BEING A LAWYER

Counseling Advocating Analyzing Negotiating Reading and Listening Synthesizing Qualifying as a Lawyer

Writing and Speaking

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1 Lawyers must be able to take in a great deal of information, often on subjects about which they are unfamiliar. The skill to assimilate information from lengthy, dense texts is necessary. Equally important is the skill to listen to clients and understand their unique issues and concerns. ________________________________ 2 Lawyers must be able to resolve the fundamental elements of problems. They spend much time discerning the nature and significance of the many issues in a particular problem and arrive at an answer, result, or solution. 5 Lawyers spend great part of their time giving clients legal counsel. Few transactions in the modern world can be undertaken without some understanding of the law. Through their knowledge of what the law includes, lawyers counsel clients about partnerships, decisions, actions, and many other subjects ________________________________ 6 The law is personified in words, and many of the arguments that give origin to laws begin with languageits meaning, use, and interpretation. Litigation leads to written judicial opinions; congressional promulgations are recorded as printed statutes; and even economic transactions must be expressed as formal, written contracts. Whether in the courtroom or the law office, lawyers must be efficient communicators. If lawyers could not explain thoughts and opinions into clear and accurate English, it would be difficult for the law to serve society.

________________________________ 3 Lawyers must learn that because of the difficulties of many issues and the number of laws, they must be able to pull together in a significant, focused, cogent manner often large quantities of information.

________________________________ 7 Reconciling different interests and opinions is one of the lawyers primary roles. When the parties to a proposed transaction disagree, the lawyer, acting as a facilitator, may be able to help them transact to a common ground. Although the clients interests are a lawyers first priority, often those interests are served best after compromise and conciliation have paved the way to an equitable settlement. ________________________________ 8 To become a solicitor or barrister are needed top grades during your academic studies. The fastest route into the profession is to get top marks in GCSEs and A-levels, at least a 2.1 university law degree, and then further training and qualifications. The further training depends on whether you wish to become a barrister or solicitor. For barristers, the one-year Bar Vocational Course (BVC) followed by at least 12-month pupils in chambers is obligatory. Pupils are divided into two six-month periods, usually referred to as 'sixes'. Solicitors take the one-year Legal Practice Course (LPC) followed by a two-year training contract, generally with a firm of solicitors, or the legal section of a commercial firm or government department. Throughout the country, the colleges and universities are offered the LPC and BVC, and guarantee that students have the necessary abilities to work in a solicitors' office or barristers' chambers.

________________________________ 4 As an advocate, the lawyers function is to represent his or her clients particular point of view and interests as energetically as possible. Lawyers must be able to use their advocacy abilities to marshal evidence and present arguments as to why a particular outcome is desirable. The American judicial system assumes that reasonable solutions will emerge from the clash of opposing interests.

Taken for academic purposes from: http://www.aboutlawschools.org/law/career/beingalawyer/