Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.
<ul><li>Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.</li><li>Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.</li><li>Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.</li><li>Select jurors, argue motions, meet with judges, and question witnesses during the course of a trial.</li><li>Represent clients in court or before government agencies.</li><li>Present evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in criminal or civil litigation.</li><li>Present and summarize cases to judges and juries.</li><li>Study Constitution, statutes, decisions, regulations, and ordinances of quasi-judicial bodies to determine ramifications for cases.</li><li>Prepare, draft, and review legal documents, such as wills, deeds, patent applications, mortgages, leases, and contracts.</li><li>Negotiate settlements of civil disputes.</li><li>Supervise legal assistants.</li><li>Examine legal data to determine advisability of defending or prosecuting lawsuit.</li><li>Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases.</li><li>Gather evidence to formulate defense or to initiate legal actions, by such means as interviewing clients and witnesses to ascertain the facts of a case.</li><li>Prepare legal briefs and opinions, and file appeals in state and federal courts of appeal.</li><li>Search for and examine public and other legal records to write opinions or establish ownership.</li><li>Confer with colleagues with specialties in appropriate areas of legal issue to establish and verify bases for legal proceedings.</li><li>Perform administrative and management functions related to the practice of law.</li></ul>