Frequently Asked Questions About the Legal Profession ...

What do lawyers do?

It is said that we are a nation of laws. Laws need to be understood and applied in a fair and reasonable fashion; lawyers assist us in doing so.

Lawyers are advocates -- for individuals, groups, and organizations who need assistance in interpreting and applying the law or who are in conflict with other individuals or groups. Lawyers are also interpreters of laws and regulations. They assist businesses, for example, in dealing with laws on labor relations or environmental usage.

About 73% of lawyers work in "private practice" -- most in small, one-person offices, but others in firms. A firm is a group of lawyers who work together. Each lawyer may develop a special expertise in some area of the law, and this grouping of experts is often advantageous to the firm and appealing to the public. Legal specializations include corporate and securities, criminal, environment and natural resources, family and juvenile, health, intellectual property, international, tax, and civil rights. Associates in a firm are paid a salary, do much of the "grunt" work, have less job security, and are typically not a part of the management of the firm. Partners typically share the profits of a firm, have more job security, are responsible for generating clients, and participate in the management of the firm. Associates on the "partnership track" typically work for a firm for between 5-9 years before they are considered for partnership.

Stories abound of young lawyers fresh out of law school coming to work in big city corporate law offices. Most must put in a large number of "billable hours" each year and must work very long workdays, but initial salaries may exceed $120,000. Smaller corporate offices in smaller cities may be less demanding -- and the salaries somewhat less impressive.

Most lawyers, however, do not work in large law firms. Many still set out their own individual shingles and work on a wide variety of cases. Some individual lawyers choose to join together in one building and share secretarial help and a library while maintaining their own clients and hours. In these cases, salaries may be modest, but hard working solo practitioners can still make a good living.

The national median salary for all law school graduates nine months after graduation was $55,000 (2004). By comparison, the median salary for entry-level public interest law positions was $36,000 (2004).

Lawyers outside of private practice work in a variety of settings, including government agencies (about 11% of lawyers) or business (approximately 13%). Others are employed by public interest groups such as legal aid or public defender organizations (about 4%) or in legal education (around 1%). Not all law school graduates practice law: for the graduating class of 2005, only 74% of the jobs obtained required passing the bar.

Should I become a lawyer?

The legal profession does not enjoy the same respect that it once did, and some people claim that we have far more lawyers in our country than we need. Lawyers are often accused of manipulating the law, gouging clients, and chasing after the "almighty dollar" rather than practicing the high ideals of the legal calling. It is also the case that many lawyers become discouraged after a time and seek other careers. Students sometimes overlook the fact that lawyers deal with conflicts and that personal fulfillment does not always result from working hard with disputing parties.

Nevertheless, a student who truly wants to become a lawyer should seriously consider applying to law school. Legal training is invaluable for developing the ability to identify problems, analyze issues and offer solutions. Lawyers provide a valuable service as counselors to individuals and businesses. And lawyers can play a vital role in seeking to do justice and to show mercy as part of their Christian calling.

Consider thoroughly the concepts of law school and a law degree before putting yourself through the law application process and the financial burden and stress of a law school education. A law school education will certainly help you build skills necessary to succeed in law, but no amount of education will help you enjoy things you hate. Check out the following list of basic skills necessary:

1. Reading
2. Writing
3. Speaking
4. Listening
5. Prioritizing
6. Time Management
7. Analytical Skills
8. Creativity
9. Ability to Work with Others
10. Conflict Management

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do you like to think of ways to solve other people's problems?
2. Do you take pleasure in writing papers?
3. Do you enjoy doing research?
4. Do you like thinking on your feet?
5. Are you comfortable speaking in front of people?
6. Do you find history and current events interesting?
7. Do you work well under the pressure of deadlines?
8. Do you juggle multiple tasks well?
9. Do you thrive in conflict situations?

While not all legal occupations require all these skills, the majority do.

Don't make the mistake of entering law school simply because you don't know what else to do. Law school is too expensive to pursue as a trial run. In 2005, the average debt for law school graduates was about $80,000. That debt load amounts to almost $1000/month on a ten-year repayment. Investigate the career before you choose to pursue it.

The best way to decide whether the legal field is for you is to talk with practicing lawyers from a variety of backgrounds. Try an internship or externship in a legal setting. Seek out family friends or members of your church who practice law, and see if they would be willing to let you "shadow" them to see what they actually do during the week. In addition, talk to people who know you and your skills and see if they match well with the task of being a lawyer. Become informed and leave your options open.

If you still have questions, then consider these excellent resources:

Should You Really be a Lawyer?: The Guide to Smart Career Choices Before, During & After Law School, by Deborah Schneider and Gary Belsky. Decision Books (2004)

Redeeming Law: Christian Calling and the Legal Profession, by Michael P. Schutt. IVP Academic (2007)

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