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A lawyer is someone who holds a professional license to practice law. Lawyers may also be referred to as attorneys or attorneys at law.
In general, practicing law includes providing legal advice, drafting documents, and representing clients in court. In their everyday work, lawyers will perform numerous tasks and services for their clients.
Lawyers can practice in numerous different areas of law or they may specialize in a few related areas or one specific area. For example, some lawyers will specialize in a specific field, such as intellectual property law.
Specialist attorneys are typically required to pass additional examinations or meet additional requirements before they are allowed to represent themselves as specialists. For example, some tax attorneys may obtain a Master of Laws (LLM) in tax law.
Lawyers many work in different business structures, including:
The requirements for becoming a licensed attorney may vary by state, however, generally, a lawyer is required to have a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent. Additionally, they must graduate from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
When an individual receives their JD degree, it does not mean they are automatically licensed to practice law. Every state also requires that the grade take and pass a state bar examination in the state where they will be practicing.
The bar examination is a rigorous exam that tests the legal knowledge of the graduate as well as their ability to apply that knowledge to situations. State bars are also required to review the background of every applicant and determine if they have good moral character prior to admitting them to the state bar.
Once the lawyer is admitted to the state bar, they are considered a licensed lawyer and can practice law in that state. If they want to practice in any additional states, they will likely be required to pass the bar exam of that state.
A male practice lawyer is a lawyer who has met all of these qualifications and who is male. In some cases, a potential client may be more comfortable working with a male attorney.
An attorney of the opposite gender of their client may be able to provide insights into the behaviors of the other party that their client would not have considered, especially in family law cases.
Finding the right attorney can be an overwhelming task, as there are so many lawyers and so many different practice areas of law. In many cases, an individual will begin their search by asking for referrals from family or friends.
An individual may also read listings in the phone book or conduct searches on the internet. These types of searches may have issues, including:
When choosing an attorney, it is important for an individual to choose one who practices in the area of law their issue falls in as well as who practices in their jurisdiction, or area. Another option for finding a lawyer is using an attorney referral service.
Referral services assist individuals with finding an attorney who practices in the legal area which they need. Lawyer referral services are commonly run by the bar association of the state.
Depending on the size of the state, this may be broken down further into cities or county bar associations. In most cases, these services charge a fee per referral.
One resource that provides services free of charge is LegalMatch. Using LegalMatch, an individual may submit their legal issue or question in just a few minutes and be matched with attorneys in their area who practice in the area of law needed.
This may be very helpful when an individual is searching for an attorney but is not sure where to begin or in what category their issue falls. Within approximately 24 hours, an individual will receive responses from lawyers who are prepared to begin working on their case immediately.
LegalMatch provides contact information for pre-screened attorneys who are in good standing with their respective state bars. In addition, LegalMatch provides information regarding the attorney’s fees as well as reviews from other clients.
A legal consultation is an individual’s first meeting with a lawyer that is held before the individual makes a decision regarding whether or not to hire that lawyer to assist them with their legal issue. The lawyer also uses this initial consultation to determine whether they will be able to competently and legally represent the individual based on the information which they provide.
It is important for a potential client to be aware that an initial consultation does not mean that the attorney is officially representing the individual or that they have taken their case. Generally, in order for an attorney to represent a client, they sign a written representation agreement.
Before attending their initial consultation, an individual should prepare by gathering any documents they have that are relevant to their issue. The attorney will review all of the documentation along with the information provided by the potential client to determine what is relevant.
Examples of documents which an individual may need to bring to their consultation include:
There are a wide variety of reasons why individuals seek the services of attorneys. Therefore, what is discussed in a legal consultation will vary depending on the legal issue.
There are also general topics which are typically discussed during a consultation, which may include the estimated cost of the legal services as well as the facts of the case. During the initial consultation, it is important to discuss how the lawyer will charge for their services.
Lawyers typically use a few different types of fee structures, including:
Consultations will also involve a discussion of the facts and circumstances that surround the claim. It is important for an individual to honestly disclose all of the information they have.
Information that is provided during consultations is confidential. This means that what an individual discusses with their potential lawyer will not be discussed outside of the meeting.
It is important to note, however, that having the initial consultation itself does not form an attorney-client relationship. However, everything that is discussed with the lawyer during the consultation will remain privileged and confidential, as if there was attorney-client privilege.
In many cases, a lawyer will offer an initial consultation free of charge. It is important for an individual to find out before their consultation whether or not it will be free.
Choosing an attorney to handle your legal case is a very personal decision. A male attorney will be just as qualified as a female attorney, and vice versa.
As discussed above, they will have received the same basic legal training. If you find you are more comfortable sharing the details of your situation with a male practice lawyer, it is probably best for you to select a male attorney.
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