Nature of Career

A lawyer acts as an advisor and an advocate for people involved in legal or potential legal disputes. They determine the facts of a given problem, what the clients interests are and use the law to advance their clients interests. They also counsel people about various problems.

Working Conditions

Lawyers work generally indoors in an office environment. The working hours vary depending on the crisis of the day, usually about a 50 hour week, but varying greatly. There is a lot of communication with others, which is the main part of the job. Communication is by telephone, writing or direct contact.

Job Outlook

There are many more law students then available jobs, which makes less of a demand for them. Lawyers can work independently though, so job opportunities are not as much of a problem.

Earnings

The salaries are about $20,000 a year to $250,000 a year, depending on many things. Starting salaries range from about $20,000 to $45,000 a year, with varying range.

Related Careers

A paralegal and a legal secretary are jobs that are similar to being a lawyer. A paralegal does rudimentary legal research and will help to organize case materials. A legal secretary does the production of legal documents through word processing, scheduling, filing and filing maintenance. A paralegal will sometimes do these jobs as well.

Education Required

In order to have a legal education you have to have high school, which is 12 years, college for four years, then a three year law school. After law school you mostly learn while doing.

Additional Information

There is a lot of independence being a lawyer. There are many opportunities to help people and do good. It is not recommended that you be a lawyer just to make money, there are better ways to do that. It is mostly a helping profession. Law school is very difficult, and it is not recommended that you go unless you are very serious about becoming a lawyer.

Colleges

Most law schools are affiliated with parts of major universities. There are few that are independent of major universities. There are four private law schools in Florida, but they are all affiliated with universities. There are two public law schools in Florida, one at Florida State and the other at the University of Florida.

Pick again?

My dad probably would pick it again. It seems to suit his talents, it is interesting and has a good salary. You see many aspects of life most people never see.