Court Lawyers and
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What is a Court Lawyer?

An attorney, also called a lawyer or an attorney at law, is a professional individual who is licensed to practice law in a certain area or jurisdiction. Practicing law means to represent clients or to provide legal advice.

A lawyer performs many different tasks and provides many different services in the court of their everyday work. Some lawyers will practice in many different areas of law while others will specialize in only one area or a few areas.

A lawyer may work in a group, called a law firm, with a partner, or alone in a solo practice. Every lawyer who is licensed to practice law may do so both in and out of a courtroom.

There are two main categories of laws in the United States, criminal law and civil law. Not every case that is filed or criminal charge that is filed will end up in a court of law before a judge or jury.

In addition, there are some legal issues that are handled mostly outside of a court of law, such as drafting wills and drafting contracts. Some attorneys will specialize in these types of legal issues and will not regularly practice law in court.

There are some attorneys, however, whose practices involve them making regular appearances in court, such as criminal defense attorneys and some civil litigation attorneys. A lawyer who regularly appears in court to represent clients and handle cases may be referred to as a court lawyer.

What is Required to Become an Attorney at Law?

Although the requirements to become a lawyer may differ by state, in general a lawyer is required to have a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent degree. The individual must graduate from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree.

A lawyer who has attended law school in a foreign country is typically required to obtain a Master of Laws (LL.M) before they are permitted to take a state bar examination. Choosing the right law school is a daunting prospect for an individual who aspires to be a lawyer.

When an individual graduates from law school, they are not automatically permitted to practice law. Each state in the United States requires that a law school graduate take a state bar examination.

A bar examination is a long and rigorous exam which tests the law school graduate’s legal knowledge as well as their ability to apply it to specific situations. In addition, the state bar will review the applicant’s background to decide if they have good moral character before they are admitted to the state bar.

Once an individual is admitted to the state bar, they are formally considered a licensed attorney and are permitted to practice law in that state. If the attorney wants to practice law in a different state, they will typically be required to pass the bar exam for that state as well.

What are Attorneys Allowed to Do?

Only lawyers are permitted to practice law. Practicing law includes providing numerous services to members of the public, including providing legal advice and representing clients in court.

The majority of legal cases involve numerous rules and requirements, which attorneys are trained to follow. Attorneys in the United States are licensed to engage in every aspect of law practice, both in and out of the courtroom.

One of the more commonly known types of court attorney is the criminal defense attorney. A criminal defense lawyer will appear on behalf of the individual accused of a crime, or the defendant.

How Much Does a Court Lawyer Typically Cost?

There are many factors which influence how much a lawyer’s services will cost. One major factor is the fee structure which is used.

The main categories of fee structures include:

• Hourly fees: Hourly fees are charged based upon the number of hours the attorney spends working on the case;
  • This is the most common fee structure used in both civil and criminal cases;
  • The number of hours may vary greatly depending upon the nature of the case;
• Flat fees: Flat fees are charges that are paid up front for all of the legal services provided related to a case;
  • This fee structure is typically used when the type of case is more predictable, such as drafting a will;
  • If a flat fee is charged, an individual should make sure to determine exactly what services the flat fee will cover;
• Retainer fees: Retainer fees are advanced payments, similar to down payments, which may be used in a case where a lawyer is charging an hourly rate;
  • The client will provide a payment and the lawyer will deduct fees as the services are completed;
  • Any remaining retainer fee is generally refundable to the client;
• Statutory fee: Statutory fees are fixed fees that are set by law or statute;
  • In some types of cases, the court must approve the fee; and
• Contingency fees: Contingency fees mean that a lawyer does not charge a specific amount. Instead, the lawyer earns a percentage of the judgment if any is awarded;
  • “Contingent” means that the amount the lawyer takes is dependent upon the outcome of the lawsuit.

For more information related to lawyer fees for specific categories of law, see the following LegalMatch articles:

• Bankruptcy Lawyer Fees;
• Business Lawyer Fees;
• Child Custody Lawyer Fees;
• Criminal Defense Lawyer Fees;
• Divorce Lawyer Fees;
• DUI Lawyer Fees;
• Personal Injury Lawyer Fees;
• Estate Lawyer Fees; and
• Immigration Lawyer Fees.

Examples of common types of cases and the types of fees which are typically charged include:

• Injury or accident cases: Contingency fee;
• Civil and family law cases: Hourly fee;
  • The amount of the hourly fee may vary greatly depending on the case and the lawyer;
• Criminal cases: Flat fee up front or hourly fee; and
• Routine cases: Flat fee. These typically include:
  • drafting a will;
  • real estate closings,
  • uncontested divorces, or
  • powers of attorney.

If a court lawyer uses an hourly fee system, it means they will charge for every portion of an hour they work on the case. In addition, paralegals and other support staff may also be used to work on the cases.

If this occurs, there is typically a lower hourly rate charged for work performed by individuals other than the lawyer themselves. The hourly rate an attorney charges may vary greatly.

An attorney may bill anywhere from $0 to $2,000 or more per hour. The amount of the legal fee will depend on many factors, including:

• The type of case;
• Experience;
• Ability;
• Notoriety;
• The amount of time the case may take;
• Travel costs;
• Costs involved in the case; or
• The area in which they work.

Prior to hiring an attorney, it is important to know the hourly rate that will be charged and to request an estimate of the total cost of handling the case. Of course, there may be deviations to the estimate depending on how the case progresses.

Attorney’s fees may cover many things, including:

• Advice to the client;
• Research for the client’s case;
• Resources needed to work on the case;
• Paralegal research for the case;
• Filing fees;
• Travel expenses;
• Delivery charges;
• Document photocopies and production; and
• Phone calls with the client or other necessary individuals for the case.

Do I Need a Court Attorney?

If you are involved in a civil case or have been accused of a crime, it may be helpful to have the assistance of a court attorney. A court lawyer will be aware of the local rules and regulations of the courts in the area.

This is important because, in many cases, judges will run their courtrooms according to their preferences. This may include starting their docket calls early, preferences regarding the use of electronic devices, and strictness on conduct of individuals present in the courtroom.

Having a court attorney on your case will provide you with the best chance of prevailing and will help to ensure that your rights are protected throughout the process.