Lawyer Job Description

By : Arjun Kulkarni A lawyer is one of the most respectable jobs one can hold. Here's an article on lawyer job description. Everyone views the job of a lawyer as something really awesome and cool. Blame on TV shows like Boston Legal, but the job of a lawyer has gained quite a lot of publicity and fame. Which brings us to the main topic that apart from saying, "objection, your honor" in a very saucy way, what is the job description of a lawyer? Read on for the duties of a corporate and a criminal lawyer and the lawyer job description.

Job Description of a Lawyer

Lawyers come in two broad categories: the criminal lawyers and the corporate lawyers. Corporate lawyers are those who specialize Corporation Laws. Criminal Lawyers, on the other hand are those lawyers that plead on behalf of a criminal in the court of law. Let us look at each of the lawyer job description.

Corporate Lawyer Job Description

A corporate lawyer is the one who specializes in the law, which deals with the operations of businesses in any country. The corporate lawyer has to make sure that all the transactions and deals made by the client company are within the framework of the law. A corporate lawyer may work as an individual entity or for a law firm. A corporate lawyer may also be a direct employee of the company. The job of a corporate lawyer is mostly advisory. If the company wants to take any decision, they usually refer to the corporate lawyer to examine the legality of their decision. The corporate lawyer also has to lay down the procedure which the company has to follow while implementing the decision. The corporate lawyer also has to draw up all the paperwork of the company. A corporate lawyer also has to go to the court, if any cases are filed against a client company, to prove the legality of the decisions which they have taken. A corporate lawyer also has to be conversant with various other laws in the country, namely, tax laws, contract laws, bankruptcy laws, laws relating to intellectual property, securities laws and zoning laws. While these are the basic laws which corporate lawyers are expected to know about the other laws, which they should have by the employing company.

Criminal Lawyer Job Description

A criminal defense lawyer is the one who is employed by a person who has been accused of committing some crime. A criminal lawyer also files a case against a person who has committed a crime. The job of a criminal lawyer is not only restricted to the knowledge of the laws. A criminal lawyer is also expected to go beyond what's written in the book and do a bit of investigation as well. The job of a criminal lawyer is most often in the courtroom where he has to represent his client. He is not only one who possesses the knowledge of laws, but a corporate lawyer is also the representative of the client. A criminal lawyer appointed by the plaintiff has to study the facts and make a case for the plaintiff. He has to arrange the witnesses for the case which will back up the claims of the plaintiff as proof. The criminal lawyer for the defendant has to find a way to refute the claims of the plaintiff in the court of law and if his client is totally checkmated, plead guilty and hope for a reduction in the punishment meted out to his client.

If you are very interested in the field of law and want to learn how to become a lawyer, read on.

• How to Become a Lawyer
• Requirements to Become a Lawyer
  

So this was all about lawyer job description. The job of a lawyer is indeed a fascinating one. It's an arduous task to gain mastery on all the laws, but the real job of a lawyer goes quite beyond the book. The success of a lawyer lies in his/her confidence and the ability to convincingly present a case.

Steps for Becoming a Lawyer

By : Madhurjya Bhattacharyya If you aspire to become a lawyer, read this article to know how to become a lawyer and the necessary steps for becoming a lawyer. How to become a lawyer? Is it only a simple degree from a law school, or does it require something else?

Law is a profession which requires a lot of hard work, dedication, research, patience and perseverance. So how to become a lawyer? The steps for becoming a lawyer may be arduous, but it is a rewarding career option. If anyone needs legal advice, it's a lawyer who is hired to fight the case. Lawyers are needed in every sphere of life, be it while buying a home, making legal documents, during marriage or even to start a business. There are numerous steps for becoming a lawyer which are described in the following paragraphs.

You will have to grind your way up to become a successful lawyer. To become a lawyer, you need to have at least a college degree of four years and then a three-year degree of law to be eligible for the test. This test determines if you are eligible for practicing in the country.

Bachelor's Degree: A Must

Getting a bachelor's degree is one of the first steps for becoming a lawyer. It has to be a four-year degree course. It won't be of any help if you have an associate degree. Though some may believe that a bachelor's degree does not make any difference, but any knowledge DOES make a DIFFERENCE! Try choosing a major which develops your skills and would be required for a profession in law. A lawyer requires professional writing skills, analytical skills and critical thinking, so it's always better to choose a subject which hones these skills of yours.

Your grades in bachelor's degree is also important for admission to a good law school. It's a general perception that a person who can't get good grades while in undergraduate course, won't be able to do well in the tough grind of law school. Though there are other factors also which determine the final GPA, grades indicate the priority of studies in a person's life.

Take a Look at the Law Schools in Your Area

One of the most important steps for becoming a lawyer, is to research the best law school in the country. You need to review the qualification criteria required for getting into a law school. Each law school has a different set of criteria and curriculum, so you need to know exactly what is expected, to help you prepare in advance. Look at the opportunities offered and the kind of project work which are extended.

Take the Law Test

The standard test which any graduate should take to enter a law school is Law School Admission Test (LSAT). It's a standard test to test the logical reasoning and analytical skills of a student besides skills of reading comprehension. Moreover, the writing skills of an individual is also measured. The test is held four times in a year - February, June, October and December.

Get Admitted into a Law School

For every law school, the deadline for application is different. Once you get the results of LSAT test, and you get the minimum qualifying marks, make sure you apply well in advance. Apply in three or four colleges, so that you stand a better chance of getting admitted in at least one of the colleges. Write down the important dates and deadlines so that you don't miss the deadline. Read more on law school requirements.

Graduate Successfully

The next step to become a lawyer is successful graduation. Usually, it takes three years to complete a law degree, if you opt for a full-time course. In case you opt for a part-time program, it would take four years to complete the program. During your first year, you will have to go through the rigorous program of law, which would require you to research and read about law. The reason for such a rigorous program is to accustom students to constantly think law. The first year is spent in familiarizing with the legal terminologies and laws related to acts of negligence and wrongdoings. Moreover, other laws covered include civil procedure law, constitutional law, criminal law and property law. In the second and third year, students have an option of choosing courses based on their interests. Throughout these years, students get a chance to argue in mock trials, write legal documents and participate in court activities.

Passing the Bar Exam

The next step to become a lawyer is to pass the exam conducted by the bar. This exam determines whether a law graduate is qualified enough to practice law. Each state has a different agency which administers the test. If you want to practice law in a particular area, you have to take the test conducted by these agencies.

Once you have cleared all these steps to become a lawyer, next you need to pass the fitness and character test. This stage is quite intrusive and checks the person's background. And if you fail in this test, you will not be admitted into the bar. Once the bar permits you an entry, you need to apply for a license to the responsible authority of the state. After the application is granted, he or she takes an oath, in which the applicant promises to follow the rules of law. In some states the license should be renewed, which requires continuous education so that the lawyers are abreast of the latest changes in law.

The steps for becoming a lawyer in Canada is similar to the steps to become a lawyer in America. The only difference is that in America, once you pass the bar exam and the character and fitness tests, you are eligible for applying for a license. On the other hand in Canada, once you have completed the steps for becoming a lawyer mentioned above, you need to finish a period of articling and after that, pass the course and exam set by the bar. This means that you have to invest at least 6 to 8 years for the whole process.

Read more on:

• Requirements to Become a Lawyer
• Lawyer Average Salary
• Lawyer Job Description

Hope this answers your question on, 'what are the steps for becoming a lawyer?'. Becoming a lawyer is a long-drawn process and requires you to be patient besides being determined, but it is definitely a rewarding career option.