Civil lawsuits are very different from criminal lawsuits. In a criminal case, the defendant is facing prosecution based on the guilt of breaking the law. Civil cases are not as dependent on guilt as they are on responsibility. An attorney will work to prove to a court of law that the individual was responsible for the pain and suffering or loss of another person. In a civil lawsuit, individuals who have been found guilty as well as those who have been found innocent in a criminal lawsuit may be named as defendants. In addition, in a civil lawsuit, the plaintiff is usually seeking restitution in the form of monetary fund's rather than in jail time.