Lawyer

:For information on the type of fish called Lawyer, see the article on Burbot.

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A lawyer is a person licensed by the state to advise clients in legal matters and represent them in courts of law and in other forms of dispute resolution. Most countries today require professional law advisors in their judicial systems. Lawyers have many names in different countries, including "advocate", "attorney", "barrister", counsel, "counsellor", "civil law notary" and "solicitor"; many of these names indicate specific classes or ranks of jurists.

Related Topics:
Person - State - Court - Law - Dispute resolution - Judicial system - Advocate - Barrister - Counsel - Civil law notary - Solicitor - Jurist

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Law is a theoretical and abstract discipline, and working as a lawyer represents the "practical" application of legal theory and knowledge to solve real problems or to advance the interests (usually financial and economic) of persons who retain (i.e., hire) lawyers for legal services.

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The role of the lawyer can vary significantly across legal jurisdictions. For instance, in some countries, lawyers may be required to lead or manage criminal investigations. In the United States, lawyers have taken over functions that used to be performed by other jurists such as the civil law notary or paralegal.

Related Topics:
Jurisdiction - United States - Jurists - Civil law notary - Paralegal

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: For information on legal systems see Common Law or Civil Law

Related Topics:
Common Law - Civil Law

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