Lawyers, or Attorneys, act on behalf of clients embroiled in civil or criminal cases. Lawyers research cases to determine legalities of each case they are handling, then compile and analyze evidence, and represent their client’s in courts. Attorneys advise their clients and instruct on legal rights and duties, as well as recommend trial plans. Normally, attorneys are prosecutors or defense attorneys.
Lawyers in private practice concentrate on criminal and civil law and represent clients who have been charged with crimes or have been accused of crimes and argue their case in courts of law. In civil law, they litigate wills, trusts, contracts, mortgages, titles, leases, and the like. In criminal law, they prosecute or defend criminal felonious acts. Attorneys may practice a number of specialties such as corporate, bankruptcy, probate, criminal, and international law among other.
Some lawyers are retained by a company or single client. If working solely for a corporation, these lawyers are known as “house counsel” and typically assist them in all matters corporate. Other attorneys represent groups such as activists, lobbyists, or even non-profits. Other attorneys work in the fast-growing field of intellectual property and assist clients with copyrights, artwork under contract, product designs, software, applications and computer programs.
Huge numbers of attorneys work in government a state or federal level. Some work in the State Attorney’s Office, as investigators, prosecutors, and public defenders. At a federal level, some work with government agencies and investigate claims and cases for the departments of Justice, Treasury, and Defense, along with the IRS, CIA, FBI, and NSA to name but a few. Irrespective of their concentration or specialty, each attorney must have passed the bar and hold a proper license.
If you must retain an attorney, study the area of law that your concern falls into, such as civil or criminal. Next, go online and type in your zip code (you need a local attorney for ease of conducting meetings). Now start searching with keywords to filter your results until you have a list of contenders from which to research. After that, pull up all their websites and read all about the lawyer’s practice, then call and make appointments to discuss your situation and plan of attack. Another option is to ask family, friends, or colleagues for recommendations.
