Understanding The Responsibilities Of A Lawyer

At some point in everyone’s life, they are probably going to need a lawyer. Whether it is buying a house, getting married or divorced, being involved in an accident, or writing your last will and testament, you will have to seek some legal advice. As a lawyer can do so many different things, it is difficult to pin down exactly what the responsibilities of a lawyer might be. If you are in the position of needing a lawyer, then this article aims to give you a basic understanding of what the responsibilities of a lawyer are.

Providing Legal Advice And Guidance

The most basic and universal responsibility of a lawyer is to provide legal advice and guidance. What this means in practice is that should you be in a situation where you; are requesting compensation, have committed a criminal offense, are buying a property or many other types of things, your lawyers should be able to furnish you with the legalities of your proceedings. As mentioned by Liverpool lawyers, buying a house is one of the biggest transactions people are generally involved in for their entire life. To be able to have a lawyer provide you with an understanding of what the laws are around purchasing a property, as well as what that means if you are buying it with someone else. It is their primary responsibility to make sure you know what you are taking on and what your legal options are. 

Reading And Writing Contracts

Signing a contract of any kind is a legally binding document. One of the main responsibilities of certain lawyers is to write up these contracts to make sure they are agreeable to all parties. Consider the idea that you are signing a record deal with a big music label. As an artist, you will have a lawyer who is reading the contract that the music label’s lawyers have drafted and then relaying to you what the legality of it is and what they are specifically asking for. If you don’t have a lawyer on your side, you might end up signing away 90% of your earnings because you didn’t understand the contract. Although you probably won’t consult a lawyer over your next mobile phone contract, you will have to for more serious documents. Signing the deeds to a house you’ve bought is a legally binding contract that shows that you are the owner of the property. Reading and writing contracts is a large part of the responsibilities of a lawyer. 

Attending Hearings

Aside from criminal hearings, lawyers often have to attend meetings of many other types. Hearings are any court meeting and are where the case from both sides is presented before a judge. These hearings are very important, as they set up the parameters of the legal case, as well as for deciding whether or not it needs to be taken to trial. The responsibility of a lawyer in these hearings is to make your case heard and defend you from any injustice. During an initial hearing is also where it is discussed what evidence will be presented from both sides of the argument. This is a crucial opportunity for your lawyer to fight for you to make sure that any evidence presented against you, hasn’t been obtained through nefarious means. Attending these initial hearings in court but without a jury is one of the main responsibilities of a lawyer. 

Reading Witness Statements

Some people may find themselves needing to give evidence in court about a specific case. These witness statements are often crucial to determining another’s guilt or innocence and it is vital that, if you are to take the stand, you know what you are going to say. Consulting with a lawyer and preparing your statement with them can help you figure out the best way to present your story. They may also prepare you for potential questions from the prosecution or defense that might be difficult for you to answer. If you have hired a lawyer for help with your witness statement they are there to advise you on the repercussions of what you say under oath. If the prosecution or defense is particularly devious they may try and shift the blame onto you to raise doubt in the jury’s mind. It is the responsibility of a lawyer to read and review witness statements to make sure you stay on the right side of the law.

Representing Clients In Trials

The most obvious and legendary responsibility of a lawyer is representing their clients at trial. Many movies and tv shows have based their entire premise around these arguments in the courtroom between the defense and the prosecution. Most court cases wouldn’t make for good drama but the importance of having a good lawyer representing you at trial is paramount. They do all the defending for you and understand the way the law works. Unless you are a lawyer yourself, or fully understand the case being presented against you, you would be very unlikely to do well if you were to represent yourself. It is their responsibility to make sure that you have had a fair trial and all the counter-evidence has been presented before the jury so that the verdict can be as informed as possible.

Order In The Court

Whether or not you have an upcoming legal case, contract, or witness statement, understanding what the responsibilities of a lawyer are, is very important. The reason lawyers get paid so well is that they understand an extremely complex concept, the law. They are also incredible investigators, detectives, and orators. All of these skills come under the responsibilities of a lawyer, as well as; providing legal advice and guidance, reading and writing contracts, attending hearings, reading witness statements, and representing clients in trials. If you are a business owner, you may need the help of a lawyer to set up employment contracts for your staff. If you are thinking about writing a will you may need to consult with a lawyer to make sure your wishes are kept. By reading this article you should have a basic understanding of the responsibilities of a lawyer.