Who is an attorney-at-law?

I have been hesitating for several years about whether to start an apprenticeship at all (it's a 3/4 year lawyer's further training to become an attorney-at-law or judge, for example). After all, there are other, more enjoyable professions that require less time and knowledge and can be more lucrative. Recently, however, I have been thinking more and more about applying to become an attorney-at-law.

So I would like to introduce you to this profession in 5 facts.

1. How to become an attorney-at-law?

In order to become an attorney-at-law, you need to meet five conditions:

1. graduate from law school.

2. enjoy full public rights.

3. have full legal capacity.

4. be of impeccable character and guarantee of the proper exercise of the profession of attorney-at-law.

5. have completed the attorney-at-law's apprenticeship and passed the attorney-at-law's examination (there are exceptions, e.g. persons with 4 years' professional experience in the field of legal aid).

2. Who is an attorney-at-law?

An attorney-at-law provides legal assistance, which includes:

• giving legal advice and counselling;

• preparing legal opinions;

• drafting legal acts;

• representing clients before authorities and courts as an agent or defender.

An attorney-at-law's legal assistance is aimed at protecting the interests of his or her clients. An attorney-at-law must practise his/her profession with diligence derived from legal knowledge and in accordance with the rules of professional ethics. He or she is obliged to maintain professional secrecy, which may not be limited in time or broken under any circumstances.

3 Differences between a legal adviser and an advocate

There are two types of attorney-at-law in Poland - legal advisers and advocates. Although legal advisers and advocates have similar competences, they differ, among other things, in their ability to be employed in companies and institutions on a permanent basis.

Solicitors can be employed on an employment contract, whereas advocates usually work on a self-employed basis.

4 Beware of these myths

I often come across myths that only a advocates can represent a client before the courts and that legal advisers do not deal with criminal cases. Nothing could be further from the truth! A legal adviser can represent clients before the courts and deals with a wide range of cases, including criminal cases.

Is a legal adviser able to solve all your problems?

Unfortunately, no. It will not protect you from fraudsters, thieves or liars. The biggest problem is often not reading contracts before signing them or not understanding their content. Therefore, always take the time to read and discuss the contract carefully.

5 What distinguishes a good legal adviser?

In my opinion, above all honesty.

A good legal adviser should admit if he or she does not have experience in a particular case and recommend another specialist who can help you better. There is nothing worse than a lawyer who takes on a case that he or she is not capable of handling properly.

There is no lawyer who deals with everything, and we should not require that of him or her. When we turn to a law firm, there is a strong likelihood that our case will be handled by a team of experienced professionals with a variety of experience and track records. The collaboration of multiple lawyers can lead to better results and a more comprehensive approach to our case.

If you are considering a career in law, applying to become a solicitor can be an excellent choice. Not only does this profession give you the satisfaction of helping others, but it also provides many opportunities for professional development.

If, on the other hand, you are not involved in law, then remember to always check carefully who you are going to work with, and do not hesitate to take the time to understand the documents you are signing. It is also worth asking a lawyer for help.

I hope this post has introduced you to the legal profession and cleared up some of your doubts. If you have any questions or need help, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you for reading and I'll see you in my next blog post ‘Lawyer in the Tri-City’!

Aleksandra