Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Part 1

Lawyer

Popular culture has made Canadians seemingly knowledgeable when it comes to law. Some of Canada's top rated shows include those that center around Law enforcement, often showing Lawyers in action. But in reality how much do you know about lawyers?
A Lawyer is person who represents a side in a court battle. Though there are many kinds of Canadian and international law the most common and highly publicized aspect is that of criminal law. A criminal lawyer can represent either the Crown (society) or the accused( the person accused of committing the crime.) Both types of lawyers are in charge of researching and presenting their case to the courts through cross-examination and statements, trying to prove their client's innocence, or that the accused is guilty. This career is highly dramatic, challenging and an excellent way to be part of the Canadian legal system.
Image Found at: http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2008/09/24/amd_order.jpg

Salary

The salary of a lawyer varies greatly and is dependant on many factor. Though location, popularity of the law firm and personal reputation all play a part in what a lawyer can charge a client the salary of a lawyer can be averaged generally depending upon the number of years they have been in practice.

http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Attorney_%2f_Lawyer/Salary/by_Years_Experience

Lawyers who work for clients are paid by the hour. This hourly fee is greatly dependant upon the going rate in the area of the lawyer's practice. The lawyer will charge for the number of hours they work on a case and does not represent the time they spend in court or in the presence of thier client.

For example a lawyer with a private practice in a relativly small city with 19 year experience would likly charge $250 per hour.

http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Attorney_%2f_Lawyer/Hourly_Rate

Lawyers make different salaries depending upon for whom they work. Different agencies, firms and the Canadian government all pay different salaries.

http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Attorney_%2f_Lawyer/Hourly_Rate/by_Employer_Type

Working Conditions

The working conditions of a lawyer are excellent by most standards. Though courtroom experiences can be stressful most lawyers find them invigorating. Lawyers work with people for a great deal of the time. Before a trail a lawyer must work with their client and prepping witnesses. In addition many lawyers who are part of a firm can work with up to 10 other lawyers, many firms having 200 lawyers. In the courtroom a lawyer is constantly in the presence of people, other lawyers, interviewing witnesses and interacting with judges.
Though during time of a trail a lawyer has long hours when there is prep time a lawyer can often set their own hours of working, making it the ideal occupation for a person who needs a fairly flexible schedule. However, as the lawyer is paid by the hour the more they work the more money they can make.

Overall a lawyer has excellent working condition.

Image retrieved from: http://blogs.courant.com/rick_green/courtroom-thumb-450x360.jpg

Relevant Highschool Courses


Education to become a lawyer does not start in law school. In order to become a lawyer a high school student should begin to further thier education through relevant highschool courses.

Courses such as Introduction to Law, Politics, Sociology, English Courses, Statistics Courses and other relevant courses such as French or courses in Public speaking and creative writing.Courses such as these will give high school students a foundation in law, increase their public speaking skills, help them understand the mentality of future clients, advance their skills in researching and help them work in an occupation that grantees legal rights in English and French.

Post Secondary Education

After high school a student interested in law should apply to a school for a course of pre graduate studies. A student does not need a specific pre graduate degree to become a lawyer, there for the marks and courses need in highschool depend upon the degree a student wishes to obtain and the University to which they want to apply. Though a student could obtain a pre-graduate degree in law it is not necessary to be emitted into law school.

There are many law schools in Canada, the law school a student goes to does not dictate where they will be practicing law in the future. When applying to Law school the school will consider pre-graduate marks as well as a Law School Admission Test (LSAT) that all entering law students must write and pass.

Though many would assume that the law school a student attends does not have any influence upon thier future success it has been found through studies that this is not the case. Though many might argue that it is location of the school others would say that an adavced education at a more reputable school will give a graduating law student a better chance at success.

After law school a student must apprentice at a law office for 9 months where they are paid by and are trained by the respective law firm. These students work as legal aides while studying for their bar exam, for at this point they cannot legally practice law.
In order to practice law a student must pass a bar exam specific to the area in which they want to practice. If a student passes the bar exam they are legally able to practice law in the province. However as legal systems vary from province to province a law student or lawyer must pass a second bar in order to practice elsewhere in Canada.

Education of a lawyer can dictate strongly the success that they will have in the future. The degree that a laywer obtains in law school will help them ensure success in thier career.

Overall it would take a student 9 years of schooling in order to become a lawyer, depending on how long they study for the Bar exam. With a four year pre-graduate program, 3 year law degree, a nine month apprenticeship and a year and a half of Bar studying there is a great deal of schooling that a student would have to undergo in order to be a lawyer. Though to many students this time is considered too long it is well worth it in the end once they achieve a solid, successful career.

Image retrieved from: http://www.stucker.com/images/000523_042.JPG

Image Retrieved from: http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Attorney_/_Lawyer/Salary/by_Degree

Image Retrieved from: http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Attorney_/_Lawyer/Billing_Rate/by_School

Best Suited as a Lawyer

Not everyone can be a lawyer, just as not everyone would enjoy being a lawyer. Different people have different interests which can help them decide on a career which they will enjoy and which they will be successful.
In the case of a lawyer a person who would be best suited for this job would be interested in reading and researching, have strong communication skills, be comfortable speaking in front of others and enjoy interacting with people. People who enjoy stability and like having a job in demand. Lawyers must enjoy school, be highly motivated and have a passion for justice. People with these talents and personal qualities would enjoy the exciting career of law, and would quite likely be very successful as a lawyer.These qualities would help a lawyer perform duties such as reading court reports and evidence files, presenting cases convincingly and dealing with clients, judges and other lawyers. A passion for schooling would help lawyers through the necessary school involved and motivation would help a lawyer present a case to the best of their ability. Above all a passion for justice will make a person be a lawyer who truly enjoys what they do and feel as though they are making a difference.

Image Recieved from: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqDeTX81b4Jwfv0XwHS-_vjJ6kUV3ZTBvggsHRUqu7Lol2jkBHto0TXB14lqxnY7RTP7FN9cMIXDlxyemHpowP-CrpO2Pmx0-e0io44Zc_NWVM5Xe18t4ls9cWlFMxC-7u9VjIMJ2IvYi/s1600-h/lawyer2.jpg

Least Suited as a Lawyer

There are many people who would not enjoy being a lawyer, nor would they be overly successful as a lawyer.People who do not like reading or studying, have trouble speaking in front of people, do not like having to remain in one location to work, do not like working under pressure or do not enjoy school would not enjoy, nor would be successful as a lawyer.People such as this would have trouble preparing for a case, would not enjoy cross-examining or interacting with clients, judges or other lawyer and would have trouble maintaining a successful practice. People who do not like working under pressure would not enjoy having to think and react quickly nor would they enjoy having someone's future resting on their abilities to defend the accused. If a person does not enjoy school they would have a great deal of difficulty completing the education necessary to become a lawyer.