Litigation is a fact of life these days. Hardly a day goes by without news of lawsuits being filed or resolved. At the heart of these cases is almost always a trial attorney. This article will provide you with information about what they do and how they are different from other types of lawyers. Knowing the difference between trial lawyers and other types of lawyers can help you hire the right one for your needs.
Different types of lawyers
Many people don’t realize that not all lawyers bring cases in a court of law in front of a judge and jury. Television shows and high-profile news cases embellish lawyers and court proceedings, making it seem as if lawyers spend all their time in court, presenting evidence and arguing cases before a judge and jury. This could not be further from the truth.
In fact, the vast majority of lawyers never see the inside of a courtroom. They spend most of their time advising their clients on the law or drafting and reviewing documents. These attorneys may be general practice attorneys, probate attorneys, or work for large corporations as corporate attorneys, sometimes called legal counsel. Criminal law attorneys represent those accused of committing crimes and often find themselves representing clients in a courtroom. Other attorneys work for various government units such as state attorneys general, public defenders, or prosecutors.
Trial attorneys, by contrast, are lawyers who specialize in trials. They usually specialize in civil law and are often the type of attorney you will find in court. If you intend to go to court to resolve a dispute, you will need one of these attorneys.
education and training
Like all attorneys, the litigants have completed four years of college followed by an additional three years of law school. After graduation, they must pass the bar exam for the state in which they intend to work before they can practice law. Lawyers often participate in continuing education classes and may even take additional courses in law school to specialize in a certain area of law, such as probate, wills, bankruptcy, divorce, or insurance, among many others.
Most trial attorneys will have chosen one or two focus areas. They will spend time throughout their career honing their knowledge related to these areas of law and keeping up with changes in the law.
What does a trial lawyer do?
The main job of this attorney is to take a case through the court system.
He or she does all the pretrial work necessary to move a lawsuit forward. This includes creating a written request for settlement or directly filing a claim. Once the lawsuit has been filed, the attorney will conduct research related to the lawsuit, such as questioning witnesses and collecting evidence to use in the event the case goes to trial.
If the case goes to trial, the trial attorney will represent the client at trial. He or she will present the client’s case, examine and cross-examine witnesses, and present evidence. The lawyer is interested in obtaining the best possible result for the client. Sometimes that means going to court, but the lawyer can also successfully resolve the dispute by settling out of court.
Benefits of Hiring a Trial Lawyer
Disputants know the law in general, which is necessary to resolve a dispute. But they are also well versed in the rules that govern court cases. There are procedures and rules that must be followed to properly file and litigate a claim. Having someone on your side who has this knowledge is one of the main reasons people hire trial attorneys to present their cases.
It is important to understand the qualifications and limitations of any attorney you hire. If you intend to resolve a dispute in court, the experience that a trial attorney can offer can be invaluable to you. Choosing a lawyer is like choosing any other service provider. You want to make sure you choose the right one for the right job.