4 answers
Noemi
Student
Yuma, Arizona
1
Question
Asked
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I want to be a lawyer but I don’t know how long it would take to become a lawyer or if it ‘s a good job like how much would I get paid and how long would it take to even become a lawyer?
Hi I’m a student at Crane Middle School in Yuma Az I want to be lawyer but don’t know how much they get paid or if it’s a good job. What challenges do people face in this job? Do they go through a lot while doing this job? Is it hard for some people? Do they have to go to school for longer than usual? This is what I would like to know why because I want to be lawyer but I don’t know how to.
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4 answers
Bob Echols
Retired lawyer and ethics officer--current blogger and author of the For Our Friends the Animals quartet.
32
Answers
Fairhope, Alabama
Updated
Bob’s Answer
Hi, Noemi!
Let's start first with schooling required to become a lawyer in the US.
In almost every state you will need to complete high school, then attain an undergraduate degree from a college, then a law degree from a law school.
Law school is normally three years long, so assuming you are graduated from your college at age 21, you could anticipate starting your practice at age 24. It's a lot of study, and the competition for admission to law schools can be keen, so if you decide to pursue a law degree, start studying hard right now!
You ask about salary. That will vary by attorney, by practice area, by experience, and of course, by ability.
Some attorneys make a great deal of money--others do not.
The main point to remember is please don't go into a profession because you think it offers lots of money. Go into that profession because it offers you a chance to serve others, other people , other creatures, maybe even the earth itself.
You ask if being a lawyer is a good job.
Yes, because you can use your education, experience and skills to correct injustice, to battle for rights and protection, to right wrongs, to make life better and fairer.
So right now:
study hard.
read books
write for school and club newspapers
join school plays
And, if you decide to join us in the legal profession, get ready for a career of caring and service.
May God bless you!
Let's start first with schooling required to become a lawyer in the US.
In almost every state you will need to complete high school, then attain an undergraduate degree from a college, then a law degree from a law school.
Law school is normally three years long, so assuming you are graduated from your college at age 21, you could anticipate starting your practice at age 24. It's a lot of study, and the competition for admission to law schools can be keen, so if you decide to pursue a law degree, start studying hard right now!
You ask about salary. That will vary by attorney, by practice area, by experience, and of course, by ability.
Some attorneys make a great deal of money--others do not.
The main point to remember is please don't go into a profession because you think it offers lots of money. Go into that profession because it offers you a chance to serve others, other people , other creatures, maybe even the earth itself.
You ask if being a lawyer is a good job.
Yes, because you can use your education, experience and skills to correct injustice, to battle for rights and protection, to right wrongs, to make life better and fairer.
So right now:
study hard.
read books
write for school and club newspapers
join school plays
And, if you decide to join us in the legal profession, get ready for a career of caring and service.
May God bless you!
Thank you so much for explaining the steps to become a lawyer and sharing your advice about helping others. Your answer inspired me to get more involved in school activities. I really appreciate your thoughtful response. Wishing you the best!
Noemi
My pleasure.
God bless!!
Bob Echols
Shay Marshall, MS
Regional Operations Manager
19
Answers
Navarre, Florida
Updated
Shay’s Answer
Hi Noemi!
Choosing a job that suits you depends on your personal values and interests. As Bob mentioned, the pay can vary, but being an attorney is generally a stable career with good job opportunities and a decent salary. I suggest checking out job search websites like Indeed to explore attorney positions in your area. This will help you understand the job requirements, experience needed, and salary expectations, giving you a clear idea of what to aim for.
Being an attorney can be mentally and emotionally demanding, as you'll face opposition in court. However, many attorneys maintain friendly relationships outside of work. If you enjoy subjects like history, laws, and state statutes, you might find law school more engaging. The education path is similar to other graduate programs, taking a bit longer than four years but not as long as some doctorate programs.
Consider reaching out to your local courthouse for shadowing opportunities or programs like "Teen Court" to experience a day in the life of an attorney. Remember, you'll need to pass the LSAT for law school admission and the BAR exam after graduation. While some find these exams challenging, with determination, you can succeed.
Good luck with your future plans!
Search for Attorney positions on a local job searching website (i.e. Indeed)
Contact local courthouse to ask about "shadowing" or "interning"
Research the LSAT
Research the BAR
Look at Attorney programs at colleges you may be interested in
Choosing a job that suits you depends on your personal values and interests. As Bob mentioned, the pay can vary, but being an attorney is generally a stable career with good job opportunities and a decent salary. I suggest checking out job search websites like Indeed to explore attorney positions in your area. This will help you understand the job requirements, experience needed, and salary expectations, giving you a clear idea of what to aim for.
Being an attorney can be mentally and emotionally demanding, as you'll face opposition in court. However, many attorneys maintain friendly relationships outside of work. If you enjoy subjects like history, laws, and state statutes, you might find law school more engaging. The education path is similar to other graduate programs, taking a bit longer than four years but not as long as some doctorate programs.
Consider reaching out to your local courthouse for shadowing opportunities or programs like "Teen Court" to experience a day in the life of an attorney. Remember, you'll need to pass the LSAT for law school admission and the BAR exam after graduation. While some find these exams challenging, with determination, you can succeed.
Good luck with your future plans!
Shay recommends the following next steps:
James Constantine Frangos
SOFTWARE ENGINEER SINCE 1972; NUTRITIONIST SINCE 1976.
7094
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Good Day Noemi!
Local Colleges for Legal Studies, SEE https://law.arizona.edu/
How much does a Lawyer make in Yuma, AZ? As of July 01, 2025, the average annual pay of Lawyer in Yuma, AZ is $147,061. While Salary.com is seeing that Lawyer salary in Yuma, AZ can go up to $190,722 or down to $102,782, but most earn between $123,884 and $169,915.
I understand it is not a very pleasurable experience working with lots of estate cases. Particularly if there are blended families the amounts of money bequeathed may seem unreasonable. So, the work can be stressful as estranged family members are unhappy.
Lawyers can be overworked and succumb to stress. Staying back late to do more work can lead to neurological burnout. I counseled a lawyer with burnout in 1990 in Australia. Her love for her job was just not there anymore.
JC
Local Colleges for Legal Studies, SEE https://law.arizona.edu/
How much does a Lawyer make in Yuma, AZ? As of July 01, 2025, the average annual pay of Lawyer in Yuma, AZ is $147,061. While Salary.com is seeing that Lawyer salary in Yuma, AZ can go up to $190,722 or down to $102,782, but most earn between $123,884 and $169,915.
I understand it is not a very pleasurable experience working with lots of estate cases. Particularly if there are blended families the amounts of money bequeathed may seem unreasonable. So, the work can be stressful as estranged family members are unhappy.
Lawyers can be overworked and succumb to stress. Staying back late to do more work can lead to neurological burnout. I counseled a lawyer with burnout in 1990 in Australia. Her love for her job was just not there anymore.
JC
Amber Lee
Tax Associate
84
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Amber’s Answer
Hello Noemi,
I'm a little late to the party but hope I can still provide some insights since I went through law school.
If you're on the traditional schooling path, then you're looking at 4 years of undergrad for your bachelor's degree and another 3 years of law school, so that's at least 7 years of additional schooling after high school. Of course everybody's path is different, some folks are able to accelerate their studies by taking more classes per semester, and some might take a little longer because they have day jobs or other commitments and can only take evening classes. But at a minimum, you'll generally need a bachelor's degree and a juris doctor (law) degree if you're in the U.S. Once you finish law school and pass the bar exam (the exam is offered twice a year), you can start practicing right away.
I graduated from law school a few years ago so job hunting is very fresh in my mind. The salary for attorney jobs really does vary based on practice area, firm size, and location--I've seen positions offering as low as $50k and as high as $225k for a fresh grad.
Whether it's a "good job" really depends on what you like and what you're looking for in a career. For example, if you have business acumen and would excel as a corporate transactions attorney, it might not make sense for you to be a matrimonial litigation attorney. Or if you are looking to have a healthier work-life balance, you might not want to join a large law firm where working long hours is the norm. There are so many different options out there, and you will have the opportunity to test the waters via internships during law school.
As a general first step, I would encourage you to continue to do well in middle school. You're still a ways away from needing to think about whether a legal career is something you want, so just take your time and stay curious!
I'm a little late to the party but hope I can still provide some insights since I went through law school.
If you're on the traditional schooling path, then you're looking at 4 years of undergrad for your bachelor's degree and another 3 years of law school, so that's at least 7 years of additional schooling after high school. Of course everybody's path is different, some folks are able to accelerate their studies by taking more classes per semester, and some might take a little longer because they have day jobs or other commitments and can only take evening classes. But at a minimum, you'll generally need a bachelor's degree and a juris doctor (law) degree if you're in the U.S. Once you finish law school and pass the bar exam (the exam is offered twice a year), you can start practicing right away.
I graduated from law school a few years ago so job hunting is very fresh in my mind. The salary for attorney jobs really does vary based on practice area, firm size, and location--I've seen positions offering as low as $50k and as high as $225k for a fresh grad.
Whether it's a "good job" really depends on what you like and what you're looking for in a career. For example, if you have business acumen and would excel as a corporate transactions attorney, it might not make sense for you to be a matrimonial litigation attorney. Or if you are looking to have a healthier work-life balance, you might not want to join a large law firm where working long hours is the norm. There are so many different options out there, and you will have the opportunity to test the waters via internships during law school.
As a general first step, I would encourage you to continue to do well in middle school. You're still a ways away from needing to think about whether a legal career is something you want, so just take your time and stay curious!