What is being a lawyer like?

Hi Emanuela,

Thanks for the good question. I am an attorney and have done a bunch of different things in my career, and I would say that the "day-to-day" of being a lawyer can be very rewarding depending upon your role, the subject matter you handle, and the people you work with.

First, note that there are many different ways of practicing law. You can work in a law firm in private practice, you can work for the government, you can work for a company, or you can work for a non-profit agency or trade association. I've done almost all of those in my career and each one was rewarding in its own way and in each environment the "day-to-day" was very different. For example, in private practice the pay is generally higher but the hours are more demanding. You typically have many different clients who you are trying to help solve problems. The good thing is those problems can be fairly diverse and you are dealing with different people. I spent a lot of time reading, writing, and talking to people in trying to find the right solution for my clients. In contrast, working for a corporation is a little less demanding but the problems tend to repeat and you are generally working with the same set of people all of the time. I spent a lot of time managing people, managing budgets, and talking with my internal clients. I didn't write as much as when I was in private practice, rather I edited lots of other peoples' work.

In general, in terms of "day-to-day" I would think about three different types of things you are generally doing when being a lawyer. One -- you are counseling clients by talking to them about their problems and how to solve them. Two -- you are doing transactional work for your clients, like reading and writing contracts or agreements or negotiating those agreements with the opposing party. Or three -- litigating disputes between your client and the opposing party, which might entail lots of investigation, formal discovery procedures, depositions, and possibly trial. There is lots of reading, writing, and public speaking and performance in litigation. Some jobs require all three of these activities in some degree, but most focus on one or two activities. And all of these activities require an understanding of the relevant law to the subject matter area you are practicing in, which means research and learning.

Second, subject matter is very important. You can do criminal law, family law, personal injury work, or any other type of work that people need. For example, right now there is a great need for people who are familiar with elder care because our population is getting older and the laws regarding medicare and medicaid are extremely complex. There is also a growing new industry around cannabis and I've seen a demand for attorneys who understand the changing laws regarding that industry. There is also a great need for attorneys who understand privacy law, cybersecurity law, and content moderation given the activities of large internet companies. The good thing is that the practice of law is as broad and diverse as the range of human activity. Find a subject matter or a business that you like and find a way to work in that field.

Third, the people you work with always make a difference regardless of your chosen profession. You want to be positive, encouraging, responsible, and active in your job whatever it may be. And you want to surround yourself with people who also have those same attributes. That will make it fun and rewarding, no matter what you do or where you are.

Yes, it has been worth it for me. I had a great time in law school and met people who would become some of my best friends in life. And have mostly enjoyed my career. I worked for the US government, lived in Switzerland for a few years working for the United Nations, was a partner in a law firm, worked in-house at an internet company for a long time, and advised a non-profit agency on the side. Although I didn't enjoy being a partner in private practice because of the constant grind to find new business, I did enjoy learning the law, writing briefs, and advising my clients while in private practice. In both private practice and in-house the pay was pretty good and helped me do what I want in other aspects of my life. You won't necessarily get extremely rich as a lawyer, but it can be lucrative, and some of my friends who went to law school and then went into business roles for companies have been able to generate personal wealth.

In terms of a college major, that somewhat depends on what your interests are. For example, if you want to practice patent law, then get an engineering degree. If you want to practice criminal law, either as a prosecutor or a defender, then criminal justice or American history might help. The best thing to do is find a major where you read and write a lot because having good writing skills will help you get through law school and establish yourself once you get out. The next best thing to do is to major in a subject matter that interests you personally because that will keep you motivated an engaged on your career path. Don't study electrical engineering or finance if they don't interest you, because you will likely not try your best and your grades will suffer.

Good luck with your choices and I'm happy to answer any other questions on legal careers. Just let me know.

Cheers.

Hello Emanuela. I am not an attorney however, I am a college and career advisor. An attorney must enjoy reading because that is the bulk of what they do. While many attorneys have to argue cases in a court of law, most review contracts for their clients. So, it difficult to say what a typical day is like, but it will most definitely include a lot of reading.

What are your favorite subjects or hobbies. You should look to explore possible careers based on things that you enjoy. I hope that this is helpful. Please let me know.

Depends on what type of law you practice and where you practice. I am in-house counsel, which means I work for a company rather than a law firm. Working at a company, my hours are better than they would be at a firm, but I am glad I started at a firm as I got great training. I live the law and find my work very interesting and intellectually challenging. I was a history major in college, which prepared me well for being a lawyer. You need to have great reading comprehension and writing skills. Other majors that would be helpful would be philosophy, political science and English. If you work in a major market like NY, and work at a big firm or big company, the financial rewards very much justify the financial investment in law school.