Understanding the law and adhering to different laws in the country are essential to living as a law-abiding citizen in the US. The US legal system is complex because there are legalities associated with different aspects of life. For instance, there are tax laws, family laws, business laws, and more. What makes the legal system in the US more complicated is the fact that there are state laws, federal laws, and local laws of the jurisdiction that must be considered while filing a lawsuit. It is difficult for an individual to be aware of different types of laws unless he is a qualified lawyer.
A qualification in law is not enough. The individual needs to pass the bar exam as well. Also, the lawyer needs to choose a specific field of specialization. There are different types of laws and each law has its specific details. Hence, the lawyer must choose a specific field and gain knowledge and expertise in his specific field.
We have heard of lawyers and we have heard of attorneys. We often use the terms interchangeably. But, did you know that there is a difference between a lawyer and an attorney?
A lawyer is someone who has attended law school and completed the academic qualification of being a lawyer. An attorney, on the other hand, is someone who has completed his qualifications in a law school and passed the bar exam in the jurisdiction where s/he intends to practice.
In other words, a lawyer is not an attorney but an attorney is a lawyer.
So, the individual you need to engage for your legal matter is an attorney.
Qualities of a good attorney:
- Good communication skills
- Good negotiation skills
- Honesty
- Transparency
- Experience
- Knowledge
- Licensed to practice in the specific jurisdiction.
What can an attorney do for you?
- Attorneys work as advisers and offer legal services to their clients regarding their legal rights in several matters.
- They also work as advocates and represent their clients in civil and criminal cases.
- They offer consulting services to clients regarding legal information and documents.
- Attorneys review documents, such as agreements, leases, wills, etc., from a legal perspective.
- They offer third-party services such as mediation and arbitration to their clients.
- They draft legal documents for their clients.
- They represent clients in negotiations.
- Attorneys represent clients in the court in cases of arbitration, legislative or administrative hearings.
Besides these, attorneys help their clients navigate the legalities of different types of issues. For instance, business lawyers help clients in setting up and running a business. They help clients in the case of mergers, acquisitions, and more. A bankruptcy lawyer helps his clients to file for bankruptcy and choose the right type of bankruptcy code for their case. Family lawyers help clients in matters such as divorce, child custody, prenuptial agreements, etc.
One can need the services of a lawyer at any stage of their life. You will need an experienced attorney to represent you. Autrey Law Firm has a team of experienced attorneys to represent you in different types of cases.