what type of law do attorney generals practice

by Prof. Perry Buckridge 6 min read

General practice encompasses a broad range of civil and criminal matters. Unlike lawyers who specialize in one or two subjects, general practice lawyers are not limited to any specific area of the law. They often concentrate on basic legal services including, but not limited to, probate law, family law, contract law, and property law.

Attorney General Powers and Responsibilities
Proposing legislation. Enforcing federal and state environmental laws. Representing the state and state agencies before the state and federal courts. Handling criminal appeals and serious statewide criminal prosecutions.

Full Answer

What does an attorney general do?

While varying from one jurisdiction to the next due to statutory and constitutional mandates, the role of attorney general typically includes: Issuing formal opinions to state agencies Acting as public advocates in areas such as child support enforcement, consumer protections, antitrust …

Where can I work as a general practice lawyer?

Oct 02, 2020 · The data included in this section may help you decide. Compared to other jobs, Attorneys General have a growth rate described as "as fast as average" at 6% between the years 2018 - 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, the number of Attorney …

Why do attorneys choose general practice?

Greenberg Traurig’s State Attorneys General Practice has deep experience handling complex and multi-faceted representations related to the broad powers of State AGs offices. Our practice is …

What is the origin of the term Attorney General?

The U.S. Attorney General oversees the Department of Justice, represents the United States in litigation, and advises the President and heads of federal executive departments on legal …

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What is the role of an attorney general?

In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have executive responsibility for law enforcement, prosecutions or even responsibility for legal affairs generally. In practice, the extent to which the attorney general personally provides legal advice to the government varies between jurisdictions, and even between individual office-holders within the same jurisdiction, often depending on the level and nature of the office-holder's prior legal experience.

Does the Attorney General give legal advice?

In practice, the extent to which the attorney general personally provides legal advice to the government varies between jurisdictions, and even between individual office-holders within the same jurisdiction, often depending on the level and nature of the office-holder's prior legal experience.

Who is the Attorney General of Australia?

The Attorney-General is the minister responsible for legal affairs, national and public security, and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. Michaelia Cash is the current Attorney-General.

What is the mission of the Attorney General of Ireland?

The Mission of the Office of the Attorney General is to provide the highest standard of professional legal services to Government, Departments and Offices. The Attorney General of Ireland is the legal adviser to the Government and is therefore the chief law officer of the State.

What is the role of the Attorney General of New Zealand?

In New Zealand, the Attorney-General is the chief law officer and primary legal advisor of the New Zealand government. The Attorney-General is the Minister responsible for the Crown Law Office, the Parliamentary Counsel Office, and the Serious Fraud Office. Historically, the post could be held either by a politician or by a senior jurist, but today, it is invariably held by a member of Parliament. The Attorney-General attends Cabinet, but the post is not the same as the Minister of Justice. By tradition, persons appointed to the position of Attorney-General have been lawyers. Only two former Attorneys-General have not been lawyers, most recently Dr Michael Cullen who held the post in 2005, and again from 2006.

Is the Attorney General the same as the Minister of Justice?

The Attorney-General attends Cabinet, but the post is not the same as the Minister of Justice. By tradition, persons appointed to the position of Attorney-General have been lawyers. Only two former Attorneys-General have not been lawyers, most recently Dr Michael Cullen who held the post in 2005, and again from 2006.

What is the office of the Attorney General of the Philippines?

The Office of the Solicitor General is the law firm of the Republic of the Philippines. It is tasked with representing the Philippines, the Philippine Government, and all its officials in any litigation or matter requiring the services of a lawyer especially before appellate courts. It is an independent and autonomous office attached to the Department of Justice for budgetary purposes.

How many attorneys general have a bachelor's degree?

Over half of attorneys general have graduated with a bachelor's degree. In fact, it seems 31.6% of people who became an attorney general earned a bachelor's degree. When it comes down to graduating with a master's degree roughly 10.7% in this career have them. If you're wanting to pursue this career, it seems it may be possible to be successful with a high school degree. In fact, most attorneys general have a college degree. But about one out of every eight attorneys general didn't attend college at all.

What percentage of attorneys general are proficient in legal advice?

We calculated that 52 % of Attorneys General are proficient in Legal Advice, Counsel, and Administrative Law. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Interpersonal skills, and Problem-solving skills.

What is a lawyer?

A lawyer is a legal practitioner who specializes in understanding and interpreting laws and other legal matters. Their responsibilities revolve around providing legal counseling and advice, representing clients in different kinds of court proceedings, conducting research, collecting evidence, and coordinating with various experts. A lawyer must also manage and oversee the performance of assistants, paralegals, and other team members. Furthermore, there are instances when a lawyer must draft or manage documents such as contracts, trusts, deeds, and wills, assisting clients as needed.

What does the Attorney General do?

Attorney General represents the United States in litigation, oversees federal prosecutors, and advises the President and heads of federal, executive departments on legal matters. State attorneys general represent their states in litigation, oversee prosecutors, and advise members of their states' executive branches on legal matters.

What is the definition of a state attorney general?

Definition. The chief law enforcement officer of the federal government or a state. The U.S. Attorney General represents the United States in litigation, oversees federal prosecutors, and advises the President and heads of federal, executive departments on legal matters. State attorneys general represent their states in litigation, ...

What is general practice law?

General practice encompasses a broad range of civil and criminal matters. Unlike lawyers who specialize in one or two subjects, general practice lawyers are not limited to any specific area of the law. They often concentrate on basic legal services including, but not limited to, probate law, family law, contract law, and property law.

Why do attorneys choose general practice?

Younger attorneys may also choose general practice because they are unable to decide what they want to specialize in. This gives them a taste for the different areas of the law. General practice attorneys generally prepare paperwork, meet with clients, and represent clients in court.

How to become a general practice lawyer?

Like lawyers in all fields of practice, you must first earn a bachelor’s degree from a college or university to become a general practice lawyer. Towards the end of your undergraduate program, you will take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT.)

What are the most common cases handled by general practice attorneys?

Some of the most common cases handled by general practice attorneys involve: Traffic violations. Wills and trusts.

Can an attorney practice solo?

Some attorneys choose to practice solo while others become employed by law firms. The law firm may specialize in general practice, or have a department dedicated to it. Commonly, a lawyer joins a law firm as an associate with the goal of becoming partner in the future.

Is it important to hire a lawyer?

If your situation involves multiple areas of the law, hiring a general practice lawyer may be the right choice.

Does the Attorney General appear in court?

The attorney general rarely appears in court, but makes key decisions on major cases, assists in local and federal investigations and meets with legislators and constituents on a regular basis, according to Walter Cohen, who served as first deputy attorney general over six years and then as acting attorney general for several months in 1995.

How old do you have to be to become an attorney general in Pennsylvania?

To become attorney general, you have to be able to practice law in Pennsylvania, be at least 30 years old and have lived in Pennsylvania for the past seven years (exceptions for politicians and public employees). Of the five candidates, there are two politicians and three with extensive experience as prosecutors.

What does the Criminal Division do?

The criminal division investigates drug trafficking, child predators (more than 150 were arrested each of the past two years), organized crime and public corruption, according to the office’s 2015 annual report.

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Overview

In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen ) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have executive responsibility for law enforcement, prosecutions or even responsibility for legal affairs generally. In practice, the extent to which the attorney general personally provides legal advice to the government varies betwee…

Etymology

In regard to the etymology of the phrase Attorney General, Steven Pinker writes that the earliest citation in the Oxford English Dictionary is from 1292: "Tous attorneyz general purrount lever fins et cirrographer" (All general attorneys may levy fines and make legal documents). The phrase was borrowed from Anglo-Norman French when England was ruled by Normans after the conquest of Englandin the 11th-century. As a variety of French, which was spoken in the law courts, schools, …

Attorneys-general in common law and hybrid jurisdictions

Attorneys-General in common law jurisdictions, and jurisdictions with a legal system which is partially derived from the common law tradition, share a common provenance.
In Australia, the attorney-general is the chief law officer of the Crown and a member of the Cabinet. The Attorney-General is the minister responsible for legal affairs, national and public security, and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. Michaelia Cashis the current Attorney-General. …

Similar offices in non-common law jurisdictions

Non-common law jurisdictions usually have one or more offices which are similar to attorneys-general in common law jurisdictions, some of which use "attorney-general" as the English translation of their titles.
The state attorney (ríkislögmaður) represents the state in civil lawsuits. The state attorney is appointed by the Prime Ministerfor a period of 5 years and must have the same qualifications re…

External links

• Quotations related to Attorney general at Wikiquote