do i have what it takes to be a lawyer reddit

What are the worst things about being a lawyer?

Don’t go to law school. Most people in law school have no business being there. I need to do my own law school copypasta for future references. But the short story is that law is an insanely stressful career choice, you will likely get in significant debt, and the job market simply is not strong enough to comfortably support all the attorneys ...

Is being a lawyer worth it?

1.) While the theory of the law, the stuff you’ll learn from text books in law school is fascinating, the practice of law is often boring, tedious and unexciting. 2.) In the practice of law, you’ll necessarily have to do things at odds when your personal set of values. Defend someone you think is liable. Sue someone you think isn’t.

Is being a lawyer a good job?

I make enough to have a nice place to live, travel when I want, and save for retirement. I'm a pretty atypical lawyer but I love what I do and the lifestyle it gives me. No one tells me what to do, when to work, or what clients to take. On the other hand no one pays me a regular salaries and I am on my own for benefits like health insurance.

What being a lawyer is really like?

I do have more information that I am sparing from this initial post due to me not knowing how relevant it is to the situation. This is what I need help with : I am aware that this would be a civil case, but after doing preliminary research I have come to find out there are many different kinds of civil lawyers, and I do not know which one is ...

How do I know if being a lawyer is right for me?

You work well with others. That's right—being a lawyer means working with people! ... You can persuade others. The ability to persuade=the practice of law. ... You are independent and self-disciplined. ... You can endure the grind. ... You don't take things at face value. ... You must be able to network.Sep 9, 2019

Are lawyers miserable?

Yes. Repeated industry surveys confirm that lawyers, particularly young lawyers, are increasingly unhappy. More concerning are growing numbers of lawyers suffering from severe anxiety, depression, stress and substance abuse problems.

How hard is being a lawyer?

A sometimes stressful work environment When it's all said and done, a lawyer may end up spending 50 hours or more at the office each week. “Lawyers often have demanding schedules and heavy workloads, which may contribute to increased stress levels,” says the ABA.Jun 2, 2017

Is being a lawyer stressful?

The Stress Deadlines, billing pressures, client demands, long hours, changing laws, and other demands all combine to make the practice of law one of the most stressful jobs out there. Throw in rising business pressures, evolving legal technologies, and climbing law school debt and it's no wonder lawyers are stressed.Nov 20, 2019

What lawyers are the happiest?

The happiest attorneys, therefore, are those who experience a cultural fit. This means they work for firms where they are free to act independently, do work that matters to them and collaborate on teams with people who complement their personality and communication style.Jun 25, 2019

Is it depressing to be a lawyer?

The statistics are staggering: Lawyers are 3.6 times as likely to be depressed as people in other jobs, while the landmark 2016 American Bar Association and Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation study found that 28 percent of licensed, employed lawyers suffer with depression.May 11, 2018

What is the easiest type of law to study?

However, there are many sectors of law which are less stressful:Real estate law.Intellectual property law.High Street family law.Government lawyers.Working In-House.Jul 9, 2021

Do lawyers make a lot of money?

Do lawyers actually make good money? A: Law careers have always been some of the most lucrative in the United States. Depending on their location and specialty, lawyers can make as much as $200,000+ a year, which is considerably more than people make in most other professions.Sep 21, 2021

Is a lawyer a good job for the future?

Employment Outlook for Lawyers Employment of lawyers is projected to grow 9 percent from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Demand for legal work is expected to continue as individuals, businesses, and all levels of government require legal services in many areas.

What is the highest stress job?

For the third year in a row, enlisted military personnel, firefighter, airline pilot, and police officer are the four most stressful occupations, according to CareerCast's annual Most Stressful Jobs report.

Do you need to be smart to be a lawyer?

You can become a lawyer if you are academically “smart” enough and have the ability to understand the law and its concepts. You will also require the work ethic to read and interpret a vast amount of information. Getting through law school requires the ability to learn and process information.

What type of person is best suited to be a lawyer?

According to a 1993 study conducted by Larry Richard, the most prevalent personality types for lawyers are: ISTJ (17.8 per cent) INTJ (13.1 per cent) ESTJ (10.3 per cent)Jan 21, 2019

Is law school smart?

Second, there's a pretty good chance you won't do all that great in law school. That doesn't mean you're not smart, but when it comes to law school being smart doesn't have much to do with it. Law school is a grind, and those that grind the hardest reap the rewards.

Is law a prestigious field?

Law is inherently a snobby, prestigious field and where get your degree from absolutely matters. Many people will tell you not to even bother attending law school if you don't go to a Tier 1 (top 50 ranked) law school, and I'm inclined to agree with that assessment.

Is it hard to get a job after the recession?

Unless you go to a top school, get a scholarship, or go to a regional school nearby a city where you have connections, it is very hard to get a job that allows you to pay back your student loans and still live a comfortable life. The market in the US is over saturated with lawyers especially after the last recession.

Should I go to law school without a scholarship?

That's why, outside of maybe a few law schools, you should absolutely not go to law school without some sort of scholarship. If you get a high enough LSAT you can get a free ride to many schools. Keep in mind that some schools (imo) are not worth going to even with a full ride. idk if I want to be a lawyer.

What makes a good attorney?

A key trait of a good attorney is the ability to convince others of their point of view through persuasion—both oral and written. Yes, that means that excellent writing skills can’t be underemphasized. More on this in a bit.

What does it mean to be a lawyer?

You work well with others. That’s right—being a lawyer means working with people! Fellow attorneys, judges, court clerks, clients, etc., are all crucial to a lawyer’s job. You have to be a “people person” to succeed. Sure, lawyers must always have their clients’ interests at heart, but those interests are often best served by exercising effective ...

What is the ability to persuade?

The ability to persuade=the practice of law. Think that loving to argue means you’ll be a great lawyer? Beware of the myth that merely battling it out with an opponent somehow defines the job description of a lawyer. A key trait of a good attorney is the ability to convince others of their point of view through persuasion—both oral and written. Yes, that means that excellent writing skills can’t be underemphasized. More on this in a bit.#N#We’ve all seen TV lawyers give impassioned—sometimes tearful—oral arguments in front of judges and juries, and that is what you might envision as the job of a litigator. However, you may find yourself frequently using your skills of persuasion as a criminal defense attorney, for example, with the judge and DA in chambers, outside of open court. You may need to advocate for a client who was arrested for a DUI or drug possession to be allowed to enter treatment for addiction instead of serving jail time. If so, you will ultimately need to convince those involved that this is the best course of action, both for your client and the community.#N#Additionally, you need to be able to persuade in writing. For example, you will write motions to persuade a judge as to how a particular rule of law should be applied to your client’s case. You’ll need to write—and write a LOT—as an attorney. It might not be as glamorous as an awe-inspiring courtroom speech straight out of a John Grisham novel, but persuasive and effective writing is an essential skill of lawyers. And moving speeches have to be written too.

Why is it important to build a network as a lawyer?

Building your network as a lawyer, both throughout law school and beyond, is immensely important, especially if you decide to go the sole practitioner route. Lawyers will build relationships with other attorneys they know and trust and refer clients to one another.

Is LSAT good for law school?

This is an essential LSAT skill, too, and at least part of the reason your LSAT score is a predictor of first-year law school success, since it is relevant to the actual practice of law. Being able to recognize the key components of an argument and spot its flaws and inherent assumptions will prove critical in your future as a lawyer—both in composing your own compelling, airtight arguments and in effectively advocating for your clients by breaking down opponents’ arguments.