The Attorney - Facts You May Not Know

Everyone has a different perception of what an attorney does with his or her career. Often, this perception is colored or even shaped in full by the media. Movies and television shows glamorize and dramatize the profession in the same way they do police officers, doctors, and nearly every other career that lends itself to an exciting story. A real life lawyer will seldom resemble the Hollywood counterparts. Whether you're thinking of hiring one in the near future, becoming one yourself, or just want to know a bit more about the profession, here are some facts you may find interesting.

- Not all lawyers go to court.

From media saturation, many people assume that an attorney spends most of his or her time preparing for and appearing in court. While this is certainly true for those in certain specialties, others have probably never been to court outside of their education. These are lawyers who practice in the transactional field. They draft contracts, work in real estate, and generally stay behind the scenes.

- Representing the government.

Many lawyers never go into private practice of any kind. One of the most common ways for lawyers out of college to get work is to suit up with either the public defender's office or the D.A. This puts them in prime position to not only get the experience they need should they ever hope to move forward in their careers, but they can also rest assured that they are giving back to their communities.

- Working for larger firms.

Some lawyers will go into their own private practice, essentially becoming a small businessman in addition to an attorney. Others will forgo this stressful undertaking and get a job with a large law firm. Aside from getting started with the government, this is one of the most common pathways for a young graduate. Join a large law firm and hope to work your way up the ranks. Either path is fraught with some extremely long hours and work for the first few years, as any fledgling attorney can tell you.

- Confidentiality is key.

It's not much of a secret, but an attorney must keep everything said to them by a client confidential. Breaking this confidentiality can only be done under extreme circumstances, including a direct threat to self or others. Other than that, their lips are sealed. This law is in place to help clients feel at ease with their lawyers, prevent any possible conflicts of interest, and avoid a scenario where a lawyer must testify against his or her client in court.