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Where in the novel does it say that Atticus Finch is a lawyer?

In the first chapter, Scout gives a detailed description of her family and the town of Maycomb, Alabama. Scout mentions that her father, Atticus, went to Montgomery to "read law." She says, "When my father was admitted to the bar, he returned to Maycomb and began his practice" (Lee 5). Scout goes on to comment that Atticus' first two clients were hanged in the Maycomb County jail after refusing to plead guilty to second-degree murder. She also mentions that Atticus' first experience in the courtroom was the beginning of his distaste for the practice of criminal law. Atticus' occupation as a lawyer is significant to the plot of the novel because he is faced with the difficult task of defending an innocent black man in front of a prejudiced jury. Atticus faces discrimination from his community members for defending Tom Robinson, but follows his conscience and valiantly defends Tom. Despite the fact that Atticus' arguments clearly depict Tom's innocence, the prejudiced jury wrongly convicts Tom because he is a black man.

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