Lawyer (after a period of practice and passing a State Exam according to current law)
- Function in a professional context:
A lawyer represents and defends the interests of the client (person, company, organization, etc.) on legal matters through the various degrees of civil, criminal or administrative justice. He/she draws up contracts and legal deeds, provides legal advice, lends legal assistance and acts as an arbiter in out-of-court settlements.
- Competencies associated to the function:
- knowledge of texts and guidelines (laws, regulations, procedures, caselaw, etc.), ability to appraise and define the case in point, backed by constant updating, as well as by:
- ability to draft opinions and deeds in Italian
- ability to relate to others (clients, colleagues, judges, etc.)
- ICT skills
- managerial skills
- ability to harness economic and accounting procedures to legal practice
- mastery of legal vocabulary in one or more foreign languages (mainly English and French)
The legal profession may be freelance or salaried.
Law graduates begin their careers by practising at a law firm, enabling them to hone knowledge gained at university. One partial alternative is to attend a specialization school for the legal professions. During the practice period they not only broaden their own legal background but get to know the various legal offices and learn how to handle routine practice of the legal profession.
After practising and then passing the State Examination qualifying them to practise the profession, lawyers may set up on their own account or seek employment under others (attorneys, banks, insurance agents, companies, public administration, etc). They may also be appointed honorary judges and become justices of the peace or, as honorary judges, magistrates of ordinary jurisdiction (court honorary judge, honorary deputy prosecutors).
A lawyer may complete his/her education by attending specialization school, second-level university Masters and postgraduate courses.
Notary public (upon passing the nationwide competition as foreseen by current law)
- Function in a professional context:
A notary receives and draws up legal deeds inter vivos (conveyancing, mortgages, donations) and wills; accords them public status in his/her capacity as a public official; registers and transcribes them on public registries; preserves and authenticates them; issues copies, extracts and certificates. A notary also ascertains the will of contracting parties and translates this into legal idiom, vouching for the legality of the final deed; advises the parties as to the most suitable document for their ends; checks the legality of deeds and transactions; verifies document conformity; performs document searches (e.g. at the mortgage and land registry offices) and proffers specialist advice (excise and revenue tax, civil law, etc.).
- Competencies associated to the function:
- knowledge of texts and guidelines (laws, regulations, procedures, caselaw, etc.), ability to appraise and define the case in point, backed by constant updating, as well as by:
- ability to draft opinions and deeds in Italian
- ability to relate to others (clients, colleagues, judges, etc.)
- ability to analyse the client's needs and decide which service they relate to
- ICT skills
- managerial skills
- ability to harness economic and accounting procedures to legal practice
- mastery of legal vocabulary in one or more foreign languages
Law graduates begin this career by practising at a notary's office, enabling them to hone knowledge gained at university. One partial alternative is to attend a specialization school for the legal professions. During the practice period they not only broaden their own legal background but get to know the various legal offices and learn how to handle routine practice of the notary profession. After passing the notary competition, they are appointed to a professional practice which they are expected to open to the public within three months.
Judge (upon passing the nationwide competition as foreseen by current law)
- Function in a professional context:
A judge first establishes the facts of the case and then administers criminal, civil or administrative justice. He/she arranges and conducts hearings, examines trial proceedings, appoints legal experts; collects and assesses evidence or information; listens to the parties and their counsel, sets investigations in motion, passes judgment. Judges are also expected to monitor prison conditions, decide corrective measures as an alternative to prison, check that the constitution or law is being observed, supervise the work of administrative staff, preside over economic resources and public spending mechanisms.
- Competencies associated to the function:
- knowledge of texts and guidelines (laws, regulations, procedures, caselaw, etc.), ability to appraise and define the case in point, backed by constant updating, as well as by:
- ability to draft opinions and deeds in Italian
- ability to relate to the public and professionals (lawyers, contending parties, colleagues, judiciary police, etc.)
- ability to apply investigative techniques
- mastery of legal vocabulary in one or more foreign languages, mainly English and French, the official languages of the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of European Ministers.
Upon graduating in law, one attends a restricted-access specialization course at a School of Specialization for the legal profession (2 years' duration). After passing a national competition set by the Ministry of Justice, one attends an obligatory 6-month course at a Higher School of Judiciary. A newly-appointed judge (MOT or trainee judge) must do an 18-month placement with another judge, and after two years becomes a lawcourt judge. Eleven more years must elapse before one can be appointed Appeal Court Judge and another seven before one is declared eligible for appointment to the Court of Cassation. A judge may practise at the following institutions (in some cases conditional on further selection by competition): Superior Council of Judges, Superior Council of Military Judges, Constitutional Court, Court of Cassation, Appeal Court, Ordinary Lawcourts, Assize Courts, Assize Appeal Court, Juvenile Court, Surveillance Court, State Auditors' Court, State Legal Advisory Service, Regional Administrative Courts, Council of State.
Company Legal Expert
- Function in a professional context:
The profession involves managing and coordinating a company legal office as well as dealing with legal points arising in company business. Business, procedure and documents must be checked for conformity with law; contracts and other documents of legal weight need drawing up, for the home and international markets. As well as legal opinion to be given, there are files and dossiers and administrative matters to be looked after, relationships with outsiders (such as other lawyers). The legal side of the business must be run in support of administration and other offices; credits need retrieving; institutional bodies must be attended (committees, consultative bodies, etc.). The legal expert's job is also to prevent disputes and, if this proves impossible, to handle them under his/her responsibility, acting as a go-between for the company with external lawyers.
- Competencies associated to the function:
- knowledge of texts and guidelines (laws, regulations, procedures, caselaw, etc.), ability to appraise and define the case in point, backed by constant updating, as well as by:
- ability to draft opinions and deeds in Italian
- ability to liaise over administration and business management
- knowledge of administrative and office procedure
- familiarity with archiving techniques
- managerial skills
- familiarity with the practices and principles of economics and accountancy
- ability to manage human resources
- ability to interact with other professional and understand the dynamics of business organization
- familiarity with the principles/methods of presenting, promoting and selling products and services
- ability to relate to others (colleagues, the public, customers)
- ICT skills
- mastery of legal vocabulary in one or more foreign languages
The company legal expert may be a consultant or a salaried member of industrial or manufacturing concerns, banking or insurance institutes, professional chambers (lawyers, notaries, accountants, technical consultants, architects, etc.).
He/she generally works at head office or headquarters of regional branches.
This is a specialist career ranging from junior legal assistant to manager of the legal and disputes office. Legal experts may broaden their background by attending Schools of Specialization, second-level Masters and postgraduate courses.
Legal expert for public offices
- Function in a professional context:
The profession involves managing and coordinating a legal office as well as dealing with legal points arising in Public Administration institutes. Activities, procedure and documents must be checked for conformity with law; contracts and other documents of legal weight need drawing up, on the home and international fronts. As well as legal opinion to be given, there are files and dossiers and administrative matters to be looked after, relationships with outside bodies (lawcourts, State Legal Advisory Service, etc.). The legal side of the institute must be run in support of administration and other offices; institutional bodies must be attended (committees, consultative bodies, etc.). The legal expert's job is also to prevent disputes and, if this proves impossible, to handle them under his/her responsibility, acting as a go-between for the company with external lawyers.
- Competencies associated to the function:
- knowledge of texts and guidelines (laws, regulations, procedures, caselaw, etc.), ability to appraise and define the case in point, backed by constant updating, as well as by:
- ability to draft opinions and deeds in Italian
- ability to administer and manage the institute in question
- knowledge of administrative and office procedure
- familiarity with archiving techniques
- managerial skills
- familiarity with the practices and principles of economics and accountancy
- ability to manage human resources
- ability to interact with other professionals and understand the organizational dynamics of in-house workflows
- ability to relate to others (colleagues, the public, customers)
- ICT skills
- familiarity with the main apparatus, and with policy/procedure, strategy to ensure safety and security at a local and national level with a view to protecting persons, information, property and institutions
- familiarity with group behaviour and dynamics, social trends and influences, migration of peoples, ethnic group phenomena
- mastery of legal vocabulary in one or more foreign languages
A legal expert for public offices may practice in Italy, Europe or worldwide.
1) In Italy, by winning competitions set by Public Administration, he/she may hold top-level local government positions (Municipalities, Regions, Provinces); or in public health, Chambers of Commerce, the University, public companies; or in national organizations (Government, Parliament); the tax office; the Labour Inspectorate. He/she may also hold positions in the administration of justice (Lawcourt offices).
2) In Europe, by winning public competitions set by the European Personnel Selection Office, he/she may occupy prestige and responsible positions in European bodies (Commission, Parliament, Council, Court of Justice, Auditors' Court, Regional Committee, European Ombudsman, Data Protection Supervisor).
3) Worldwide, he/she may pursue a diplomatic career and rise, by competitions, to prestige and responsible positions in governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Legal experts may broaden their background by attending Schools of Specialization, second-level Masters and postgraduate courses.
