Lawyers

Lawyers typically perform the following tasks: • Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses. • Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents. • Gather evidence to formulate defense or to initiate legal actions by such means as interviewing clients and witnesses to ascertain the facts of a case. • Represent clients in court or before government agencies. • Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases. • Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations. • Examine legal data to determine advisability of defending or prosecuting lawsuit. • Prepare, draft, and review legal documents, such as wills, deeds, patent applications, mortgages, leases, and contracts. • Study Constitution, statutes, decisions, regulations, and ordinances of quasi-judicial bodies to determine ramifications for cases. • Negotiate settlements of civil disputes. • Supervise legal assistants. • Negotiate contractual agreements. • Confer with colleagues with specialties in appropriate areas of legal issue to establish and verify bases for legal proceedings. • Search for and examine public and other legal records to write opinions or establish ownership. • Perform administrative and management functions related to the practice of law. • Present and summarize cases to judges and juries. • Select jurors, argue motions, meet with judges, and question witnesses during the course of a trial. • Present evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in criminal or civil litigation. • Probate wills and represent and advise executors and administrators of estates. • Prepare legal briefs and opinions, and file appeals in state and federal courts of appeal.