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LawyerAttorney, in law, any person authorized by another to represent him or her. An agent who has been granted express authority to bind his or her principal is called an attorney in fact. Such authority is usu-ally granted by a written instrument called a power of attorney. The powers conferred may be gen-eral, as when one gives another a mandate to manage all one's affairs during an absence, or special, as when the authority extends only to a particular business, or is otherwise limited or qualified. The term attorney at law is used in the United States to denote a legal adviser or representative in all man-ner of business. In Britain, upon the fusion of law and equity by the Judicature Act of 1873, the two classes of attorney and barrister were united under the name of solicitor in the High Court of Justice.

An attorney at law is an officer of the court, and as such is required, in the U.S., to take a binding oath of office to ob-serve the U.S. Constitution and the constitution of the state of residence. Each state regulates by law the training and qualifications of attorneys. Usually a preliminary examination in general scholarship is required, followed by study at a school of law and sometimes by a clerkship or apprenticeship, varying from one to two years, in the office of a practicing attorney. Finally, an applicant must pass an examination in law before being admitted to the bar.

The duties of an attorney are to act with diligence and fidelity to one's client and to show average prudence, knowledge, and skill in professional dealings. In order to settle an action, the attorney requires, as a rule, the spe-cial authority of the client. No attorney can be compelled to reveal confidential information related by a client.

pathoLogistPathology, branch of medicine concerned with determining the nature and course of diseases by analyzing body tissues and fluids. Pathology is divided into anatomic and clinical pathology. Anatomic pathologists per-form autopsies and analyze tissues taken from patients during surgery or by biopsy. Clinical pathologists con-tribute to the diagnosis of disease by measuring chemicals and cells in blood, sputum, bone marrow, and urine.

As knowledge of human biochemistry and metabolism proliferated in the 20th century, many more laboratory tests were devised to distinguish normal states from disease states. Among the import-ant tests are the measurement, by machine, of chemicals such as sodium, potassium, urea, and glu-cose in the blood; the similarly automated counting of various types of cells in the blood; and the de-termination of compounds in the urine, which can help diagnose kidney disease. Identification of the types of cells in the bone marrow and blood contributes to the diagnosis of some types of cancer.

Pathologists also direct the correct use of blood for transfusions, determine suitability for transplantation of organs such as kidneys (see Transplantation, Medical), and perform tests to identify various types of blood-clot-ting disorders. Microbiology laboratories, which test for the presence of pathogenic bacteria and viruses in the blood and tissues, are likewise under the direction of pathologists. In addition, they test for deficiencies in im-munity. A special discipline called forensic pathology is concerned with analyzing medical evidence in crimes.

Medical examiners are usually physicians specializing in forensic pathology, the study of struc-tural and functional changes in the body as a result of injury. Their training and qualifi-cations most often include a medical degree and an apprenticeship in a medical examin-er’s office. Depending on the requirements of the particular state, city, or county, the medical examiner may also be required to be certified as a forensic pathologist by the American Board of Pathology.

investigatorsomebody who investigates: somebody who seeks facts about somebody or something on a profes-sional basis, especially somebody who investigates crimes or prepares official or confidential reports.

Crime Detection, discovery, identification, and analysis of criminal evidence as a means of law en-forcement. The responsibility of law enforcement agencies is to detect crimes, apprehend the per-petrators, and provide evidence that will convince judges and juries that the perpetrators are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. To accomplish these aims a variety of methods are used, includ-ing reconstructing the crime, collecting physical clues, and interrogating suspects and witnesses.

The methods of detection employed are dictated by the nature of the crime and the procedures per-mitted by the legal system. Most investigations begin with careful, objective observations that are then assembled, collated, and matched against applicable law. If there is reason to assume that a crime has indeed been committed, further investigation is undertaken using scientific methods and tech-niques. Technological advances have been incorporated into criminal investigation as well; for ex-ample, analyzing trace clues such as dust, paint, glass, and other microscopic evidence is now possible.

computer programmerProgrammer, an individual who writes and debugs computer programs—the sometimes lengthy se-quences of instructions that determine the work performed by a computer. Depending on the size of the project and the work environment, a programmer might work alone or as part of a team, be involved in part or all of the process from design through completion, or write all or a portion of the program.