Preface: this is MY guide to lawyer. In this post contains my opinions and best-practices. Some things you may agree with, some things you may not, or find frivolous.
This is a post for roleplay-maxxers, and as lawyer? Your job is entirely roleplay.
You must look the part.
Wear a nice suit, or suit skirt. Put on your lawyer badge. Get a leather satchel from a vendor, not those cheap default bags that Nanotrasen likes to issue. Wear some lace-ups, or high heels.
You must act the part.
You have two tools:
Type properly. Cross your T's, dot your I's. Use periods at the end of your sentences. It's only another keystroke and people will take you more seriously for doing so. Above all, be polite.
Paperwork. Nice looking, filled forms tend to carry more weight than simply speaking to someone. Find some templates of what you like here in forum sharing.
Your Core Responsibilities:
You are the station’s legal shield. You do NOT fight Security - you keep them honest, efficient, and accountable while protecting crew rights and reducing chaos (read: overstep and escalation).
Your work can be broken down into four main categories:
- Extracting depositions from clients/witnesses.
- Determining if the warden's charges are correct, whether procedure was followed, and if the circumstances of an arrest were proper.
- Documentation and paperwork - paper trails are important. Protect your client when Security "forgets" something.
- Reducing or nullifying a sentence.
First 5 Minutes Of A Round
Set up your briefcase. Forms (folders are your friend), pens, an extra water bottle or two for a client in interrogation, or some smokes and a light.
Announce your presence to the warden, let them know of your existence. This is very important. Lawyers who don’t announce themselves don’t get called. Most times, you are likely the only lawyer on the station.
Building a rapport early is important. Be friendly with the warden, or the magistrate if they're around. Talk to them casually. This makes it easier for them to like you - when people like you, they are more likely to be swayed by you.
Someone's Been Arrested!
Show time.
Record scratch.
Before we represent a client, however, we must have ethics. Personally, I do NOT represent individuals with star crosses on their faces, blood halos over their heads, or a guy with a strange book and a sickle with an eye in the middle. I am concerned with normal people that I can understand, the law, and not the supernatural. Oh - and nor do I represent terrorists in blood-red hardsuits that were just killing everyone indiscriminately earlier, either.
As per lawyer SOP #5, you are encouraged to have a personal code of conduct. You are allowed to refuse to represent a client for ANY reason, unless ordered to by the magistrate. If you must represent a client, you will do so without apprehension and perform to the best of your ability.
Back to the show.
So, someone has been dragged into security. They're in a chair, cuffed. What now? Let the officer speak to the warden first. Hover. Get the details. Write them down OR have a tape recorder on and rolling. Ask yourself - does this individual deserve representation? If so, there are two things that you must do:
- Ask if they would like an attorney. No is no, and maybe is a no (lawyer SOP #1). The only answer you will accept is YES, or their signature on a client intake form.
- If yes, advise them immediately that time spent talking with you does NOT count towards their sentence time (lawyer SOP #2). Keep in mind that in the case of most sentences (less than 10 minutes), talking to you and pursuing a trial is LONGER than them just serving their sentence.
Once you have the information from the officers, talk to your client. Get their side of the story. Write it down, or, again, tape record it. Open your space law book (never leave the office without it!), determine if the warden's charges are proper. Request to see the evidence if possible - not touch it. Furthermore, forensics is king. Your client's access logs aren't on a door? It could've been anyone. The sworn testimony of an officer witnessing the hypothetical break-in overrides this, however. This is where your client MUST be honest. You require the full facts of the case - if they did indeed break in, and including if they are a Syndicate agent, or not. Be nosy.
Remember, you have a confidentiality agreement with your client. Tell security nothing. If your ethics are compromised, i.e, your client admits to conspiracy to commit mass murder or terrorism (crimes in the 5th degree), do not continue to represent them - and remember, tell security nothing.
How To Win Cases
This is what we've all come to do. Much like real life, most cases are solved LONG before they ever reach court. In fact, most times, we would like to avoid trial at all costs. It is a time-intensive, laborious thing. MOST cases do NOT warrant a trial.
This part is an art, not a science.
You must change your mindset about cases and clients. If they have indeed committed a crime, the goal is not always to get the client off scot-free. If the circumstances allow, go for it. However - much like Saul Goodman, you should be trying to reduce sentences. Especially if the evidence is indisputable You can turn an execution into a broken leg. Was your client cooperative? Is it a first offense? Could you arrange a plea deal, an exchange for information in return for a lighter sentence? Or an agreement to be implanted with a tracker, for a thief? Offer solutions to the warden and magistrate, not always complaints about the treatment of your client. Security is allowed to be much more unforgiving, now. You are to be smarter.
Welcome to the roleplay side of things. Get creative.
Utilize your paperwork, too. Signed statements, documented procedural violation on security's part, a writ of habeas corpus. A motion to dismissed illegally acquired evidence (search on green without a warrant, for example).
What About Trials?
A good trial makes for a memorable round. Choose your battle carefully, and what hill you will die on.
Here's some things you should know:
You can request a trial from the Magistrate > NTR > Captain (judge hierarchy), but you cannot order one. Only the presiding judge has the right to refuse a trial once requested, and if granted, must follow Magistrate SOP.
With the approval of the judge, you can subpoena ANY member of crew, command, or CENTCOMM staff to act as witness for your trial. Witnesses cannot be on the stand for more than 5 minutes.
Your client MUST shut the fuck up unless explicitly called upon. You will speak for them. It is your time to shine.
You MUST present documents/verbal statements to the judge of the trial ahead of time. Put them in a nice, labeled folder, if they're paper.
You MUST maintain proper courtroom decorum. No cursing. The judge may hold individuals in contempt of court. Use words/phrases like "your honor" or "the defense asserts" or "if it pleases the court" for maximum aura farming.
Phases Of Trial:
These are important. It keeps things moving and not lasting forever. You have other clients to potentially represent, after all. Do you want to be stuck in court forever?
- Prosecution presents opening statement. 60 seconds max.
- Defense presents opening statement. 60 seconds max.
- Defendant is put on the stand by the defense (this is called a direct examination
), and then cross-examined by the prosecution. 8 minutes max. 4/4, if we're being fair on minutes. - Witnesses are questioned. 5 minutes per witness, max.
- Prosecution presents closing statement. 3 minutes max.
- Defense presents closing statement. 3 minutes max.
- Judge issues a verdict. Only CENTCOMM or higher authority (see judge hierarchy above) may overturn it.
My Closing Philosophy
Being a lawyer is not about winning every case, fighting security, or being a contrarian. It's about professionalism, politics, presentation (aura farming), and creating memorable RP. The Magistrate works for NanoTrasen. Keep this in mind. You are the station's true legal conscience. Act like it. If you commit to the bit, you'll find it could be one of the most rewarding (and memorable!) jobs that Funky has to offer.
I hope you enjoyed the read, and got something out of it. 
