There are no accounts of when exactly the legal profession flourished. However, history says that long before the Common Era, people depended on individuals who were knowledgeable of their laws to defend their arguments in courts when they got into conflicts with others. These law experts and defenders are those who have emerged today as lawyers or attorneys.

When we speak of laws, it does not necessarily mean that we should only tackle those rules and regulations set by the authorities. Dealing with it implies understanding the concepts of justice, human rights and responsibilities to others and most especially the accepted rights and wrongs in the society. It is therefore more precise to think of law as the application of principles that are assumed just and appropriate in a specific dealing or situation.

Today, we may say that the legal professionals are segregated in their particular line of specialization since a single lawyer may not have the capacity to focus his attention in all the broad issues defining law practice. Some of the major areas of law are:

• International law
• Constitutional law
• Criminal law
• Cyber law
• Business law
• Labor law
• Family law
• Immigration law
• Intellectual Property law
• Military law
• Maritime law
• Statutory law
• Social Security law
• Tort law
• Taxation law

These laws are subdivided into even more specific terms to address a particular concern of an individual or entity. This listing also signifies the intricate and all-encompassing aspect of human laws that has been utilized to set a standard on how the citizens should act in a certain state or society.

Aside from this list, lawyers concentrate on their practice depending on their preferences and particular skills. For example, legal professionals who are quite at ease with articulating themselves in public and have that exemplary talent in thinking and responding to certain issues promptly and suitably are well fitted to be trial lawyers. Like any other legal field of specialization, this also involves lots of paper works, investigative tasks and strategic planning.

On the other hand, some lawyers focus their attention in assisting the injured victims of accidents, malpractice or negligence in filing their charges against the offenders. Hence, they provide their services to recover suitable damages from the defendants or the insurance companies.

Lawyers specializing in the criminal law are those who either prosecute or defend their clients in the courtroom. Yet, they handle cases that involve not just monetary considerations if proven guilty but also stricter penalties such as community service, imprisonment and even death sentence.

Nevertheless, lawyers are not tasked by the society to design, create and implement the laws. Their main obligation and duty is more on applying the laws – to ensure that the clients will be properly guided and represented on their particular legal concerns or cases. This will explain their vital role in upholding justice and fairness in the society.

Finally, the extensive studies and trainings that lawyers undergo before they actually exercise their profession make them worthy of such recognition. Besides, the fact that they were able to pass the strict standards of the government agencies and the American Bar Association in issuing professional licenses is enough to establish their credits to perform their jobs.