INTRODUCTION
Lawyers are trained to be both advocates and solicitors. As a lawyer, you can either work privately or in partnership or opt to be in the Public Legal Service. In private practice, a lawyer can assume the position of Company Secretary or Legal Adviser to a bank or commercial firm. Lawyers can also take up various positions in the two branches of Public Legal Service - the Judiciary and the Legal Branch.

JOB DESCRIPTION
The following positions are opened to people with law degrees in both the public and private sectors.

(a) Advocate and Solicitor
- Prepares and pleads cases in courts of justice for clients (Advocate).
- Advises and acts on behalf of clients in cases of civil disputes, marital problems, contracts and criminal cases (Advocate).
- Studies appropriate law codes, correlates findings and formulates cases for prosecution (Advocate).
- May specialise in corporate law, copyright and patents, shipping, banking, conveyancing, criminal law or family law.
- Performs legal work such as drawing up wills and legal documents (Solicitor).

(b) Public Legal Service (Judiciary)

(i) Judge (High Court)
- Presides over judicial proceedings and pronounces judgements in High Court.
- Listens to pleadings and cases for prosecution.
- Inquires into and weighs evidence presented by the parties involved and determines their rights and obligations.
- Pronounces judgement in light of own findings and those of the jury.
- May preside over divorce, criminal, appeal, arbitration or other types of cases.

(ii) Judge (Federal Court)
- Sits as a member of a panel of judges in the Federal Court to hear cases of appeal.
- Studies and examines the High Court's judgements.
- Derives at conclusions after consultation with other judges on the panel.
- Writes reports on findings and passes judgement, either upholding or overruling the High Court's judgement.

(iii) President (Sessions Court)
- Presides over judicial proceedings and pronounces judgements in Sessions Court.
- May hear Lower Court cases.

(iv) Magistrate (Lower Court)
- Presides over judicial proceedings and pronounces judgements in a Lower Court.

(v) Coroner
- Presides over Coroner's Court and holds inquests on bodies of persons alleged to have died through violence or by accident.
- Heeds testimonies of doctors and witnesses.
- Examines evidences and decides on cause of death.
- Gives permission to dispose of dead bodies.
- Authorises the police to arrange for a postmortem in a public hospital in suspicious cases.

(vi) Court Registrar/Deputy Registrar
- Ensures the smooth running of court administration and sessions.
- Executes court orders and manages legal orders and documents like summonses, subpoenas and the seizure or reclamation of properties.
- Supervises the day-to-day operations of a court, including the staff.
- Interprets relevant sections of regulatory Acts of Parliament relating to court practices and procedures.
- Issues advice to interested parties.
- Assesses costs and amount payable from court proceedings and collects payments for the court.
- Receives appeals and applications under any Act within the jurisdiction of the court and schedules the necessary processes on the Daily Cause List.
- Prepares Cause List in accordance with the Law Calendar and the arrangement of court sittings.
- Provides clerical services for courts presided over by Justices of Peace and magistrates.
- Liaises with the judiciary, police, legal officers and other relevant agencies.
- Advises the public on legal procedures and practices.

(c) Public Legal Service (Legal Branch)
(i) Attorney-General
- Advises the Government on legal matters such as interpretation of constitution and other laws.
- Studies references made to him by the Solicitor-General.
- Attends Parliament or any of its Committees when legal issues are being discussed.
- May advise the King on constitutional issues.
- Designated as Public Prosecutor when conducting prosecutions on behalf of the Government.

(ii) Solicitor-General
- Assists the Attorney-General by preparing and submitting statements and/or appearing in courts of law.
- Advises the Government after examining merits of cases, legal issues involved and interpretation of constitution and other laws.

(iii) Public Prosecutor
- Conducts prosecutions on behalf of the Attorney-General, usually in criminal cases.
- Examines evidences submitted by the police and ensures that the accused can be indicted on strength of evidence.
- Appears against defendants in courts of justice and presents evidences before a judge or jury.

(iv) State Legal Adviser
- Advises the State Government on all legal matters and represents the state in courts of law.
- Performs tasks similar to that of the Solicitor-General but works for the State Government.

(v) Legal Officer (Federal Counsel)
- Prepares and pleads civil cases in courts of justice on behalf of the Attorney-General.
- Performs tasks similar to that of an Advocate and Solicitor but works in Government service.