalf of the Attorney on specific laws and to secure legal documentation.
What May Disqualify Entry to the Bar?
Prior felony convictions, academic misconduct, and a history of substance abuse are just some factors that may disqualify an applicant from being admitted to the bar.
Every discipline, every profession, every job, and every calling has a cutting edge. At that cutting edge, lines are crafted. Attorneys are society’s ultimate line crafters. On one side of the line, the conduct, action, or inaction is proper; on the other side of the line, it is not.
An Attorney may be a social engineer or a social parasite. Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.
The bar isn’t just the name of the law exam. It refers to the gated wall in a courtroom dividing the lawyers and judges from the public. “Passing the bar” permits you to work on the other side.
What do Attorneys do?
An Attorney would typically need to:
Accredited
$46,541
