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Legal profession. Lawyers in the USA.

A lawyer (also called an attorney, a counsel, or a counselor) is a licensed professional who advises and represents others in legal matters. There are more than one million lawyers in the United States. About two-thirds of all lawyers work in private practice, while others work for the government agencies and corporations. Some have general law practices, which involve matters such as writing wills and contracts. Others specialize in one or two legal areas, such as criminal law, labor law, property law, family law, contract law, environmental law, international law, or tax law. A small number of lawyers are judges, while some attorneys also use their legal knowledge to teach classes in law schools and colleges.

Contrary to popular belief, most lawyers rarely go to court. A lawyer normally spends more time in an office than in a courtroom. Attorneys who practice law do two major things. First, they advise individuals and organizations about the ways of preventing legal problems by informing them of their legal rights and responsibilities. Second, lawyers provide counsel if their clients do get into legal difficulty. In providing these services, attorneys investigate legal research, prepare documents, write briefs, interview parties and witnesses to legal problems, and advocate their clients` cases both in and out of court.

To become a licensed attorney, one must attend four years of college and get bachelor`s degree and then attend a three-year college of law approves by the American Bar Association. Each attorney candidate must also pass all parts of the bar exam in the state in which he or she wishes to establish a practice. Finally, an attorney candidate must also pass a national test, the multistate bar examination.

College classes helpful in preparation for the practice of law include writing, speech, foreign languages, logic, computers, philosophy, history, government, mathematics, business, work proceeding, and accounting, as well as the others.

The practice of law is a demanding profession. Among the essential skills a person must bring to the profession is an ability to work efficiently under pressure while relating in a positive manner to the people. An attorney must be a good listener as well as a good mediator. Attorneys must be able to think and write precisely and logically and must be able to give clear, concise directions to the clients and co-workers. They must also be able to meet strict deadlines and maintain the confidentiality of clients` communications and have a good command of computers.