In criminal law, lawyers are prosecutors or criminal defense attorneys.
Lawyers are individuals who provide legal advocacy or counsel to people requiring assistance with criminal, civil or corporate law. Before they can begin working, they must complete seven years of study, achieving an undergraduate and law degree. Once their education is complete, prospective lawyers must pass a test to receive a license to practice law, indicates the United States Department of Labor. Though some lawyers are agents of the government, such as prosecutors and public defenders, most work in private practice.
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is a government attorney responsible for pursuing justice against a person, the defendant, charged with committing a crime. Her opposition in the court is a criminal defense lawyer, who seeks a verdict of not guilty, also known as an acquittal. If there is a trial, the prosecutor takes part in all aspects of it, from selecting a jury, to calling witnesses and presenting the court with a final persuasive argument concerning the defendant's guilt, according to America.gov.
Criminal Defense Attorney
A person accused of a crime and facing prosecution will usually seek the help of a criminal defense attorney. These types of lawyers, which include the public defenders assigned to defendants who can't afford a private attorney, are responsible for providing the defendant with a defense that argues against a guilty verdict. If there isn't a trial, and the prosecutor is offering a plea bargain, the criminal defense attorney is responsible for negotiating the best terms for the defendant. Plea bargains consist of a deal the prosecutor offers a defendant to encourage him to plead guilty.
Corporate Lawyers
Corporate lawyers represent businesses by ensuring that all of their actions conform with the law. They have a broad range of knowledge concerning the standard operations of a corporation, such as contract law, tax law, bankruptcy, licensing and zoning laws, according to The Princeton Review. Unlike criminal law where opposing lawyers argue for different results, corporate lawyers representing different companies usually work together to achieve the best result for their clients.
Civil Litigation Lawyers
Civil litigation lawyers represent people involved in private law disputes against an individual or business, such as property damage, employment discrimination and Worker's Compensation claims, according to CivilLitigationLaw.com. Civil lawyers can represent the plaintiff, the person who brings the lawsuit, or the defendant, the person who responds to the lawsuit. In order for a plaintiff to be successful, his lawyer must present enough evidence to prove the defendant committed the act of wrongdoing that violates civil law. Similar to criminal trials, civil lawsuits involve jury selection, witness testimony and a presentation of arguments to a judge and jury by the lawyers.
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