Lawyer

Summary

Lawyers provide advice, write documents and conduct negotiations on legal matters, and may represent clients in court and tribunal proceedings.

Duties & Tasks

Lawyers are described as solicitors or barristers, depending on the work they do.

Specialisations

Barrister

A barrister provides legal advice and drafts documents in complex matters. They conduct negotiations and appear in courts and tribunal hearings on behalf of clients. Generally, the barrister's client is a solicitor, who briefs the barrister on behalf of a company or private person when a case requires specialist research or advocacy skills. A barrister may also undertake research and consult with clients and witnesses. Barristers wear wigs and gowns in some courts, solicitors do not. It is common to practise as a solicitor for a few years before becoming a barrister.

Judge

A judge presides over civil and criminal proceedings in courts of law, making sure that trials are run fairly, according to the rules of law and evidence.

Magistrate

A magistrate hears criminal matters to determine whether defendants will be committed for trial, and judges criminal offences without a jury.

Solicitor

A solicitor may specialise in areas such as property, probate, workers' compensation, family law, personal injuries litigation, commercial or criminal law.

Working Conditions

The distinction between solicitors and barristers varies from state to state. In NSW, Victoria and Queensland, lawyers practise as either a solicitor or a barrister. In SA, WA, Tasmania, the ACT and NT, the work of barristers and solicitors is usually combined, with many lawyers describing themselves as a 'barrister and solicitor'.

Personal Requirements

  • good oral and written communication skills
  • able to understand, analyse and use facts quickly and logically
  • able to work under pressure and deal with a variety of people
  • integrity and good character.

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