Lawyers in the United States
In the United States, lawyers are closely linked to the business world. According to the American Bar Association, in 2012 there were around 1,270,000 active lawyers, that is, one lawyer for every 250 inhabitants. Most American firms are made up of fewer than 5 people, although large firms are continually increasing in number and size. The largest firms are specialized in finance and/or commercial law and have a global presence, with offices both in the United States and in the rest of the world. In large cities, the firms are made up of 100 or 200 lawyers and in New York and Washington, DC they are true corporations with more than 500 lawyers and a very hierarchical structure: the “senior partners” and the “partners”, who participate of the group's profits, at the head of the office; the “associates”, who are collaborating lawyers; “paralegals”, who assist in the search for information and the preparation of documents; the secretaries and the rest of the employees.
The Bar Associations
The Bar Association is the professional body of lawyers responsible for the regulation of the legal profession. In the United States there is no single federal bar association, each State has its own Bar Association. Most States require mandatory membership in the state professional association for the practice of law. Entry into the school requires passing exams and tests that demonstrate knowledge of state law. The State Bar of California is the largest mandatory state bar association in the United States.
Some Bar Associations are voluntary, such as those that bring together professionals with a common interest in a subject (Bankruptcy Bar Association) or an ethnic origin (Hispanic National Bar Association, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association). The American Bar Association is the largest voluntary association in the country, with more than 400,000 members, almost half of active lawyers. Voluntary Bar Associations are normally dedicated to advocating for legal reforms, establishing a code of ethics and discipline for the profession and offering information, recommendations and some free services to the general public.
