Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Part 1Lawyer
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
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
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
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 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.
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
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