LAWYER
INFORMATION
In the 1800s, lawyers were largely split into two core classings; those being barristers, who argued in courts like the attorneys we know today, and solicitors, who handled legal documentation, paperwork, and inquiries. Though the lawyers of Lavinia State can play both sides interchangably, their purpose is just as complex and in-depth as their historical counterparts.
Lawyers possess the unique skill-set to help players along in the matters of court cases, licensure, and legal information in general, in order to foster more crime and law related roleplay than simply action-based fights.
REQUIREMENTS
Lawyers are considered a restricted-opportunity. Characters of any race, gender, or presentation may apply, but in the favor of historical accuracy, some demographics may be at a disadvantage in review.
BENFITS
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Base Paycheck of $12.00
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Right to represent other players
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Access to legal proceedings
GUIDELINES
Lawyers may utilize the role to portray themselves in as a defense attorney, a marital attorney, or any other path related to the lawyer career. Lawyers found in contempt of their role will have the career removed.
A certain degree of realism and proper portrayal is expected in the roleplay of a lawyer - a detailed guide of integrating realism into your roleplay is listed below.
While corruption is allowed for this career, it is not encouraged.
ROLEPLAYING A LAWYER
The legal profession in the Americas emerged during the colonial period, growing increasingly vital as legal practices evolved from informal customs to structured judicial procedures. Following the American Revolution, formal bar associations were established to educate and regulate those pursuing the practice of law. By the mid-nineteenth century, accomplished attorneys began founding smaller schools of their own, offering apprenticeships and mentorship to aspiring practitioners.
A society must reach a certain level of sophistication before the need for lawyers naturally arises, and the early American colonies were slow to develop such a profession. In fact, many colonies initially outlawed legal practice altogether, viewing lawyers with suspicion. Where they were permitted, strict limitations were imposed—most notably caps on fees and close oversight of their work. Yet as the colonies expanded and commerce flourished, the demand for legal expertise grew too pressing to ignore. Because of long-standing prejudice and restriction, many of the earliest colonial lawyers were untrained and of poor reputation.
This began to change in 1761, when the bar introduced a formal requirement mandating seven years of legal training before one could practice. With that reform came a new emphasis on professional ethics, which steadily improved both the integrity and the public perception of lawyers. By the time of the Revolution, the profession had produced some of the nation’s foremost leaders: of the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence, twenty-five were lawyers.
In the decades that followed, bar associations spread throughout the young republic, establishing standards of study and conduct that would shape American law for generations. By the 1850s, many successful attorneys had opened private law schools and mentorship programs, ensuring that the path into the profession was not only more accessible but far more disciplined and respected than in the colonial past.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
By 1885, the profession began to boom into new territory as the corporate lawyer gained steam. This, alongside the further intermingling of law and politics, led to many new duties to stack atop the traditional domain of lawyers.
Traditional duties
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Civil litigation
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What most lawyers would spend most of their time on, outnumbering criminal cases by a large margin. You would solve a series of disputes, whether they be contract disputes, business disputes, employment issues, or civil rights violations.
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Drafting wills and contracts
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Whether its an inheritance or a business agreement, this is traditionally a large portion of your responsibility
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Management of estates or trusts
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Handling the financial affairs of the wealthy could be a very fruitful aspect of your work as a lawyer
The corporate lawyer typically operated in an office, becoming trusted members of a corporate team as they set up trusts or advised on mergers
The new responsibilities of the corporate lawyer
1. Facilitation of land sales
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Whether it's representing investors in the acquisition of land in the west, or the usual drawing up of sales for ranches, farms, or other prime real estate by title searches, land management, or buyer vetting
2. Drafting and filing patents
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In a boom of inventions which sought to raise the quality of life in the country, Lawyers took on the duty of filing patent applications or arguing infringement cases on behalf of the investors they represented.
3. Debt collection
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Another new avenue for the emerging corporate lawyer. You would negotiate between commercial entities and their debtors, and in cases where a negotiation could not be reached- you could pursue legal action on behalf of your commercial client.
4. Trusted Agents
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You could become a trusted lawyer on the pay of institutions like the railroad or other corporations, helping them challenge or adhere to new government regulations
On top of all of this, the legal profession began to slither more and more into political territory. This wasn't wholly new, as some offices had long been occupied by lawyers.
Policy positions frequented by lawyers
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Governor positions became more and more commonly filled by someone with a background in law practice
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State Attorney General has almost exclusively been filled by lawyers since it became a staple in the colonial era
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State legislator is another field mostly dominated by those with a law background. With the majority of congress being filled with those from the profession by the 19th century
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Local offices like clerk of court also sometimes fell under the control of lawyers, as well as judicial roles from local circuit court to the state supreme court.
RANKING AND APPOINTMENT
Unlike today, the Gilded Age, with its rapid professionalization, did not have a formal ranking system for lawyers, as it does today. Instead, rank was determined by factors such as the lawyers' clientele, their area of expertise, and their connections within the state's political framework.
Despite this, a clear divide could be observed with the dawn of the corporate lawyer. The corporate lawyer began to be seen as the top of his profession, serving wealthy clientele and big business. They were very well compensated and usually kept on retainer; because of this, they spent more time in their offices advising rather than arguing in the court of law.
The other side was the general practitioner. These lawyers operated in smaller or private practices, providing a variety of services to the common man. For this, they were well respected but looked down upon when compared to the towering height of the corporate lawyer.
Besides this, another status emerged as well in light of the founding of the bar associations. These organizations were often founded and led by white Christian men, and they were known to exclude Jews, women, African Americans, and many more minority groups. This meant that these populations would go on to emulate the ethics standards of the bar associations, as well as found their own organizations to mirror them.
PRESENTATION AND ATTIRE
In their day-to-day lives, lawyers were expected to dress professionally, within the means of their class. Usually wearing a three-piece suit, tipped off with a derby or bowler hat, which was common for businessmen to wear. The top hat was usually reserved for formal occasions.
When appearing before the court, lawyers were known to wear morning clothes. Or, a suit with a morning coat over it, otherwise known as a cutaway.
Clothing:
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Shirt - White dress shirts, either plain or patterned
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Suit - A dark three piece suit, with a waistcoat (vest) to match
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Coat - A dark colored, usually black, morning coat. Which went down to the mid-thigh
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Footwear - Laced leather boots
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Headwear - A derby (bowler) hat was the usual wear. A common piece of attire for business of any kind
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Neckwear - Any variety of knotted necktie, from ascots to the four-in-hand
ETHICS
With the rise of bar associations came the need to redefine the profession as one fit for a gentleman. This was a way for higher-up lawyers to maintain control over an increasingly competitive field.
With these associations came a variety of things a lawyer must abide by to attract public trust and a better clientele.
Loyalty and confidentiality - You are expected to act in your clients' best interests and to keep all of your communication with your clients inviolate.
Fairness when it came to litigation - Stemming from the English oath to do no falsehood, this became very muddied as the profession grew and competition along with it. Soon enough, most differed in opinion of what “fairness” truly meant.
Reasonable charging of fees - Being seen as greedy and untrustworthy, it became necessary to mend public opinion. But this was not always followed in practice; as the law changed, it became harder for certain citizens to find legal aid.
Public service - This was very important, to provide for the community at large and be in the service of those who needed it, though this became almost nonexistent among corporate lawyers.