America, the land of the free… and home to approximately one and a quarter million lawyers like me. Some of us love our jobs and some of us not so much. There are definitely some practice areas that are more exciting than others, and there are just as many motivating factors that cause attorneys to choose certain practice areas as attorneys themselves. Consider this my disclaimer: I am not here to advocate for lawyers. My only intention is to explain a bit about some of the various practice areas and why some attorneys choose them.
One of the seemingly most glamorous fields of law is that of the high-powered attorneys who work for “Corporate America.” It may not be popular with many people, but it serves very practical purposes in ensuring that companies act within the guidelines of the laws that govern business. These are also the guys who tell manufacturers to put warning labels on things like desiccant packs. Now many of you may think you’re not familiar with this term, but these are the little white packets found on so many products that say “Do Not Eat”. Its intended purpose is to act as a drying agent in a variety of products. I’m guessing the “Do Not Eat” label is because they are often found on food or medicine packaging. Yes, for most of us it would seem reasonable not to eat these items, but maybe someone did at some point, prompting this response from a corporate attorney in an effort to protect his client from being sued.
This type of lawyer is usually the one that gives the rest of us a bad rap because much of their responsibility is looking out for the best interests of business or political office. For many of them, if they have to step on the welfare of others to achieve this goal, then so be it. They are often viewed with little or no conscience, and as if they are simply trying to make money off the bad luck of others. Obviously, there are also various disciplines among non-corporate lawyers.
Defense attorneys are often considered just as obnoxious. This is because they are charged with defending both the guilty and the innocent. Many people find this particularly offensive when there seems to be little doubt about the defendant’s guilt, especially when it comes to heinous and emotionally charged crimes like murder, rape, brutal assault, etc. Defending people in such circumstances can be difficult for someone to understand, however, the Sixth Amendment states:
“In any criminal action, the accused shall enjoy the right… to have the Assistance of a Lawyer for his defense.”
So whether we think someone is entitled to a good defense or not, the Constitution ensures that this privilege is extended to everyone, regardless of race, religion, gender, or level of suspicion of guilt. Most lawyers who have to defend someone they believe to be guilty do not take pleasure in doing so, but when they choose to do so, they take a solemn oath to do so.
Then there are the injury attorneys. This particular group is also often seen as disgusting by many. It is not uncommon to hear them called “ambulance chasers”, and the general feeling is that they make a lot of money off the suffering of others. It is customary for them to charge a fee equal to one-third of any settlement awarded to the client for their pain, suffering, and other damages. This sounds like a lot, and it is, but often these cases can go on for years and require a thorough investigation. It may sound like a lousy way to make a living, but this method of billing clients ensures that the attorney will recover as much money as possible in damages for their client, thus ensuring a bigger payday for them.
Let’s not forget about those attorneys who seem to represent anyone with a checkbook. We have all seen advertisements for these attorneys, usually with a list next to their name of all the areas their law office covers and then a phone number. Although this is perfectly legal, I would be concerned about the level of understanding of the law in many disciplines. It is much easier to learn a great deal about one or two subjects than it is to try to learn many areas of the law. Doing so successfully can be challenging, so you’ll always want to choose someone who specializes in a particular area.
As you can see, lawyers and the types of law they are well-versed in are as diverse as doctors and the types of medicine they practice. You wouldn’t go to a gynecologist for a prostate exam, so you probably shouldn’t go to a personal injury attorney for a traffic ticket. Very few attorneys work strictly pro bono, so they obviously go into law with the expectation of making a living. Some may earn more than “a deliverable salary”, some may make a fortune, but many attorneys are in this field to make a living AND help the “little guy”.
I am one of those lawyers. I have worked in corporate law, but it was not something that satisfied me. Consequently, I made the change to traffic ticket law because I believed there was a need in this field. Some of the other types of attorneys may be willing to represent someone with a traffic ticket, but it usually costs a lot of money to keep them, and then they would have to pay a lot more when the courts imposed fines and other penalties. .
Just turn on the television and you will see that traffic ticket law has become big business, and there is a lot of aggressive advertising. No matter how soft the seller is, pay attention to how many other types of laws they practice. If it involves more than just traffic ticket law, they may not have the level of experience and knowledge necessary to have your traffic ticket dismissed or reduced. I’ve been doing this for about 16 years and haven’t regretted making the switch. Watching local municipalities line their pockets with the money they get from traffic tickets horrifies me. It shouldn’t be the responsibility of one unlucky driver to make sure cities, counties, or the state cover their budget shortfalls, but this is what happens every time someone pays a traffic ticket.
Of all the scathing comments made about lawyers, one thing is probably more accurate than the others. As a lawyer, facing the legal system in front of a room full of people, we all have to maintain a certain level of trust. Naturally, a bit of an ego develops after representing clients. successfully a few times. This is especially true in cases that seem difficult to win, but through our professional negotiations, our clients emerge victorious. It is this experience with success that allows me to be confident that we have a 99% success rate in getting our clients’ traffic tickets canceled or reduced, so call us at 954-967-9888 for a free consultation.
