Law Firms

A lawyer is an individual who, because of his or her high ethical standards and knowledge gained through education and experience, specifically meets the requirements of a state regulatory body. He/she also receives a license to practice law in that state. A lawyer can serve both as an advocate and as an advisor. Lawyers interpret the law through actions and words and use it to protect individuals. They must be widely versed in a great many areas: the law, economics, history, human motivation and behavior, and the practicalities of day to day living.

Hiring the "right lawyer" is a great challenge for those who are planning to hire a lawyer. When you have a medical problem, a doctor will help decide whether you need specialized care and assist in providing immediate and necessary care. On the other hand, when you require legal assistance, you are on your own. There are different state bar associations which give reference to various lawyers operating within a region. Unfortunately the advice offered by bar associations, such as The State Bar of California, is so general that it is of little value. Refer: http://www.calbar.org/2con/3conhowc.htm  and compare. It is a well intended piece but it is so general and lacks specific recommendations that it is not very helpful. (Refer: http://www.alabar.org/brochures/law_as_a_career.pdf  )

In New Zealand and Australia the word "lawyer" is used for both barristers and solicitors but not people who do not practice the law.

In Canada, the word "lawyer" is specific to those individuals who have been called to the bar or have qualified as civil law notaries in the province of Quebec.

Common law lawyers in Canada are also known as "barristers and solicitors", but they are not referred to as "attorneys", since this term has a different meaning in Canadian usage.

However, in Quebec, civil law advocates (or avocats in French) call themselves as "attorney" and sometimes "barrister and solicitor".

In England, "lawyer" is used to refer to a variety of law-trained persons. It can include practitioners such as barristers, solicitors, legal executives and licensed conveyancers; and people who are involved with the law but do not practise it on behalf of individual clients, such as judges, court clerks, and drafters of legislation.

In India, the term "lawyer" is often used, but the official term is "advocate" which is prescribed under the Advocates Act, 1961.[5]

In the United States, the term usually refers to attorneys who may practice law; it is never used to refer to patent agents[6] or paralegals.[7]