If you have ever thought about becoming a trial lawyer, then this article is for you. You'll learn everything you ever wanted to know about becoming a trial lawyer, where trial lawyers work, how much they get paid, what kind of additional in-service training they need, how you can become a trial lawyer, some of the dangers involved in the job, when you can expect to retire and how you can make a difference in the lives of people you serve. I am very motivated to write this article because becoming a trial lawyer is my dream job since I was young. I would like to share this dynamic job which has its share of challenges with you.
The trial lawyer is a judicial officer. This means that he must serve justice and act with honor, dignity, and integrity. The trial lawyer represents his clients in court disputes. The lawyer is also an advisor. He helps his clients understand their rights and find answers to their legal questions. Lawyers can work in very different fields (criminal law, civil rights, international law, family and juvenile law, etc.), but their tasks are generally similar. A trial lawyer must have good listening and analytical skills. Being a trial lawyer comes with a sense of accomplishment. It's rewarding to help people in your daily life.
Trial lawyers represent clients who participate in litigation, whether civil or criminal. Civil lawyers take sides in a conflict where there is no crime involved. Criminal litigators can represent plaintiffs or defendants. The work of a trial lawyer is to convince a jury of the facts of a case and present them in a manner that best supports the client's position. Every piece of evidence has to be presented and contested in accordance with a complex set of rules. Among their tasks lawyers must listen, give advice to their clients, negotiate, represent clients in court, analyze and adapt to various situations, and write many legal documents.
On days outside the courtroom, trial lawyers spend days reviewing files and scheduling orders. They communicate with witnesses, take statements, and speak to clients or other parties involved in their case. They also have to complete and file various documents with the justice system. These processes can take many months while lawyers prepare for a trial. On trial days, lawyers meet with other attorneys and judges, prepare scheduling orders, choose jurors, and plead motions and cases. Because trials are expensive, many cases, never even make it to the courtroom. Both criminal and civil cases are often settled out of court instead.
A trial lawyer practices in a law firm or within a company. In a large company or a large firm, some earn a lot of money. Other lawyers are self-employed. They receive much lower wages.
To become a lawyer in Quebec, you must first obtain a bachelor's degree from a law school. After, you must take the exams of the Bar of Quebec, which assesses the knowledge of all future lawyers who will practice in Quebec. Finally, you will complete a six-month professional internship before being sworn in. This swearing-in gives the lawyer the right to represent clients and give legal advice.
Depending on the area of law and the type of practice, private or public, the average salary of a trial lawyer varies between $30,000 and $200,000 per year. The pay is much better in a large firm.
The law is fluid and dynamic. New laws replace existing ones and precedents change. Lawyers must continue to train throughout their careers, following a continuing Education program. For example, trial lawyers must complete at least 30 hours of eligible training during a reference period of two years, three of which must be followed in ethics and professional conduct or in professional practice chosen by the member from a list of activities offered by the Bar of Quebec.
Being a lawyer has its share of dangers, the most common are receiving threats from people and getting emotionally involved. As a trial lawyer, you’re dealing with emotions at their rawest, with victims, accused criminals, people at their weakest and most vulnerable. Dealing with humanity in distress can lead to self-problems, you need to find the time for introspection. Also, once you get emotionally involved, you lose your impartiality, so you have to keep your distance from the case.
There is very little chance of this occupation being replaced by robots, or more precisely by artificial intelligence. However, most paralegals and legal research positions are expected to be eliminated by AI during the next decade. AI could be used to perform time-consuming research in a fraction of the time and cost, speeding up the judicial process. Lawyers and judges are just as successful as the information they collect, and AI has the ability to drastically improve information quality. Regardless of how advanced technology becomes, it will never be able to replace the judgment and decision-making that only humans can have.
Most trial lawyers in law firms retire between the ages of 65 and 70. However, 4% of trial lawyers do not plan to retire at all and some retire early.
So far, I have been studying Paralegal Technology for the past 2 years at Ahuntsic College. I still have one session and an internship to complete to obtain my diploma. After, I plan to apply to university in law. I'll have to complete my degree, and pass the bar exam. Then, I'll have to do an Internship and assist senior lawyers. This mentoring process will eventually lead me to take responsibility for an entire file. I plan to be a trial lawyer specializing in criminology. One of my goals is to eventually become a judge. For that, I have to practice as a trial lawyer for 10 years.
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Rationale: to inform or educate
Authority: recognized author
Date: recently published
Accuracy: probably true
Relevance: relevant for this document
Sources: cites sources