Lawyers
Description
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.
Sample Job Titles
Assistant Attorney General
Assistant Counsel
Associate Attorney
Attorney
Attorney at Law
City Attorney
Deputy Attorney General
General Counsel
Lawyer
Partner
Skills
Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Negotiation
- Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Persuasion
- Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Abilities
Deductive Reasoning
- The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning
- The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Information Ordering
- The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Near Vision
- The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Oral Comprehension
- The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
- The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity
- The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Speech Clarity
- The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Written Comprehension
- The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression
- The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Knowledge
Administration and Management
- Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Communications and Media
- Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Computers and Electronics
- Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Customer and Personal Service
- Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Economics and Accounting
- Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Education and Training
- Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
English Language
- Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Law and Government
- Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Mathematics
- Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Personnel and Human Resources
- Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Tasks
Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
Select jurors, argue motions, meet with judges, and question witnesses during the course of a trial.
Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
Present evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in criminal or civil litigation.
Represent clients in court or before government agencies.
Present and summarize cases to judges and juries.
Study Constitution, statutes, decisions, regulations, and ordinances of quasi-judicial bodies to determine ramifications for cases.
Prepare, draft, and review legal documents, such as wills, deeds, patent applications, mortgages, leases, and contracts.
Negotiate settlements of civil disputes.
Work Activities
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Getting Information
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Interacting With Computers
- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
- Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Processing Information
- Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Provide Consultation and Advice to Others
- Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
- Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Personality Traits
Achievement/Effort
- Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Adaptability/Flexibility
- Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Analytical Thinking
- Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Attention to Detail
- Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability
- Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Initiative
- Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
- Job requires being honest and ethical.
Persistence
- Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Self Control
- Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
- Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.