Corporate law

In the world of business, there are few transactions that do not require some form of legal expertise. One vital function performed by corporate lawyers is the creation of documents that control contracts, incorporations, mergers, stock issues, bankruptcies, and partnerships. Corporate lawyers also act as advisors, helping business people conduct difficult negotiations, and making them aware of laws and regulations. For this reason, corporate lawyers must possess a deep understanding of business, as well as related fields such as banking, insurance, and politics.

Civil Litigation

In civil litigation, a lawyer’s role is to construct a winning case for his or her client, using all available means of research, preparation, and logical reasoning.

Some litigators are specialists working behind the scenes to build a client’s case, while others are “trial-lawyers” who specialize in presenting arguments before the court.

In civil disputes, individuals or corporations file lawsuits against each other, and the decisions of the court do not involve criminal penalties. Corporate work in civil litigation often involves conflicts over trademarks, contracts, agreements, copyrights, licenses, or patents. Civil litigation also includes family law, which deals primarily with divorce, child custody, and the division of assets. Another area of civil litigation is torts. Torts involve damages or injury caused through negligence.

Criminal Litigation

It is the responsibility of both private and public criminal attorneys to provide capable and rigorous defenses for those accused of committing a crime. This field of law often involves victims of crime and their families, as well as significant penalties of imprisonment or fines. In these cases, the safety and welfare of society can often place an enormous burden of responsibility on the lawyers on both sides.

1. Self-Motivated

The field of law, beginning with law school, requires considerable personal motivation. While some see a law career as an opportunity to uphold or change social and government institutions, others are driven by financial gain, the prestige of working at a certain law firm, or involvement in high-profile cases. Whatever the goal, anyone thinking of a legal career should have the tenacity to see things through.

2. Productive

Success as a lawyer is usually a result of years of hard work. Although the common view of a legal career emphasizes its financial rewards, the economics of hourly billing favors those who are most productive, especially during the early stages their careers.

3. Analytical

Lawyers must use rigorous logic to determine the best course of action for their clients. To do so, they must look at problems in terms of the fundamental facts and eliminate irrelevant details. This often demands ingenuity, sound reasoning, and the ability to analyze large amounts of information.

4. Meticulous

Because lawyers are paid to anticipate clients’ problems, much of their work involves taking the appropriate steps to avoid future liabilities. This is one reason for the highly technical nature of most legal documents. To function in this environment, lawyers must be highly knowledgeable of the legal system’s complex rules and procedures.

5. Clear

To be effective, a lawyer must possess excellent communication skills. This includes a high level of verbal competence as well as the ability to produce written documents that meet rigorous technical and logical standards.

6. Responsible

The legal profession has rules of conduct that greatly influence a lawyer’s decisions. These rules affect a broad range of activities regarding matters of principle as well as professional ethics. Because of this, lawyers must continuously ensure that their actions adhere to these rules. Anyone interested in a career in law should be aware of the ethical and professional standards that will inevitably affect their future.
To supplement this list, it would be useful to speak to a pre-law advisor at your local university. You should also consult as many law students and working lawyers as possible in order to develop an accurate understanding of the profession.

To be admitted, candidates must take an extensive exam that covers different topics of national law, as well as state or provincial law. The bar exam also usually includes a section on legal ethics. The bar exam is meant to ensure that new lawyers have the specific skills, knowledge, and professional values expected in a particular area. Most recent law graduates take courses at a private “bar school” to prepare for the exam.

Private Practice

More than half of all law graduates in North America join private law firms. The size of a private firm can vary from a single practitioner to a large, national corporation with hundreds of lawyers. Law firms are usually organized as partnerships in which the “partners” managing the firm hire “associates” on a salary basis. Associates usually join a private firm with the goal of becoming partners within five to seven years.
Lawyers who flourish in private firms - especially large and well-established firms - will have the highest earning potential. However, compared to other types of practice, private firms require associates to work very long hours.

Job placement at private firms is competitive, and is usually based on your performance in law school, your school’s reputation, your interview, and the demand for lawyers in the area.

In-House Counsel

Many lawyers work exclusively for one corporation or business. While often performing functions similar to those in private law firms, in-house lawyers serve only one client. In-house lawyers usually experience less pressure to work long hours and, subsequently, their salaries are typically lower than those working at private firms.

Lawyers for Government and Public Agencies

While some government lawyers work as prosecutors in criminal cases, most are responsible for writing regulations at the federal, state, provincial, county, or municipal level.

Working in the public sector usually provides generous benefits and pensions, but the salaries in these government positions are significantly lower than those in private practice. Government work is also a common path for those seeking a political career.