3 answers
Nathan
Student
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Question
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Is being a lawyer worth the time away from home?
My name is Nathan and I want to be a lawyer. Being a lawyer started as a joke but now it’s my dream career job, so is being a lawyer worth the time away from home?
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3 answers
Tamara Gurchik
Attorney
5
Answers
Cleveland, Ohio
Updated
Tamara’s Answer
"Worth it" in terms of being an attorney really depends on what your goals and career/life expectations are, just like any other career. There are many different practice areas and different types of employers (Big Law, mid/small firm, solo practice, government, non-profit, in-house) - each is a different experience.
Personally, I LOVE being a lawyer. It took me a long time to establish my career and I've done a lot of different types of work. However, having the understanding of the world I gained from law school and law practice is invaluable to me and the work I have been able to do to help people is priceless. I am currently a plaintiff's attorney representing creditors - a role I would have never expected, but one I have ended up loving. The positives: I currently work remotely (except some court appearances), I earn a good salary for my family, I have a great support team, my working time is mostly flexible (I can get my kids from the bus every day and pick up a kid from preschool 1-2x/week without issue), and I have adequate PTO, good benefits. The negatives: being an attorney is often stressful for various reasons (many deadlines, some opposing counsel are not always reasonable, some clients can be difficult to work with, some roles require a lot of court appearances and/or travel), many roles require long hours at least some of the time. There is often immense pressure to perform. For me, in my role, the positives outweigh the negatives.
I would start by asking yourself WHY you want to be a lawyer. Honestly, it's rarely as glamorous as on TV. Are you willing to work hard through 4 years of undergrad, then 3 years of law school? Study for and pass the MPRE and bar exam? What kind of law or practice interests you, and why? I would also suggest shadowing an attorney or two if possible, so you can talk to them and see what their daily life is like. You should also be aware that you may not end up in the practice area you hope for. I wanted to be a Legal Aid attorney. Although I did spend time with a non-profit part-time, now I represent creditors, a far cry from where I thought I would be. That said, being a licensed attorney also affords job security, many attorneys specialize in a practice area or type of law/practice, but many skills are transferrable to other legal jobs.
Start with your WHY - really consider why you want to practice law. Then go from there.
Personally, I LOVE being a lawyer. It took me a long time to establish my career and I've done a lot of different types of work. However, having the understanding of the world I gained from law school and law practice is invaluable to me and the work I have been able to do to help people is priceless. I am currently a plaintiff's attorney representing creditors - a role I would have never expected, but one I have ended up loving. The positives: I currently work remotely (except some court appearances), I earn a good salary for my family, I have a great support team, my working time is mostly flexible (I can get my kids from the bus every day and pick up a kid from preschool 1-2x/week without issue), and I have adequate PTO, good benefits. The negatives: being an attorney is often stressful for various reasons (many deadlines, some opposing counsel are not always reasonable, some clients can be difficult to work with, some roles require a lot of court appearances and/or travel), many roles require long hours at least some of the time. There is often immense pressure to perform. For me, in my role, the positives outweigh the negatives.
I would start by asking yourself WHY you want to be a lawyer. Honestly, it's rarely as glamorous as on TV. Are you willing to work hard through 4 years of undergrad, then 3 years of law school? Study for and pass the MPRE and bar exam? What kind of law or practice interests you, and why? I would also suggest shadowing an attorney or two if possible, so you can talk to them and see what their daily life is like. You should also be aware that you may not end up in the practice area you hope for. I wanted to be a Legal Aid attorney. Although I did spend time with a non-profit part-time, now I represent creditors, a far cry from where I thought I would be. That said, being a licensed attorney also affords job security, many attorneys specialize in a practice area or type of law/practice, but many skills are transferrable to other legal jobs.
Start with your WHY - really consider why you want to practice law. Then go from there.
Wendi Wade
Attorney
9
Answers
Caledonia, Illinois
Updated
Wendi’s Answer
It sounds like your question is about working hours once you become a licensed attorney. The answer is, as usual, "it depends." It depends on the type of law you practice, who your employer is (law firm, corporation, government agency, solo practitioner, etc.), and what your financial goals are. Typically, the more money you want to make, the more hours you will put in, especially in the early years. You will eventually find your balance between income and hours worked, and you can fluctuate throughout your career based on your needs.
If you feel it's your dream job, go for it! I HIGHLY recommend considering a specialized undergrad degree in engineering, business, nursing, IT, environmental health and safety, or finance (to name a few). Lawyers with specialized knowledge quickly become "subject matter experts" in their practice and are highly sought after. However, many law students have degrees in English, philosophy, political science, etc., which works, too. My best advice is to keep an open mind and gravitate towards what interests YOU along the journey.
If you feel it's your dream job, go for it! I HIGHLY recommend considering a specialized undergrad degree in engineering, business, nursing, IT, environmental health and safety, or finance (to name a few). Lawyers with specialized knowledge quickly become "subject matter experts" in their practice and are highly sought after. However, many law students have degrees in English, philosophy, political science, etc., which works, too. My best advice is to keep an open mind and gravitate towards what interests YOU along the journey.
DENNIS BREEN
Lawyer
230
Answers
Cary, North Carolina
Updated
DENNIS’s Answer
Hi Nathan: Not sure what you mean by is it "worth the time away from home"? Generally you are not away from home!
If you stay hame and go to college you are home. If you go to a local law school you are home. So really there is no away time. If you go away for school that's a different thing - 4 years away at college and 3 years away at law school. Those, however, are your choices as to where to go to school.
I love being a lawyer. I help a lot of people. However, it's not for everyone. At your age I'd suggest you explore all your options, keep an open mind and go out and learn.
If you stay hame and go to college you are home. If you go to a local law school you are home. So really there is no away time. If you go away for school that's a different thing - 4 years away at college and 3 years away at law school. Those, however, are your choices as to where to go to school.
I love being a lawyer. I help a lot of people. However, it's not for everyone. At your age I'd suggest you explore all your options, keep an open mind and go out and learn.
Thank you, DENNIS for the advice.
Nathan