We could have a faction where you could work in the court (if we have one) and you can be a lawyer, if you say all the right stuff, the murderer will be jailed, and the innocent dude can be proved innocent.
Or vice versa. It starts off with the defendant basically telling you what happend, then you could read your journal to see what he said again to find hints. If you hear anything from the other side that does not match what your defendant says, you can call them on it! Thats basically it...

Not a lawyer faction, that sounds awfully dull.

But a faction that has speechcraft/personality as favored skills/attributes would be good.

Nice idea. I'd like to see them bring courts back into the TES universe rather than the "STOP RIGHT THERE CRIMINAL SCUM" practice of the last two games.

It's a nice idea, it would be good for a single quest, but a faction? No. I'm fairly certain the Skyrim law does not work that way. It doesn't even work that way in Cyrodiil.

OBJECTION!!!!!?!!
I just wanted to say that.

Horrid, horrid idea...gives me flashbacks to NWN-era Bioware, with the predictable "Oh, here's the obligatory quest where you have to be someone's lawyer..." :facepalm:

Don't think that this is a bad idea, good for a couple of quests but it would probably get pretty old after a while. I guess this would put that whole "mingle with people in a bar to get info" mechanic.

As a law student. I'd love something... similar.
But I wouldn't want a lawyer faction. It somehow doesn't fit in Skyrim.

Anyway, it was said in Oblivion by one of the members of the Thieves Guild that they bribed the courts (which means that courts are lore-friendly).

I would like courts. And I would like you to be able to defend yourself in court. Would be something great for speechcraft/personality, etc.
This wouldn't be too hard to accomplish. Just lots of dialouge options and possibilites for different crimes

There's definitely an Imperial Court, the main character of Arena was a member of it.

Skyrim having that kind of judicial system just seems...inappropriate.

To have courts, I don't think it's inappropriate (not fully). I wouldn't want courts to be like our modern courts, but more like... well. A judge, simply. Nothing more, nothing less.

Solving disputes by a neutral, judicial part has existed for thousands of years. Skyrim is civilized too (moderately). Bigger cities could have some kind of court. And the Nords aren't too far off from Imperials in that sense I think...

The only reason it could be inappropriate in Skyrim now, would be because of the civil war. Courts basically seize to function without its support of the system of law.

I'd like a diplomat role in one of the factions, where you have to travel between opposed groups and try to settle disputes without blood. Standing around in a court playing L.A Noire with the criminals though, no. :s

No thanks honestly. Just doesn't seem like fun to me, not in the slightest.

as a lawyer, i dont want to be reminded of work when i'm playing :tongue:

Lawyers would have fit in Cyrodiil, since it is roman-inspired... But a nordic setting with lawyers? Hell no xD Off with the head and be done with it.

Merchant faction, yes. Lawyers? No.

http://objection.mrdictionary.net/go.php?n=4775489

I thought we were done with hell, from which lawyers spawn, in Oblivion .

I dunno about a lawyer faction, but being able to get out of trouble by speechcraft skill would be cool.

Damn it.. ninja'd by a mile, Mumatil.. Sustained!!!!, contempt of court.

A quest or two, defending someone may be fun.. maybe, not sure about a faction though.

A Lawyer?

That would be the scariest creature yet

Back then the king would judge each crime, in this case its the counts that act as judge

There should be a guild (The East Empire Company?) for Speechcraft/Mercantile characters, with corporate espionage, trading, law-suits, etc.

I voted the middle choice, not because I want a lawyer guild persay but greater use of personality. Maybe even a questline or faction that focuses mainly on speech/mercantile etc because they have real obvious application in a land suffering from political turmoil.

Personally I'd rather be a judge.

example

guy who wants to sue [or a similar lore friendly system]: npc 1
guy who's being sued npc 2
judge [me] judge

npc 1: this man burnt down my tavern

npc 2 he is lying.

Judge: do you have proof

npc 1: yes milord i've got ten people who saw him do this.

judge; do they have proof

npc 1: yes, they saw him.

judge: by proof I emant something That is more believable than a who bunch of drunkards.

npc 1: milord?

judge:'m fining you for ffity thousand coins to the court for wasting my time. You will also give npc 1 thrity thousand coins for wasting his time and another hundred thousand for slander. good day.

________________

Though the ssytem wouldnt be as robust as taht. just a randomly generated charge. A defnse and some evidence. and you decide.

it could also work with bribes and faction rep.

Great idea! They'd make for excellent pin cushions!

Otherwise,no.