Evolution of Legal Practice: A Global Perspective on Lawyers’ Roles and Responsibilities”
Actions
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated: Dec 28, 2023 • Article History
Table of Contents
Recent News
Dec. 28, 2023, 12:54 PM ET (AP)
Independent lawyers begin prosecuting cases of sexual assault and other crimes in the US military
Dec. 20, 2023, 7:52 PM ET (AP)
Trump’s lawyers tell Supreme Court to stay out of immunity dispute in 2020 election case for now
Show More
Summary
Read a brief summary of this topic
Lawyer, one trained and licensed to prepare, manage, and either prosecute or defend a court action as an agent for another and who also gives advice on legal matters that may or may not require court action.
Category: History & Society
Related Topics: notary attorney general assessor barrister legal glossator
See all related content →
Lawyers apply the law to specific cases. They investigate the facts and the evidence by conferring with their clients and reviewing documents, and they prepare and file the pleadings in court. At the trial, they introduce evidence, interrogate witnesses, and argue questions of law and fact. If they do not win the case, they may seek a new
trial or relief in an appellate court.
In many instances, lawyers can bring about the settlement of a case without trial through negotiation, reconciliation, and compromise. In addition, the law gives individuals the power to arrange and determine their legal rights in many matters and in various ways, as through wills, contracts, or corporate bylaws, and lawyers aid in many of these arrangements. Since the 20th century a rapidly developing field of work for lawyers has been the representation of clients before administrative committees and courts and before legislative committees.
Lawyers have several
Actions
Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Dec 28, 2023 • Article History
Table of Contents
Recent News
Dec. 28, 2023, 12:54 PM ET (AP): Independent lawyers begin prosecuting cases of sexual assault and other crimes in the US military
Dec. 20, 2023, 7:52 PM ET (AP): Trump’s lawyers tell Supreme Court to stay out of immunity dispute in 2020 election case for now
Show More
Summary
Read a brief summary of this topic: A lawyer is trained and licensed to prepare, manage, and either prosecute or defend a court action as an agent for another and provides advice on legal matters that may or may not require court action.
Category: History & Society
Related Topics: Notary, Attorney General, Assessor, Barrister, Legal Glossator
See all related content
Lawyers apply the law to specific cases, investigating facts and evidence through client consultation and document review. They prepare and file pleadings in court, introduce evidence, interrogate witnesses, and argue questions of law and fact during trials. If unsuccessful, they may seek a new
trial or relief in an appellate court.
In many instances, lawyers settle cases without trial through negotiation, reconciliation, and compromise. Individuals also wield legal power to arrange their rights through wills, contracts, or corporate bylaws, with lawyers aiding in these arrangements. Since the 20th century, lawyers have increasingly represented clients before administrative committees, courts, and legislative committees.
Lawyers navigate multiple loyalties to clients, the administration of justice, the community, associates, and themselves. Professional standards aim to reconcile conflicts in these loyalties.
Legal Practice Variations:
In England, lawyers are divided into barristers (higher courts) and solicitors (lower courts).
In the United States, attorneys often specialize, while many engage in general
practice.
In France, avocats, equivalent to barristers, plead in court, with the examination of witnesses conducted by magistrates.
Germany distinguishes between lawyers and notaries, with attorneys having limited courtroom roles.
Communist countries used lawyers as advisers to government bureaus but had limited roles in representing individual
