Being a lawyer is subjective and depends on factors such as the type of law practiced, experiences during law school and internships, and work environment. Prospective lawyers should interview experienced attorneys and consider personal interests, passion, money, and prestige. Long hours and low pay may lead to dissatisfaction, but seniority and reputation can lead to higher pay and fewer cases. Talking to experienced lawyers can provide insight before enrolling in law school.
What it really means to be a lawyer depends on each lawyer’s situation. In other words, it is entirely subjective. The kinds of factors that help form a lawyer’s opinion, however, are quite concrete. These factors include choosing the type of lawyer to become, his experiences during law school and internships, and what he encounters once he graduates and enters the legal profession. Some prospective or current law students may benefit from interviewing experienced attorneys.
After deciding that they want to be a lawyer, one of the first things a person considers is what kind of lawyer they want to become. Most commonly, this means what kind of law he wants to practice. In some situations, however, it may mean whether he wishes to work for a law firm, for himself, or for the justice system in his area as a public or court-appointed defender.
Various factors help people decide what kind of lawyer they want to become. Sometimes self-interest and passion play a part, and other times money and prestige help shape their decisions. Typically, if a lawyer doesn’t enjoy or believe in the type of law he practices, or decides that the money isn’t worth the time and effort, he may become dissatisfied.
Attending law school and completing an internship can give students a sense of what it’s like to be a lawyer. However, these don’t provide a crystal clear picture. In other words, what a student experiences in the classroom or working for another lawyer may not be what she experiences once she becomes a real lawyer. During law school and their internship, some prospective lawyers decide they want to focus on another area of law. Some even decide that practicing law is not for them.
After a person has chosen the type of lawyer they want to be, completed their internship, and graduated with a law degree, they must begin practicing law. At this point, a new set of factors will help him determine what it is like to be a lawyer. Such factors include where he works, the type of hours he works and the money he earns.
For example, he might be hired at an established law firm and work with other lawyers, or he might start his own practice and work on his own. Any of these options can mean that the new attorney will have to work long hours. This is because he may be responsible for cases that the firm’s partners don’t want, working towards becoming a partner himself, or working enough cases to keep his own practice open. If the new attorney enjoys long hours or if it’s worth spending more time working, he or she could continue to be a lawyer long enough to earn the seniority or reputation needed to take fewer cases and earn more money. On the other hand, his personal situation and accompanying factors may be such as to decide that practicing law is not the right job for him.
While every lawyer has their own take on what it means to be a lawyer, it may be helpful for prospective lawyers to talk to others in their potential fields. For example, before enrolling in law school, a prospective student might meet several experienced lawyers who practice the type of law he or she is interested in. He can ask them about starting years, the type of hours worked in the past and working in the present, and also if their salaries play a role in their satisfaction.
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