What Distinguishes One Attorney From the Rest

When you find yourself in need of legal advice or guidance, an attorney can be an invaluable source of help. From working with an individual to advising a major corporation, a practitioner of law has a variety of opportunities awaiting him or her after graduation from law school. Some jobs could potentially fall into one or more of these categories.

Trials vs. Appeals

Most of the time, an attorney will handle a trial or its appeal, but not both. There are exceptions to the rule but they are uncommon. There are completely different skills needed for each of these responsibilities. A trial lawyer must work with real people and act quickly to deal with anything that comes his or her way. On the other hand, an appellate case requires more of an emphasis on analyzing the law and looking into anything that can be used as grounds for an appeal.

It is not unusual to hear a person occupying one of these roles called a "Trial Man" or a "Law Man." In a trial, a person looks to argue the facts. On the other hand, someone searching for an appeal must place his or her trust in the law alone.

Transactional vs. Litigator

An attorney can spend his days looking over contracts and documents to ensure their legality. In most cases, this person is not spending their days in court, rather they are advising their clients on the best course of action outside a dispute. On the other side of the spectrum, a litigator spends his time handling legal disputes and negotiating settlements.

Once again, just because a person leans more toward one type of work does not mean that he is unqualified to handle the other. However, as more time is spent in one area of the law or even in a specific capacity, he or she can become a specialist in that area.

Plaintiff vs. Defendant

When representing the plaintiff, an attorney works on the side of the person or entity bringing the case to the court. The defendant is the person looking to defend themselves, or their company from accusations. Plaintiffs can also be prosecutors when it comes to criminal issues. There are some lawyers that are able to navigate between the two, however, never on the same case or when a conflict of interest arises.

These attorneys often specialize on certain parts of the law. A personal injury lawyer often takes cases involving workman's compensation, auto accidents, or even negligence by a physician or hospital. Another might specialize in financial situations like foreclosures and bankruptcies. Seeing someone with an area of expertise often works to the advantage of the client. He or she trusts that instead of focusing on all parts of the law, the attorney has worked many cases under the same or similar circumstances.