Who is a lawyer?
A lawyer or attorney is a person who practices law, as an advocate, attorney, civil law notary, counsel, counselor, solicitor, legal executive, or public servant. A lawyer is also an officer in the courtroom. A lawyer represents his client and is bound under the duty of the legal system.
A lawyer individually defends a person or entity in various legal proceedings. The legal proceedings may fall into a variety of different categories yet most are either considered criminal litigation or civil litigation. A lawyer is a person who acts on behalf of his client and speaks on the opinion of their client in a manner which is accepted in the Courts.
A lawyer plays an important role in society as well as in court. The lawyers play the role of the bridge between his clients and the judiciary. The common people do not have the knowledge of the law therefore the lawyer acts according to legal proceedings.
The person representing the client is one who is smart enough to know what to do, when to do it and how to go about getting the results that are necessary to win the case and/or abide by the client’s wishes.
Duty of a lawyer
A lawyer’s important job is to represent his client in front of the Court and advise him on how to proceed as the client may not be knowing the nitty-gritty of the legal proceedings. Other duties can be listening to his client problems and then give him legal advice and discuss many options, take instructions about what his client wants to do and help him to understand how the law applies to his case. And most importantly, he maintains his confidential limit and doesn’t discuss his client matter with anyone including the police or the court without his client’s permission.
Also Read: New Standards for delivering Justice
When a lawyer is working for his client, then they have a number of duties and follow many instructions like:
- Maintain confidentiality
- Avoid conflicts of interest
- Communicate efficiently and in a timely manner
- Act with skill and diligence
- Interpret the legal rules and regulations
Types of the lawyer
Many types of advocates appear in the court on behalf of his client and do his work in a legal language with his client. There are many types of advocates:
- Civil Lawyer: A lawyer who deals in civil matters like that of property/land disputes, money related disputes, and many others.
- Criminal Lawyer: Criminal lawyers who deal with criminal matters.
- Matrimonial Lawyer: A lawyer who deals in matrimonial cases like divorce, maintenance, legal separation, etc.
- Defence Lawyer: Who appears in the court on behalf of the respondent/ defendant/accused, is a defence lawyer. The defence lawyer protects the rights of his client/defendant/accused/respondent.
- Specialization in some cases: Who is specialised in one type of case and deals only in one type of case like murder.
- Prosecutors: A lawyer who appears in the cases on behalf of the state. His duties are almost as that of the private lawyers but he takes a salary from the government.
- Penal Advocate: A lawyer who appears under the penal of banks, companies, etc.
Conclusion
Lawyers are an integral part of society. They act as a medium for providing justice to the people of the country. Lawyers will be necessary because, in their highest role, they are the healers of conflicts and they can provide the lubricants that permit the diverse parts of a social order to function with a minimum of friction.