ТНЕ AMERICAN LEGAL PROFESSION

Техt 2

ТНЕ AMERICAN LEGAL PROFESSION

The American legal profession, Like American law, has it roots in England, but with significant differences. In England, the legal profession is divided between office lawyers, known as solicitors, and courtroom lawyers, known as barristers.

In the United States, there is по division of the profession, and а lawyer frequently does both office work and courtroom work. There is, however, а great deal of variety in the types off work done by lawyers.

Attorney

Depending upon the circumstances and the needs of the client, the lawyer may be а counselor, а negotiator and/or а litigator. In each of these roles, the lawyer will need го engage in factual investigation.

With respect to each of these roles, the lawyer will do the following:

Counselor: Attorney willl1elp advise the client how to order the client's affairs.

Negotiator: Lawyer will work with oppоsing counsel to try to get а favorable resolution for the client. Тhe art of negotiation involves many techniques individual to particular attorneys and Тhe circumstances. The client always retains the right to accept or reject а settlement negotiated or offered by the opposing рапу.

Litigator: in litigating, the attorney will help pick а jury and participate in pre-trial motions.

Fact investigator: all of the lawyers roles require the investigation or relevant facts, including locating and interviewing witnesses.

А lawyer is to be а zealous advocate of the client, in this respect the lawyer must advocate on the client's behalf and avoid conf1icts of interest. The lawyer is also on officer of the court and is required to deal fairly and honestly with the court and with its other officers, including the lawyer's opponents.

Judge

The judge is the final arbiter of the law. The judge is charged with the duty to state. as а positive matter what the law is. In addition, the judge is to maintain order in the courtroom .

judge s in federal court’s аге appointed by the with the "advice and consent" of the Senate. Many state court judges аге elected by popular vote.

Jury

The jury, а group of local citizens, is the fact-finder in most trials.

The jury will receive instructions from the judge as го the Jaw, and its members will assess the facts as they perceive them in light of the law, аs instгuсtеd, to return а verdict.