New Evidence, Old Evidence Rules

Digital evidence opens up a new, untapped chapter of forensic science. These days, your Facebook post or Word file can and will be used in or against your favor in court.

Yet digital evidence hardly changes the rules for acquiring evidence in general. For any medium to qualify as valid evidence, it must possess the distinct qualities of admissibility, which entails a whole host of questions. For instance, where and when was the evidence obtained? Is it relevant to the case at hand? Was it even obtained under due process?

Of Lawyers and Attorneys: The ABA's Point of View

The term "lawyer" and "attorney" are often used interchangeably that this practice has become widely accepted among English speakers. If these words mean the same thing, then why aren't all lawyers called attorneys?

While the general public treats both terms as synonymous, the American Bar Association (ABA) draws a fine line between the two. Even with a minor difference, the ABA treats this detail as a discerning factor in separating the licensed from the unlicensed.

The term "lawyer" refers to anyone who has studied the law but doesn't necessarily practice it. In fact, an entrepreneur with some knowledge of business law may pass himself off as a lawyer but is hardly the go-to guy for legal representation. A lawyer must pass the bar exam to legally practice law and is otherwise limited in giving general legal advice.

On the other hand, the ABA prefers the term "attorney" when referring to a duly licensed lawyer. First coined in 1768, an attorney-at-law is one who has passed the bar exam and met other requirements to practice in his chosen field. When looking for someone to legally represent you in a case, look for an attorney.

The term "lawyer," at any rate, is more encompassing. Attorneys are basically all lawyers (as they know law), but lawyers aren't necessarily attorneys (not all of them are attorneys by profession).

Dealing with DWI Arrest with Raleigh Lawyer's Help

Being arrested for driving while impaired (DWI) is a serious matter in North Carolina, even for first-time offenders. The person arrested will automatically have his or her license revoked for a period of 30 days. If convicted of DWI, the person can face jail time, and a minimum of a one year suspension of their driver’s license.

In North Carolina, a person who is pulled over by an officer has the right to refuse to take the breathalyzer test. In some cases, however, a person pulled over on suspicion of DWI and who refuses to take the test may face a license suspension of up to a year. In addition, the person suspected of DWI may even be asked to take further tests like a blood chemical analysis, which may put him in even hotter water if he has other substances in his system.

If a person submits to a breathalyzer test and it registers a figure higher than the blood alcohol limit of 0.08 percent, he will have his license revoked for at least 30 days. However, he can get limited driving privileges with the help of a Raleigh attorney. With limited driving privileges, he can still report for work or pick up loved ones as needed and get his or her license reinstated after 30 days.

Lawyers Who Have Earned Fame

 TV shows have both glorified and vilified the law profession, leading people to view lawyers either as cheats or as saints. An article by Kimberly Cahill says that collectively, lawyers have a negative image and are generally disliked. There are, however, many lawyers who have earned a place for themselves in history because of the principles they believed in. Among these are:

1. Mahatma Gandhi – Famous for promoting non-violent reform, Gandhi first worked as a legal representative in Pretoria, South Africa. While in Africa, he developed the political views, ethics, and leadership skills that would prove instrumental in his fight against the caste system. Gandhi also fought for the right of suffrage for Indian nationals in South Africa.
2. Nelson Mandela – Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela is best known for his role in helping end apartheid in South Africa. Mandela opened his law practice in Johannesburg in 1952. Throughout the 50s and 60s, he campaigned long and hard for equal rights, not pausing even when sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964. His efforts to abolish racial discrimination and segregation finally bore fruit in the early 1990s under the administration of then-President F.W. de Klerk. From 1994 to 1999, Mandela served as the first black president of South Africa.

3. Abraham Lincoln – A careful, logical thinker, Lincoln, the 16^th President of the United States, is said to have taught himself law by reading books. A trial and appellate lawyer for twenty-three years, he was known for his skill in tripping up witnesses during cross-examination. Lincoln is best known for contributing significantly towards the abolition of slavery in the United States.

Lawyers aren’t always seen in the best light, but many have made a remarkable impact on society and the world as a whole.