Short answers, pulled from the story.
The first true lawyers emerged in Rome around 41 AD when Emperor Claudius abolished the fee prohibition and legalized advocacy as a profession. This legal change followed earlier attempts to regulate advocates starting from 204 BC which were widely ignored.
By 1250 the nucleus of a new legal profession had clearly formed following a shift between 1190 and 1230 when individuals began practicing canon law as a lifelong career. Two French councils mandated oaths of admission before practicing in bishop courts during 1231 while similar requirements appeared in London in 1237.
The State Bar of California represents the largest professional organization with 230,000 members. Mandatory professional associations regulate admission and licensing in many jurisdictions including civil law countries that utilize Orders of Advocates or Chambers of Advocates for oversight functions.
Lawyers in the United States typically earn between $100,000 and $220,000 annually depending on experience and setting. Compensation models vary from hourly billing structures to contingency fees or lump sum payments with most attorneys negotiating written fee agreements upfront requiring non-refundable retainers before beginning work.