Business lawyers
must be able to work well with others.
A business lawyer gives legal advice, reviews business documents, files briefs and other legal documents and negotiates business agreements, such as contracts. They assist business in understanding business laws in relation to licensing, security, taxes, bankruptcy, labor and other things. Business lawyers represent their clients in criminal and civil courts. Business attorneys guide company executives on legal proceedings on an assortment of things.
Skills
The skills required to become a business lawyer include strong negotiation skills, advising skills, reading comprehension skills, writing skills, decision-making skills, judgment skills, critical thinking skills, active listening skills, oral comprehension skills, problem sensitivity skills, and oral expression skills. A business lawyer should be able to communicate effectively with clients, co-workers, judges and members of the jury.
Duties
Business lawyers must interpret laws, rulings and regulations, examine legal data to determine advisability, negotiate settlements of civil disputes, conduct legal hearings, decide causes of legal action, use knowledge of legal procedural rules, use public speaking techniques, follow copyright laws, apply court rules or strategy, search legal records, review civil rights laws, use knowledge of the judicial system and follow confidentiality procedures. They must also use their knowledge of relevant laws, use the library or the Internet for research, use conflict resolution techniques and explain government laws or regulations.
Requirements
The requirements that must be met before you can become a business attorney include attending and successfully completing four years of college in addition to three years of law school. After education requirements are met, you must pass a written bar examination. These exams vary from state to state. Sometimes you are also required to pass a separate written ethics exam.
Knowledge
A business lawyer should be familiar with business transactions and corporate issues, contract administration, including compliance instrument drafting, contract negotiation, strategy development, and analytical processes. They must also have general knowledge of lender liability, trading practices, eCommerce, and fraud. They should have knowledge of contract breach and statutory violations. Business attorneys must have knowledge of employment law, criminal law, cyber law and contract law.
Work Environment
Business attorneys work out of their own offices, courtrooms, and law libraries. They may have to travel for meetings or to gather evidence. Business attorneys work very structured schedules, just as other lawyers do. Some work more than 50 hours per week. Some business attorneys work irregular hours when conducting research, preparing briefs or meeting with clients.
Additional Info
The average salary for a business lawyer is $80,487 per year as of 2010, according to CB Salary.com.
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