Part 1Lawyer

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.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Trends in the Workplace

Though may would think that the profession of law would be timeless, changing trends affect the way that law is practiced, cases that are involved and the evidence that lawyers must learn to present.

With increased technology in video surveillance, chip identification, cell phone tracing and most importantly DNA identification technology increases the evidence that lawyers must present in court and the understand the admissibility of such information. the technology of DNA will continue to change the legal system. The supreme Court continues to debate the violation of rights, admissibility and the Canadian legal perspective of DNA evidence, call tracing and video surveillance. These pending decisions will continue to change the Canadian legal system and the profession of lawyers.

Though lawyers can hardly be replaced by robots in the information age the way that lawyers work with technology continues to change. With increased computer software systems, case files, the criminal code and other legal documents and procedures found on the Internet lawyers and the profession of law is becoming far more technologically advanced and legal research can be completed much faster.

As society's concerns increase over the environment a new stream of law has developed. Environmental law is one of the fastest growing streams of law in Canada as it addresses the many legal issues that have arisen over the environment.

The changing demographics of Canada continue to change the Canadian legal system. Laws continue to be passed to protect the aging Canadian population. In addition the many baby boomers who have a career as a lawyer are approaching retiring, freeing up many positions for new lawyers. In addition as older judges retire new rulings come into effect as many younger judges have different viewpoints and different rulings are a by product.

Globalization also greatly effects the career of a lawyer. Trends that have led to a closer, more interconnected world have also lead to greater legal matters of extradition, trade law and international law. As globalization continues there will be greater demand for lawyers that specialize in this area.Overall the trends of today effect the careers of tomorrow.

The profession of law is in no way immune to the changing world around us. Trends effect the type of law practiced, the types of cases seen and the availability of possessions for new lawyers, ready to be successful in a world of changing law.

Avantages and Disadvantages

There are many advantages to a career in law. However the career of law can also have disadvantages, dangers and aspects that are not enjoyable to all people just as in any career.

Advantages for a career as a Lawyer include:

-Flexible hours

-varied cases and responsibilities

-constant social interactions

-excellent salary

-challenging and exciting oppertunities and experiences

-helping ensure justice

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Disadvantages for a career as a Lawyer include:

-often have to work against personal morals

-great deal of research and paper work

-difficult to become a partner in a major law firm

-long hours during time of an important case

-have to be argumentative

-can become too emotionally involved in cases

-if a lawyer prosequtes a dangerous criminal they could be in personal danger(This is a very rare situation)

Though there are disadvantages to a person who truly wants to be a lawyer these factors will not deter a person with a passion fro justice, who strives for success and a career they will find exciting, challenging and important.

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Part 2- Reflections

A career is a personal choice, it is a decision that will affect your life, it is how much you will make, and ultimately what you will do to leave you mark and effect the lives of others. A person should choose their career based upon a number of factors, personally reflecting on their abilities, their intelligence, personal values, work values and relationships. When considering career choices a person should their ideals and their definition of success, their ideals of wealth, family, friends, health an possessions.
As a person who’s personality is dominated by green I am constantly striving for knowledge, driven by new ideas and research. As these are all characteristics that a lawyer needs it would be ideal for me to be a lawyer. As a person who has skills in researching, debating, public speaking and law is a person who would be an excellent law. As an extrovert I would be successful as a lawyer. As a goal oriented, hard-working person my work values are excellent for those of a lawyer who need to take personal initiative in order to try a case.
My personal ideals are those that make be believe that a career in law would help me achieve my definition of success. I believe that wealth in means of finance is important. Though possession cannot buy a person happiness they make for a comfortable, happy life. I believe that family and friends are important, and that as a lawyer flexible hours would allow me to have both. As a lawyer in a firm health benefit would be covered, just one of the many reasons I wish to pursue a career in law.
In conclusions I believe that I personally would be a very good lawyer and that this career would help me achieve my definition of success.