6 Reasons Why You Should Love Being a Lawyer
Plenty of lawyers regret their career choice. The long hours, tedious work, crushing student debt, and poor job market aren't exactly the kinds of things that make you pat yourself on the back every morning. But that's just the negative yin to lawyering's positive yang.
Being a lawyer is a great career. You should love what you do. Here are six reasons why.
1. You Get to Help People
I know, I know, it's cheesy and cliché. "I want to help people" is what lawyers say when they apply to law school, not when they practice. But for all its schmaltz, it's true. You do help people, whether you're a criminal prosecutor or an insurance defense attorney. That's one of the great things of working directly with clients: you're always solving someone's problems.
2. People Respect Lawyers
Don't let the lawyer jokes fool you. Attorneys are widely respected and there's a reason for it. (And it's not fear.) As a lawyer, you know how things work in a way that few others do. You can understand contracts, explain how the courts work, determine who is liable when fireworks start exploding in a crowded train station. To non-lawyers, that's impressive.
3. You Get to Win
Nothing is sweeter than victory.
4. Your Time Is Money
The billable hour gets a lot of criticism, but it does at least one thing right: it recognizes the value of your time and expertise. Unlike salaried professionals, every moment you spend on a matter counts.
5. Your Superiors Are Also Lawyers
If you work on IT, your superiors may not know a thing about computers. When you're a teacher, your superintendent is about as likely to be a career politician as an educator. But lawyers? Thanks to the prohibition on non-lawyer firm ownership, you're guaranteed that your equals and superiors are also lawyers. You all share (roughly) the same language, understanding, and experience, meaning you'll never have to report to someone who has no idea what exactly it is that you do.
6. You Don't Have to Be a Lawyer
How many doctors do you see pursuing mid-life career changes? None. But legal experience is much more versatile. Legal skills and experience can open up a wide range of opportunities unmatched by other career paths.
Related Resources:
- Why I Love Being a Lawyer (ABA Journal)
- Survey: Poor Lawyers Are the Happiest (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
- Amazing 'Making a Murderer' Doc Shines Harsh Light on Lawyers (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
- After Years of Decline, Are Law School Applications Rebounding? (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)