Lawyer (Dwarf, Elf, Halfling, Human, Gnome)
In civilized society you and your friends, your greatest asset in the lines of.....behavior that you happen to engage in, would be a great lawyer. Thankfully for your friends they have you.
Lawyers are the practitioners of the law, some specializing in offering legal counsel and defense, others prosecute those charged under the law, and others still practice in only high and religious courts. Finally, some end up working for the legislative system as judges, a most honored appointment. Lawyers excel at getting people out of trouble and often can help an adventuring group exploit legal loopholes to accomplish their goals, or sort through records of all kinds that they can access. Old building codes, blackmail material, locations, testimonies, there are a lot of facts someone as a lawyer allowed to move pretty freely through the court system in a town or city, as well as the legal libraries. They can sit in on legal proceedings as well, and generally know the local jails and prisons pretty well.
A lawyer adventuring is a little odd, but not unheard of. Larger mercenary companies are actually well known to keep a legal team to help navigate rules outside the borders of their own nation.
Role: In game of course, a lawyer is a well spoken individual, the wheeler and dealer. Information fetcher, and a great asset in an urban environment. Lawyers on adventures are oft urban adventures, though they may be hired to accompany a mercenary group to an urban setting, which would explain how they ended up in the wilds.
"Sharks, no no they are more like leeches! Sucking every drop until the end of it all. Far to often leaving you nothing to show for it." Olander Casiven, Merchant
"It is the responsibility of the lawyers to insure that procedure is properly followed, just as it is the responsibility of the judges to weigh those things presented and decide what, if any, legislation applies, and how to apply it. These are the procedural lines of the practice of law, and you will respect them in my courtroom, Master Hennings! Or you shall find yourself in contempt of court!" Judge Victor Manfred the III in Adra's high court.
Lawyers are the practitioners of the law, some specializing in offering legal counsel and defense, others prosecute those charged under the law, and others still practice in only high and religious courts. Finally, some end up working for the legislative system as judges, a most honored appointment. Lawyers excel at getting people out of trouble and often can help an adventuring group exploit legal loopholes to accomplish their goals, or sort through records of all kinds that they can access. Old building codes, blackmail material, locations, testimonies, there are a lot of facts someone as a lawyer allowed to move pretty freely through the court system in a town or city, as well as the legal libraries. They can sit in on legal proceedings as well, and generally know the local jails and prisons pretty well.
A lawyer adventuring is a little odd, but not unheard of. Larger mercenary companies are actually well known to keep a legal team to help navigate rules outside the borders of their own nation.
Role: In game of course, a lawyer is a well spoken individual, the wheeler and dealer. Information fetcher, and a great asset in an urban environment. Lawyers on adventures are oft urban adventures, though they may be hired to accompany a mercenary group to an urban setting, which would explain how they ended up in the wilds.
Career
Qualifications
You will need a law degree, of course, and if you wish to go international you will need to write an entry exam but generally the difficulty is not to high. The larger barrier is that one must speak the native language, along with Valarian. Of course to rise into the higher circuit courts, one must prove their worth. As to becoming a judge, one must give up practicing law to take the bench, and swear a multitude of oaths. They also generally can only take a position if one opens up and judges are generally appointed for life, unless something horrendously egregious comes to light about them.
Career Progression
CAREER CHARACTERISTIC ADVANCE SCHEME:
| WS | BS | Str | T | I | Ag | Dex | Int | WP | Fel |
| - | - | - | 4 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
CAREER PATH OUTLINES:
TIER 1: Law Student: Brass-4
Skills: Consume Alcohol, Endurance, Haggle, Language (Lālsīian), Lore (Law), Lore (Theology), Perception, Research
Talents: Blather, Etiquette (Scholar), Read/Write, Speedreader
Trappings: Legal Codes and Basic Principles of Valerick's Nation States by Right Honorable Judge Nathaniel Fillion Esq, Magnifying Glass.
TIER 2: Lawyer: Silver-3
Skills: Bribery, Charm, Gossip, Intuition, Language (Guilder), Secret Signs (Guilder)
Talents: Argumentative, Criminal, Etiquette (Guilder), Suave
Trappings: Court Robes, Guild License, Writing Kit
TIER 3: Barrister: Gold-1
Skills: Art (Writing), Entertain (Speeches), Intimidate, Lore (Any)
Talents: Bookish, Cat-Tongued, Impassioned Zeal, Savvy
Trappings: Office, Assistant (Student or Servant)
TIER 4: Judge: Gold-2
Skills: Cool, Lore (Any)
Talents: Commanding Presence, Kingpin, Savant (Law), Wealthy
Trappings: Gavel, Ostentatious Wig
Payment & Reimbursement
Being a lawyer of course, well crime does pay, and those who defend it get paid, and those who can prosecute it get paid even better. Of course taking bribes isn't unheard of. So that is an unspoken consideration. Status ranges from Copper-4 to Gold-2 through all four tiers.
Other Benefits
Well besides understanding and knowing the law and the wealth of information attached to that knowledge and the access to legal libraries, and to legal documents, and of course, legal files. Also social recognition and reputation.
Perception
Purpose
Debating and enforcing the law, handling and amending legislation as required, sometimes even drafting legislation.
Social Status
They are not liked, in fact until one needs a lawyer, most general population's opinion is they are all snakes. This is not without cause. They profiteer off the struggles of others and many lose morality quickly, for their job demands it. If someone is guilty after all, they still are entitled to a lawyer who will give them the best legal effort. But many experience rather swift burnout, unable to separate themselves from their morality for ill.
Demographics
Humans, elves and dwarves are the majority, though gnomes and halflings have been known to take part. Vrock generally disdain from such a career due to their temperament. Tieflings well, too many legal proceedings are oft held in churches and chapels. The risk of being noticed or made is to high.
History
The practice of law has a long and storied history, first taken up only by nobility, or the wealthy, and was more a question of debate and coin. However over the decades and centuries, it has evolved, and had to, by force of will, rebellion/revolution and negotiation well it had to be expanded, properly codified and given a proper process. Over time it gained a certain amount of formality, a certain 'dance' like quality to how it has to be processed. Once it was nobles debating without care, making all decisions with naught really in mind but what was best for them. Now it stands as a bastion of the idea of civilized society, everyone gets their day in court. That's the ideal. Sure it helps far less than many want to believe, but everyone does get their day in court. And the lawyers are the ones who represent them all. They have also snaked into business and construction with zoning and permits and building codes becoming a norm in cities and large towns and with contracts having legal weight, copies submitted to governments, creating a whole new specialty of law practitioners.
Operations
Tools
Writing materials. Proper legal attire, including the correct cloak to go with it. So professional, prim, proper suit jackets, trousers, and a pressed shirt underneath, buttoned up. Always four buttons, except in Waston where it must be five. Legal documents, or access. Notebooks and a law book for your particular nation, generally a second law book targeting your preferred specialty. A proper business case.
Materials
Ink, parchment, lots of both. Coin and patience are also materials you will need
Workplace
Many outside believe that practicing law all the drama of the courtrooms. But in truth as any lawyer worth a single coin will tell you, it is ninety percent paperwork, evidence review, officer report reviews, witness statement reviews, witness collection, office busy work, filling out of forms and documents, often in triplicate, and witness testimony. Another five percent is in the jury selection process if required. If not it is in the pre court negotiation process, for civil cases and suits for example. Only that last five percent takes place in a courtroom.
Provided Services
Contract services, executing of law suits, defending against law suits, launching criminal charges, defending against criminal charges, prosecuting criminal charges. Business negotiation review, contract drafting, legal documentation filing.
Dangers & Hazards
Depending on the cases, sometimes you can become a prime target for violence. This is of course one of the big dangers. As is slander and scandal, any sort of set up or the like in that vein. Corruption, bribery, and if turning down a bribe, catching a knife in the throat is not unheard of.
Type
Legal
Demand
Moderate to High
Legality
You are a practitioner of the law so it is most definitely, so long as you aren't on the take and corrupt, legal.
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