Alternate Title(s) | Attorney, Energy or Environmental Lawyer |
Minimum Education Requirements | Doctoral or professional degree, written bar exam |
Salary | See Bureau of Labor Statistics for more information |
Job Skills | - Analytical skills. Lawyers help their clients resolve problems and issues. As a result, they must be able to analyze large amounts of information, determine relevant facts, and propose viable solutions. - Interpersonal skills. Lawyers must win the respect and confidence of their clients by building a trusting relationship, so that clients feel comfortable enough to share personal information related to their case. - Problem-solving skills. Lawyers must separate their emotions and prejudice from their clients’ problems and objectively evaluate the matter. Therefore, good problem-solving skills are important for lawyers, to prepare the best defense and recommendation. - Research skills. Preparing legal advice or representation for a client commonly requires substantial research. All lawyers need to be able to find what applicable laws and regulations apply to a specific matter. - Speaking skills. Clients hire lawyers to speak on their behalf. Lawyers must be able to clearly present and explain their case to arbitrators, mediators, opposing parties, judges, or juries. - Writing skills. Lawyers need to be precise and specific when preparing documents, such as wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. |
Job Duties | Lawyers typically do the following: - Advise and represent clients in courts, before government agencies, and in private legal matters - Communicate with their clients, colleagues, judges and others involved in the case - Conduct research and analysis of legal problems - Interpret laws, rulings, and regulations for individuals and businesses - Present facts in writing and verbally to their clients or others and argue on behalf of their clients - Prepare and file legal documents, such as lawsuits, appeals, wills, contracts, and deeds |
Job Profile | Lawyers advise and represent individuals, businesses, and government agencies on legal issues and disputes. Lawyers, also called attorneys, act as both advocates and advisors. As advocates, they represent one of the parties in criminal or civil trials by presenting evidence and arguing in support of their client. As advisors, lawyers counsel their clients about their legal rights and obligations and suggest courses of action in business and personal matters. All attorneys research the intent of laws and judicial decisions and apply the laws to the specific circumstances that their clients face. Environmental lawyers deal with issues and regulations that are related to the environment. They may represent advocacy groups, waste disposal companies, and government agencies to make sure they comply with the relevant laws. |
The information presented within this occupational profile was synthesized from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s Handbook of Occupational Groups & Families.