attorney

[Middle English attourney, from Old French atorne, from past participle of atorner, to appoint. See attorn.]

noun

A person who practices law: counsel, counselor, lawyer. Slang ambulance chaser. Chiefly British barrister. See law.

Attorneys involved with genetics include criminal prosecutors (district attorneys), public defenders, environmental lawyers, family lawyers, and patent attorneys. Genetics is relevant in the areas of identification of suspects and victims, identification of illegal goods (for example, items that involve the killing of endangered animals), environmental monitoring for harmful microorganisms, parentage determinations, and the patenting of genetic materials.

While all of these different types of lawyers may need to be somewhat familiar with the fundamentals of genetics, attorneys who work on gene patents must be very familiar with both genetics and biochemistry, as well as with patent law. The majority of these patent attorneys specialize in biotechnology. Most biotechnology patent attorneys have advanced degrees, with many having Ph.D.s in genetics, microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, or related fields. In addition to having a strong science background, patent attorneys must be licensed to practice law in at least one state, and must pass a registration examination administered by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Patent agents, as well as patent attorneys, can represent inventors before the USPTO. Patent agents have strong science backgrounds and must pass the USPTO registration examination, but are not licensed to practice law in any state. In addition to having very strong science backgrounds and the ability to work closely with inventors, patent attorneys and agents must enjoy reading complex scientific literature and be proficient at scientific writing. A large portion of the job involves writing scientific documents in the form of patent applications. Thus, people who enjoy reading and writing about scientific topics are well suited to the profession.

Patent attorneys and agents typically work in law firms, private companies, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (patent examiners), or in the technology transfer offices of universities and public institutions such as hospitals and research facilities, although some work out of their homes as solo practitioners. Patent attorneys and agents often know about ground breaking developments long before the public or others in their fields. This makes the career very interesting, exciting, and enjoyable. However, because of client confidentiality, patent attorneys and agents are required to keep these developments secret until the information is made public by the client or a patent is issued.

While some patent attorneys only draft patent applications and work with patent examiners, others work as litigators, patent law experts, law school professors, or trademark lawyers. For complicated cases, patent attorneys with an education in genetics are very helpful in explaining the technology to the judge or jury. Although most patent attorneys work on patent cases in courts, their expertise may also be called upon in criminal cases, when assistance is needed to analyze and explain complex sciences such as genetics and molecular biology.

Salaries differ widely among patent attorneys and agents who work in law firms, companies, and at universities. As of 2000, new Ph.D.-level patent attorneys could expect to earn at least $100,000 per year, while new Ph.D.level patent agents could expect to earn at least $75,000 per year. However, some patent attorneys could earn well over $500,000 per year.

Bibliography

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. Washington, DC: Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, 2000.

—Kamrin T. MacKnight

A person admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction and authorized to perform criminal and civil legal functions on behalf of clients. These functions include providing legal counsel, drafting legal documents, and representing clients before courts, administrative agencies, and other tribunals.

Unless a contrary meaning is plainly indicated this term is synonymous with "attorney at law," "lawyer," or "counselor at law."

In order to become an attorney, a person must obtain a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school, although this requirement may vary in some states. Attendance at law school usually entails three years of full-time study, or four years of study in evening classes, where available. A bachelor's degree is generally a prerequisite to admission to law school.

With few exceptions, a person must pass the bar examination of that state in order to be admitted to practice law there. After passing a bar examination and practicing law for a specified period, a person may be admitted to the bars of other states, pursuant to their own court rules.

Although an attorney might be required by law to render some services pro bono (free of charge), the individual is ordinarily entitled to compensation for the reasonable value of services performed. He or she has a right, called an attorney's lien, to retain the property or money of a client until payment has been received for all services. An attorney must generally obtain court permission to discontinue representation of a client during the course of a trial or criminal proceedings.

Certain discourse between attorney and client is protected by the attorney-client privilege. In the law of evidence, the client can refuse to divulge and prohibit anyone else from disclosing confidential communications transmitted to and from the attorney.

See: Attorney-Client Privilege; Attorney Misconduct; Legal Education; Legal Representation; Pro Bono; Right to Counsel.

Dansk (Danish)
n. - befuldmægtiget

idioms:

• attorney general    amerikansk justitsminister

Nederlands (Dutch)
advocaat, zaakwaarnemer

Français (French)
n. - (Comm, Jur) mandataire, représentant, (US) avoué

idioms:

• attorney general    (GB) procureur général, (US) garde des Sceaux, ministre de la Justice

Deutsch (German)
n. - Bevollmächtigter, Prokurist, Anwalt, Rechtsanwalt

idioms:

• attorney general    Justizminister, Generalstaatsanwalt

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (νομ.) πληρεξούσιος, αντιπρόσωπος, δικηγόρος

idioms:

• attorney general    Υπουργός Δικαιοσύνης (σε αγγλοσαξονικές χώρες)
• Attorney General    Υπουργός Δικαιοσύνης (σε αγγλοσαξονικές χώρες)

Italiano (Italian)
legale, procuratore, avvocato

idioms:

• attorney general    procuratore generale, ministro della Giustizia
• prosecuting attorney    procuratore della Repubblica

Português (Portuguese)
n. - advogado (m), procurador (m), representante (m) (f)

idioms:

• Attorney General    Procurador Geral
• district attorney    procurador distrital
• power of attorney    procuração (f)
• prosecuting attorney    advogado de acusação

Русский (Russian)
адвокат, поверенный, юрист

idioms:

• attorney general    главный прокурор
• Attorney General    министр юстиции
• district attorney    прокурор округа
• power of attorney    доверенность
• prosecuting attorney    прокурор

Español (Spanish)
n. - apoderado, abogado, procurador

idioms:

• attorney general    fiscal del tribunal supremo, ministro de justicia

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - advokat, ombud

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
律师, 法定代理人

idioms:

• Attorney General    首席检察官, 司法部长

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 律師, 法定代理人

idioms:

• Attorney General    首席檢察官, 司法部長

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 대리인, 변호사

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 代理人, 弁護士

idioms:

• Attorney General    司法長官
• prosecuting attorney    検察官

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) محامي, وكيل‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮פרקליט, מיופה-כוח, בד"כ עורך-דין, המייצג אדם אחר בעניינים עסקיים או משפטיים‬

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