Great lawyers are adept communicators. From negotiations, courtroom proceedings and written communications; great attorneys know how to quickly identify the core of an issue and develop strategies that put their clients first.
Becoming a lawyer may not be right for everyone; therefore, you should carefully consider your reasons before embarking on this career path – otherwise you risk buyer’s remorse!
1. You get to help people
Lawyers typically pursue this career to assist others, and this can often mean criminal and family lawyers, who often deal with emotionally taxing cases that leave them exhausted at the end of each day. Even civil lawyers can help; by providing information to the public on what their rights and responsibilities are when faced with legal matters, civil lawyers make it easier for people to abide by the law without getting themselves in trouble in the first place.
Lawyers play an essential role in upholding fair treatment of their clients under the law and this part of their job can be immensely satisfying for those who enjoy helping people.
One thing often forgotten about being a lawyer is how long it can take. From law school through practice and beyond, becoming one is no small undertaking, nor should the work stop once one becomes one.
Being a lawyer isn’t as financially rewarding as depicted on television or movie screens; while some lawyers may become exceptionally wealthy, most earn only middle-class income at best. People entering this profession with expectations of becoming wealthy may find themselves disappointed or suffer burnout or stress if their time and energy management skills are improperly managed.
2. You get to make a difference
As soon as you become a lawyer, you take an oath to uphold and serve justice according to law. By representing those in need and upholding their rights as clients of law firms across the globe – representing is both an honor and responsibility that many lawyers take very seriously.
Do keep in mind, however, that legal work is a challenging career and shouldn’t be seen as simple or glamorous as what’s portrayed on television and movies. Legal work often requires late nights and missed weekends as you help people through some of their most trying moments in life – whether as a prosecutor, corporate law on staff at a company, public defender or prosecutor. Helping people through difficult times allows you to truly make an impactful difference in our world!
There are various strategies you can employ as a lawyer to increase your income and make the career even more fulfilling, including opening your own legal practice or specializing in one area of law to increase earnings; speaking at conferences and seminars generates additional income while building your expertise in your field; while making an impactful difference is what keeps most lawyers motivated in their careers; for this reason you shouldn’t regret your decision to pursue a law degree, no matter its challenges – especially since post 2008 world hasn’t been kind.
3. You get to travel
If you’re thinking about becoming a lawyer for the prestige, money, and power it brings, be wary. Reality may differ dramatically from depictions in movies and TV. Years of difficult training, finding steady employment opportunities, racking up enormous student loans — these can all present unique challenges compared to what may be depicted onscreen – are just some of the obstacles along this career path that await you. All this hard work may also impact upon your personal life so finding ways to balance professional with personal is essential; travel is one great way. Here are a few strategies: 1. Travel. 2. Attend conferences and seminars
4. You get to be creative
Creativity may not immediately come to mind when considering legal careers; however, as a solicitor or barrister you will frequently need to utilize creative problem-solving skills when finding solutions for clients that may not be readily apparent. When writing court submissions or letters to clients you need to think creatively about how best to express their viewpoint in an engaging manner.
When working on cases involving emotionally charged issues like divorce and sexual harassment, your creativity will often be needed in crafting solutions that are sensitive to both sides while not alienating either party or their family. Furthermore, in terms of negotiating settlement agreements or writing reports for employers you will require imagination in order to put forward compelling arguments for your side of the argument.
Consider that many of the world’s greatest creative minds, like actor John Cleese, author J K Rowling and film producer David E Kelley were once lawyers or legal professionals. So if your legal career is restricting your creativity as desired, why not explore ways of adding more of it into daily life – for instance by attending weekly creative activities such as dance classes or poetry groups.
5. You get to work with your hands
Criminal and family law practice areas offer multiple career pathways within the legal field. Attorneys should explore which areas of law intrigue them while aligning with their long-term goals; conducting research into clientele/case types each practice area deals with can also help lawyers find their niche and deliver superior services for clients.
No matter all of its advantages, being a lawyer may not be for everyone. Some individuals may struggle with handling the stress and demands associated with client interactions that involve complex emotional matters. Attorneys who don’t fully commit themselves may experience burnout and leave legal practice altogether.
As such, anyone interested in becoming a lawyer must thoroughly research all the requirements before taking the leap. Those unsure if they can commit to such a demanding career should research other viable opportunities that offer similar rewards without years of study and student debt – choosing a career can have a lasting effect on happiness and success alike; so exploring different paths could prove more fruitful in meeting your individual needs; physical labor may seem less gratifying at first, yet studies show it to be more fulfilling overall than tapping away on keyboard all day! As this article points out, physical labor may prove more fulfilling over time compared with typing all day; in fact there are scientific reasons behind physical labor being more fulfilling over time due to scientific discoveries related to its effects on mental health benefits (as per the author points out).
6. You get to work with people
Many people become lawyers because they want to make an impactful difference in the lives of others. From protecting citizens’ rights to representing those accused of crimes, attorneys play an integral role in society. Although working as an attorney may be highly satisfying, if the profession no longer suits your lifestyle it’s essential that you seek assistance or explore alternative paths.
If your motivations for wanting to be a lawyer include prestige, money or power as main motivators, it would be wiser to reassess. Such goals often misguide and can result in frustration and even burnout. Furthermore, remember that legal profession can be extremely competitive based on law school rankings and grades; making entry more challenging if credentials don’t stack up well enough.
If your goal of becoming a lawyer is real, be prepared for years of intense training and substantial student debt. However, its rewards could well outweigh these sacrifices; take the time to think about why you want this career path and get excited for an exciting and fulfilling professional journey – good luck! Pepperdine Law offers one of the world’s premier law programs!