I'm a 3-L and I'm taking the bar exam next July. I also work for a solo who handles a huge caseload, much of which I take on. My experience with the legal profession has taught me that it's not for everybody. I love to get on the phone and punk adversaries on a daily basis. I love it when someone tells me that we blew a statute and I prove them wrong. I love it when big settlement checks come in and I can tell myself "that was me". I love the game. If you find that you are someone who doesn't do what they do for the love of doing it - you will find yourself unhappy. That's the golden rule. Law is not overrated - its misunderstood. To truly master it takes years of school and training. The lawyer is the modern day gladiator and I cannot wait to pass the bar and fight the good fight. I can't wait to be the best at what I do. When your the best at what you do, all of the material things you strive for will automatically come to you. See you at the top!
HH
of CA
@
Nov 16, 2009 18:40:30 PM
Couldn't agree more with william
I'm currently in my second year of law school and have realized that this is the worst mistake of my life. Law school is terribly uninteresting and extremely expensive. After busting my butt for 3 years of law school, I have this pleasure of looking forward to working about 80 hours a week on whatever no one else in the firm wants to work on. I'm currently doing an internship at a large, multinational corporation, which I enjoy, but I've been told that they cannot offer me a job upon graduation because they don't have the capacity to train me. After 7 years of school, god knows how much money, and several internships, I still need several years of training after school to get a job I would enjoy. Awesome!
Ben
of CT
@
Nov 10, 2009 20:27:58 PM
Waaaaaaaaa!
There are whiners in EVERY profession. Those who lacked the where-with-all to reach the top, plop down on their duffs and cry. I had nothing, my whole life, before graduating and beginning to practice.
I'm happy to have a home, well cared for family and a job. The law is the law, no career can MAKE you happy, you must be a happy person to begin with.
R. Courtland
of CA
@
Nov 10, 2009 12:54:17 PM
Yeah
I'm a graduate of a top three law school, currently serving in a warzone, and I'm much happier here than I was at my big NY law firm. Also, I concur with this article...too many lawyers, all trying to bill hours, all trying to climb over one another to make partner. Many take pride in being game playing little creatures. The partners make more money but so what...most live miserable lives. Law is overrated...but I'm glad to have the degree and I loved my law school.
JS
of CA
@
Nov 10, 2009 01:54:43 AM
Not worth it
I was a lawyer for 28 years, highly skilled, only losing 2 jury trials, and those back in the 70s, and settling my last case for $25 mill (a multi firm team effort). But I still thought it was a shitty way to spend my time and could not wait to retire. I bet I counselled 200 kids who came to me to shy away, and I bet almost all of them didn't listen. They have had numerous job satisfaction surveys over 50 years, and they all come out the same. The only two classes of lawyers who like their jobs are judges and professors, and neither of them practice law.
Plus, the field is overcrowded. Only 25% of the grads find jobs, and half of those in the profession exit by the end of 5 years. If I had had any sense, I would have changed to an MBA in finance like I thought about doing, and wrote off the first year.
Also, the average lawyer doesn't make much money. The national average is 72k, and you are paying back 7 years of student loans to get there. Go be a lab tech at 40k and be debt free when you are 22.
william
of IN
@
Nov 07, 2009 18:53:29 PM
I hate it
I have practiced law for the last 15 years and I hate it. At first I thought it was my inexperience that made me wonder if I really wanted to do "this" for the rest of my life. Then I got crapped on by partners who are so greedy that no words can describe them. On top of all of it, you are suppose to take the s*** and act as though you are thrilled about it when you graduated higher than the partners and know about the recent changes in the law etc. The whole profession is full of the better than you attitude. I wish I had not even gotten into law school. Yes, I hate the practice of law that much!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jami
of OH
@
Oct 30, 2009 18:21:00 PM
Solo Lawyer
I worked for my state government for two years during and after law school before being laid off due to state budget cuts (hey I was the youngest attorney in the office). I figured that at 26 and not having a family, now would be the perfect time to try solo practice. I love it!!! While working for the government was fun and rewarding, I really enjoy being my own boss. The money is very VERY tight at first and I am only slowly learning how to get my clients to pay me what I bill them, but I'm getting better at it.
My advice is simple and it is the same as what is on this board. If you want to PRACTICE LAW, go to law school. If you do not, than don't there are much easier advanced degrees out there to get that will take your to more interesting places than a JD. My other piece of advice is "become a ranking" snob. This is counter to what many school administrators will tell you (especially those in lower ranked schools). However the truth is that every law school out there is trying to get into the Top 50 (aka Tier 1) and every Top 50 school wants to crack the top 14. If you cannot get into a Top 50 school, DON'T GO!!! You'll waste a ton of money for dismal job prospects. This country has too many law schools due to the ease at which they can be opened. Many T3 and T4 schools aren't even part of a university. These schools are nothing more than diploma mills. If I sound like a snob, sorry, but keep in mind, those who will employ you are snobs as well.
JB
of OH
@
Oct 30, 2009 17:17:33 PM
ahhh you can be happy in the job you choose
as long as you do it with realism...
So I don't disagree that the 'glamour' fact of being an attorney is overrated - it's actually been a blessing for me...
I work my own hours, get well paid and actually have a family life...
It's been a good choice for me... just make sure you do plenty of research before going to law school and make a good choice of the 'field' you choose... and even with the law degree you don't have to go into law - there are many more career paths to follow.-
me
of CA
@
Oct 23, 2009 14:24:55 PM
Law is not what it once was...
I am an attorney and have been practicing law for the past 20 years. Someone mentioned lawyers making poor salaries. Doctors aren't making near the same wages they were in the 80's either. A lawyer in the 80's was doing quite well. Now, just like med school, there are too many graduates. If you think doctors have it better, just wait until socialized medicine kicks in. It will be a nightmare. Most doctors I know will luckily retire when that happens. For the others, you can expect lower salaries and much longer hours. Law and medicine have been dramatized on many popular TV shows. It is partly for this reason the popularity continues. Just ask any respective admissions counselor and they will tell you when a popular TV series about law emerges the enrollment goes up. They same is true for medical school. I have a brother who has an undergraduate degree in economics and a masters in appplied science in mathematics. He is making 250,000 a year and has no debt. He went to a very good public university for his degrees, so his entire school loan amount was very low. Apparently, there's a shortage of applied math degrees on the market and there is good money to be made, actuaries, risk managers, etc. If you are looking to make a lot of money right out of the gate both law and med school are poor choices. It takes years to get established and pay off the huge amount of debt incurred. If you just love it, then by all means go for it and don't look back. I'm happy with the choice I made, but then again, I'm also happy I will soon be retiring. Good luck!
Michael
of MO
@
Oct 09, 2009 13:03:58 PM
BadCareerChoice
To Proud Mom of CT I would say, unfortunately, your daughter is still in the honeymoon. Practicing law is like walking in quicksand... when you realize the mistake, it's too late. Sure, when you are young and haven't ever made too much money, that firm job seems great. However, when you have practiced for a few years, you realize that reaching the pinnacle - being made "partner" just means you make a little more money and get a couple of perks; but it's back to the salt mines with the same bill or be fired mandates. Actually, in larger firms, you are made a junior partner which is as big a sucker play as there is and "Mister Bill" is still king of the legal world. But, by that time, you feel it's too late to bail - too much invested. I have more than 50 jury trials under my (too ample) belt and am board certified as a civil trial specialist by the authorized national board and my state board - something that about one in 16,000 attorneys in my state can claim. For what it's worth, when I left a prestigious firm in my city to start my own practice, the managing partner offered me more money; and when I refused he said: "If I had any balls, I would do the same thing". I think that speaks volumes. Finally, to Proud Mom I say: I hope your daughter beats the odds; but odds are she will be miserable when the honeymoon is over. She should get out if she can. It will not improve.
HH of CA @ Nov 16, 2009 18:40:30 PM
Ben of CT @ Nov 10, 2009 20:27:58 PM
R. Courtland of CA @ Nov 10, 2009 12:54:17 PM
JS of CA @ Nov 10, 2009 01:54:43 AM
william of IN @ Nov 07, 2009 18:53:29 PM
Jami of OH @ Oct 30, 2009 18:21:00 PM
JB of OH @ Oct 30, 2009 17:17:33 PM
me of CA @ Oct 23, 2009 14:24:55 PM
Michael of MO @ Oct 09, 2009 13:03:58 PM
dsun of TN @ Oct 05, 2009 23:42:41 PM
Back to article