What is the lawyers role Quality and Education Requirements

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Since time in memorial, the legal profession has always offered unique opportunities to dedicated individual to make a significant contribution to the society. This post is intended at helping you evaluate law as a career. It should give you a clear understanding of what to expect in your educational path to a law degree and the very significant financial expenses associated with obtaining a law degree. Working as a lawyer in society makes you a professional and an officer of the courts of Law, charged with the duty of working within the frame work of the law, based upon state constitutions, written legislations and judicial decisions issued by competent courts.

Take an example of the United States, a lawyer has a dual role as an advocate and as an advisor. As an advocate, the lawyer assists in the administration of justice. The American courts function under the adversarial system in which parties to a civil matter or the prosecution in a criminal case, represent their different points of view to an impartial judge and the jury. Lawyers, who are permitted by the Alabama State Bar are qualified to present their clients cases through written and oral arguments and application of applicable laws, procedures and procedures of evidence.

As an advisor, a lawyer helps other people in complying with the law through counseling them regarding the legal consequences of proposed actions, through drafting legal preparations that comply with the law and by advising them regarding their rights and obligations in dealing with other people.
In addition to their normal professional duties, lawyers are estimated to dedicate time to development of the legal profession and to public service activities such as providing free legal clinics to paupers or those who cannot afford to sustain the costs associated with legal services.

Essential qualities to becoming a lawyer

Before selecting law as a career, you should evaluate your capabilities, work preferences and personal goals. The qualities most desirable to be a good lawyer are dedication, motivation and the willingness to work for long hours. Other essential qualities are centered on self-discipline, ability to communicate effectively, good and thorough acquaintance of the English language and the ability to write clearly and concisely.
Temperament is also important because frequently it is necessary to work under pressure due to tight deadlines, having the patience to spend several hours researching on a solitary point of law and to carefully analyze facts, organize them to create a persuasive argument. Understanding while listening to adversaries as well as to clients and witnesses is just as important.

It’s a myth that all lawyers spend time in a courtroom. Some lawyers focus on writing letters and memorandums, others research legal issues, drafting contracts, agreements, wills, corporate bylaws, and legislations, others advice, arbitrate, negotiate, etc. If you would be interested in a career as a lawyer, you need the ability to think swiftly, speak impromptu and with authority in public, be detail oriented and to appreciate courtroom strategies.
A law career may provide you the opportunity to earn considerable income and can lead to an influential position of authority. Often a lawyer's greatest gratification comes through the genuine desire to comfort people in trouble, giving them assurance that their legal rights will be endangered.

Required type of education to become a lawyer.

In Alabama, access to practicing law initiates with completion from high school followed by receipt of a degree from a four-year college, although it is possible to be accepted into law school after only three years of college. This may be in the form of either a Bachelor of Science degree or a Bachelor of Arts degree. (Check: The Law school admissions interview). However, there is no required or suggested mandated course of study for pre-law students. Various law schools suggest that the broadest possible undergraduate education will be the most accommodating. Courses that develop skills utilised in law school and legal work, such as the ability to think in an organised manner, a command of the English language and the capacity to work well with others, should be considered.

The Pre-Law Handbook, which is published by the Law School Admission Council (Pre-law Handbook. Law School Admission Services, Box 2000, New-town, PA,, 18940. Revised annually. A discussion of pre-law and law study. it also contains a list of law schools, giving a summary of each.), recommends demanding courses that help in developing a critical thinking, as well as analytical, writing and oral skills.

Language is the key tool for the lawyer, whether it is an oral argument, for example, in court or speaking to clients, or is in written form in letters, legal briefs or court pleadings. Therefore, any course that develops this skill is valuable.
Legal education is diverse enough from everything which precedes it , in that no one course (such as business law) will prepare you for it; but any other course (for example, logic and philosophy) which stimulates your thinking or gives you an insights into some forms of legal questions that lawyers face will surely be of benefit. The self-discipline and study habits necessary in law school should be developed in high school and then carried through college.
Among the individual courses that can be considered include analytical writing, English language and literature, government, science, , economics, accounting, history, political , philosophy, logic, scientific method and public speaking.

In the final year of college you will be required to take a standardized test called the “Law School Admissions Test, "this is also referred to as the LSAT .
LSAT is a nationwide examination set several times annually, it tests a student's analytical skills in areas like logic, reading comprehensions, etc. Through obtaining information on law school programs, entrance standards and costs, well in advance of application deadlines, you will have time to review the curriculum and talk to lawyers in your community about those schools. Understand that competition to enter law school is stringent. It is wise to have more than one school in mind when you apply. There are five law schools for example in Alabama and three of them are accredited by the American Bar Association .

Note: Applying to law school and taking the LSAT should be completed at least six months and at times up to one year, before enrollment. Registration information, materials and a full-length sample of the LSAT are available from Law School Admission Services, Box 2000, Newtown, Pennsylvania 18940. http://www.Isac.org , you can check your local library for these and other helpful books on the legal profession:

- Arron ,Deborah. What Can You Do With a Law Degree?, A Lawyer's Guide to Career Alternatives Inside, Outside & Around the Law, Niche Press, 1999.
- Hegland, Kenney F. Introduction to the Study and Practice of Law in a Nutshell, West Publishing Co.2000.

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