After passing the bar and getting that much coveted title, a lawyer can choose between various paths in which to practice his or her profession. First is the decision to make between going into private practice or into public service.
Public practice
Duties
A lawyer can opt to be employed by the state or government. As a public attorney, one can be tasked to provide legal counsel to individuals or entities who do not have access to private lawyers. Most of the cases handled by public defenders are criminal in nature, but other cases of quasi-criminal nature may arise. Clients also tend to vacillate toward those who are financially strapped and are often part of the indigent strata.
Wages
A public attorney’s wages is shouldered by the county or state government. At times, one can be compelled to render services pro bono. One can go into the Federal Public Defenders and receive salaries that are at par with lawyers employed in the US Attorney’s Office. Though not as impressive as the pay a lawyer in a large law firm can get, the benefits and civil protection that public practice brings are sometimes attractive packages that can lure newly appointed lawyers to government service.
Private practice
Duties
The duties of a lawyer in private practice differ depending on the type of employment or association one forms. Lawyers can go into the large law firms that are hired by companies and other big-time clients. Competition can be fierce as politics, which can be strongly felt in these institutions. A lawyer can also work closely with clients as in-house corporate legal counsels. As lawyers also have areas of specialization, services can also be rendered to companies of the same nature. A lawyer can also opt to operate his or her own small law firm.
Wages
Undoubtedly, the higher the position one attains in a large law firm or corporate setting, the higher the pay. For those who operate their own small firms, income may vary depending on the case load or frequency of clients.
photo Credit : umjanedoan
