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Day-to-day life of a lawyer?

What does the day-to-day life of a lawyer look like?

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Ilan’s Answer

Hello Wyatt,

I had a very similar question to you when I was figuring out my career path. And as everyone else said it is really dependant on what kind of lawyer you are, and what type of practice you join.

First you have litigators. Those are the attorneys that you see on TV usually. They go to court, do legal research, file documents, take notes in client meetings, jury selection, back and forth with the other side's attorneys, conversation with the judge....
Secondly you have the transactional lawyers. Those are early in the process. They usually have more client facing time. This is where contracts are made, legal research is done, and a lot of back and forth with the client and potentially other parties is done to get a finalized document.
Finally, each practice would have different ways to do it. For example in tax you might need to use Excel or powerpoint, while in matrimonial you will be heavily focused on litigation and procedure.

The day-to-day of a lawyer is dependant one the legal field you decide to go into, and also which firm you join, as the bigger it gets, the less work you might have to do, while in smaller firms everyone needs to work more to maintain a certain balance.

Hope this is helpful!

Good luck!
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Julie’s Answer

The answer is: it depends. It depends on the seniority of the lawyer, the type of law he/she is practicing, and whether he/she is in government, NFP, corporate or private practice. For most lawyers, however, the early parts of their career are spent reviewing documents and/or conducting legal research, both of which are often done for the purpose of working with more senior lawyers to prepare motions (i.e., requests for action from a court) and other legal filings such as motions for summary judgment. As one gets more senior, he/she will then likely become the person responsible for preparing the legal filings his/herself, while at the same time conducting more direct client interaction. This progression generally happens faster at smaller firms and in government and NFP practice, the latter two of which are often faced with resourcing challenges and not-as-cash-heavy clients. An often overlooked practical reality is that as one becomes more senior in private practice, there will be an expectation that he/she generates work for the firm or, as the saying goes, will "make it rain" or "you only eat what you kill." This translates to significantly greater than 50 percent of a lawyers time being dedicated to client development in addition to substantive (and billable) work. Regardless, a good lawyer will a always be expected to demonstrate good judgment, analytical skills, highly effective written an oral communication skills, empathy and a zealous advocacy for his/her clients' needs.
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Rafael’s Answer

A lawyer's day-to-day life involves conducting legal research, preparing documents, communicating with clients, attending court appearances, and meeting with colleagues and experts. They also handle administrative tasks and stay updated on legal developments through continuing education. It can be demanding but rewarding work!
Thank you comment icon Thank you, this is really helpful. Wyatt
Thank you comment icon I appreciate you going out of your way to answer my question! Thank you! Wyatt
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Bryston’s Answer

It can depend on what kind of lawyer. Some lawyers are litigators (like those who you’d see in a courtroom), transactional lawyers (creating contracts, advising on business plans, etc.), and even legal scholars (studying and researching legal theory and policy). The common thread for all of them is constant research for the sake of advising others.
Thank you comment icon Thanks so much! Wyatt
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