Lawyers Go Back to List 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.

Technology used in this occupation:
	Data base user interface and query software

Tasks
	Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
	Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
	Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
	Present and summarize cases to judges and juries.
	Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases.
	Gather evidence to formulate defense or to initiate legal actions, by such means as interviewing clients and witnesses to ascertain the facts of a case.
	Represent clients in court or before government agencies.
	Examine legal data to determine advisability of defending or prosecuting lawsuit.
	Select jurors, argue motions, meet with judges, and question witnesses during the course of a trial.
	Present evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in criminal or civil litigation.

Skills
	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.
	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
	Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
	Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
	Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
	Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
	Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
	Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Knowledge
	Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
	English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
	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.
	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.
	Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

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Education & Training   Education:   Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).   Related Experience:   Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

View Related Programs on Connecticut's Education & Training ConneCTion site.

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Wage Information
	Region Average Entry Level  Mid-Range  Annual  Hourly  Statewide $201,642.00 $96.94  $45.58  $54.91 - $112.24  Bridgeport/Stamford $259,828.00 $124.92  $62.07  N/A - N/A  Danbury $180,760.00 $86.91  $34.76  N/A - N/A  Hartford $171,158.00 $82.28  $43.80  $52.33 - $94.53  New Haven $188,414.00 $90.59  $39.53  $53.44 - $109.57  New London/Norwich $157,014.00 $75.49  $34.48  $40.78 - $85.60  Waterbury $148,679.00 $71.49  $35.35  $42.05 - $81.04  Torrington $174,929.00 $84.11  $38.50  $47.70 - $94.20

Occupation Outlook ( 2016 - 2026 ) Average Annual Job Openings:   433   Employment in this occupation is expected to grow more slowly than average, and the number of annual openings will offer limited job opportunities.

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	Some of the occupational information on this page is formulated from O*NETTM v17.0 data. O*NETTM is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.