Atticus Finch's profession in To Kill a Mockingbird is lawyer. He practices law in Maycomb County, Alabama, and is appointed to defend Tom Robinson, a Black man accused of raping Mayella Ewell.
Atticus is also a member of the Alabama Legislature, but that is a political role rather than his profession. His work as a lawyer drives the novel's central courtroom storyline and exposes the racial prejudice built into Maycomb's justice system.
Harper Lee based parts of Atticus on her father, Amasa Coleman Lee, an Alabama lawyer who had represented Black defendants. The fictional Atticus became famous for his calm courtroom manner and insistence that legal defense should be guided by conscience, even when the community disagrees.
A common mix-up is confusing Atticus with the town's other officials. Sheriff Heck Tate handles law enforcement, while Judge Taylor presides over Tom Robinson's trial; Atticus is the defense attorney.