what it is like to be a lawyer reddit

What are the worst things about being a lawyer?

I asked her to list some of the ways we can be own worst enemies on the job ... Instead, it’s about doing the right thing, being generous in your interactions, and looking for ways to grow professionally while also benefitting your company.”

Is being a lawyer worth it?

There's an old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. So how many words is a flowchart ... In a report on the CCCFA changes, law firm Bell Gully notes despite intending to help lenders navigate the new regulations, the Ministry of Business ...

Is being a lawyer a good job?

The reality of working in law

• Salary. A career within law may appeal to you because of its reputation of being a relatively well-paid and lucrative sector.
• Culture. Within law firms cultures vary widely and it's important to think about what type of culture best suits you.
• Competitiveness. ...
• Typical working day. ...
• Opportunities for promotion. ...
• Current issues in the legal sector. ...

What being a lawyer is really like?

Despite the commonly held misapprehension that the lawyer is a litigious adversary, a lawyer is more often concerned with securing harmonious and orderly arrangements, and with avoiding and settling controversy, especially in regard to the drafting of contracts, wills, and other such documents.

What is the actual work of a lawyer?

It involves everything from the basics: incorporating them, drafting agreements among their owners as to who will do what with their equity, reviewing and preparing state of the art agreements for such things as manufacturing, software acquisition, their supply chain agreements, buying and selling other companies, taking them public, etc etc. It’s the top of the game when you are at a large law firm.

How much does a law professor make?

What's in it for you, aside from whatever prestige comes with working for a big-name law firm, that you might be able to translate into going in-house as corporate counsel, or moving into prestigious government work, or becoming a judge—from big law firms, typically a federal judge –or if you are of a certain cast of mind, a law professor, is what for an ordinary person is a ridiculous amount of money, starting salaries in the neighborhood of $170,000 plus bonuses.

What does a transactional lawyer do?

I gather from being told by transactional lawyers that what they do is cut and paste pieces of other agreements into new agreements that reflect what the partners in charge tell them the clients want or need by way of doing their deals.

What is corporate lawyer?

1. Reviewing or preparing documentation: Corporate lawyers are required for preparing or reviewing important legal documentation of their client. Right from incorporation to hiring employees, every action needs a legal document. Lawyers are routinely involved in drafting or reviewing contracts, agreements, deeds, etc.

What happens if you become a Rainmaker?

If you succeed in making partner, and become a "rainmaker,” someone who brings in business, you may end up not practicing law at all but instead just playing golf and eating out with your law school and college buddies. But as far as I can tell, the demand on your time does not cease. I never got that far, so I cannot speak first hand.

Is being a lawyer a bad personality?

It takes a special kind of person to be able to tolerate this kind of work, and also to fit in with the people who do tolerate or perhaps even enjoy that sort of work, and it's not a common personality type. It's not necessarily a bad personality type – lots of big firm lawyers are perfectly nice people — but most people don't have the specific sort of social skills and stamina and intellectual power and tolerance for boredom that this work involves.

Do lawyers work long hours?

Most big firm lawyers work brutally long hours, holidays and weekends— when I was working for one well known big law firm, I was called away to the office on Thanksgiving with no notice – travel a lot but don't get to see anything except fancy hotel rooms and meeting rooms, and spend a lot of time doing an immense amount of really tedious nitpicky work.

How much do lawyers make after law school?

While your salary after law school may help to make up for that, it all depends on where you work. The median compensation for a first-year lawyer working in the private sector was $75,000 as of 2018. The median compensation for all attorneys was $122,960 per year as of 2019, so your salary will improve as time goes on, making it easier to repay your student loans. 3 

What are the skills required to practice law?

Logical reasoning and critical-thinking skills are essential to the practice of law. Analytical skills are necessary for all practice areas, whether you're structuring a multi-million-dollar deal or developing a trial strategy. You might enjoy being an attorney if you like logic puzzles, research, and critical thinking.

How much will the number of attorneys grow in 2028?

The employment of attorneys should grow by about 6% in the decade from 2018 through 2028, which is an average pace. 3 

How many hours do lawyers work?

This isn't a requirement for all lawyers, but some value-conscious clients might expect you to be accessible around the clock. Most lawyers work full time, and many work more than 40 hours per week. 9  Lawyers who work in public interest venues and academia might have more forgiving schedules, but they often trade high salaries for a better work-life balance.

How much does a lawyer's student loan cost?

The average student loan debt for lawyers was $142,900 as of the 2015-2016 school year, the most recent year statistics are available. 1  Private law schools cost an average of $49,548 per academic year. Public schools cost significantly less, with an average cost of $21,300 per year. 2 

What professions can you choose after your name?

You can choose from a variety of specialties, including corporate law, tax law, entertainment law, and criminal law.

Do trial lawyers present information in court?

Trial lawyers present information in the courtroom. Corporate attorneys must be at ease in the boardroom. Regardless of your position, you'll be required to head committees and lead meetings.

Why do people want to be a lawyer?

Many people view the lawyer profession as one with a high level of prestige. This typically stems from their impressive degrees and the level of authority they have over others. This profession demands respect and is often viewed as glamorous by the media.

How much do lawyers make?

Lawyers have the ability to earn a generous income. They make a national average salary of $50,979 per year. Though you may not earn this income as a new lawyer, you can work your way toward this salary with enough hard work and experience. However, finding satisfaction in your specific field may be worth more than your annual salary.

Why do lawyers have a decorating budget?

For example, some lawyers can also enjoy a decorating budget to help make their work environment more conducive to their productivity. Other work perks they may be able to take advantage of include plush accommodations, gym memberships and support staff to help minimize their workload.

Why do lawyers help people?

While this profession allows you to seek justice for these parties, it also provides you with emotional rewards. Depending on your perspective, this can be more beneficial than the money you earn in this profession.

How many hours do lawyers work?

This is mostly the case for new lawyers barely starting their careers. While a normal workweek consists of 40 hours, some lawyers put in 60 to 90 hours each week depending on the needs of the case they're working on.

What do lawyers do when they have a case?

When they have a case, they prepare the necessary documents, gather evidence, analyze probable outcomes and often appear in court to represent their clients. While in court, they present their case to the judge and the jury using logical reasoning and a combination of their persuasiveness and analytical abilities.

How has technology influenced the legal landscape?

The rise in technology has influenced the legal landscape. To become a successful lawyer, you need to understand a wide range of technological platforms such as management tools, spreadsheets and billing software. Staying up-to-date with these technological advances can be a hassle for individuals who aren't as technologically savvy. As previously mentioned, the rise in technology can also divert clients to online legal services that can offer help at a cheaper rate.

How to work in a law firm?

An important skill to learn is how to keep a level head and handle pressure. To successfully work in a law firm, you need to practice staying calm and staying focused on what needs to be done. If you have the opportunity to work in a law clinic at university or volunteer at Citizens Advice or Support Through Court this will really help you to learn how to respond to difficult situations and handle pressure in the workplace.

What is the reality of law firm?

The reality of working at a law firm depends on where you work and the law you practice, legal work is complex and offers the opportunity to work in an intellectually challenging environment that often is well paid and rewarding. Make sure you do your research, think carefully about the area of law that is most suited to your personality and ...

What is the legal profession?

The legal profession offers a wide range of job opportunities in private practice, in-house, and government institutions providing a variety of different places to work. One size doesn’t fit all: it is hard to generalise about what it is really like working for a law firm because it depends on the size of firm and the type of law practised, ...

How does culture affect law?

Defining culture is not straightforward but it comprises of the values, ideas, behaviours and assumptions shared by a group of people, it influences everything inside a law firm. A positive workplace culture can determine how much you enjoy your job. It is important not to underestimate the impact the environment you work in has on your happiness and wellbeing. In 2018, TARGETjobs asked trainee solicitors to rate their firm’s culture on a variety of different measures, including working hours, culture, training and diversity. It is hard to generalise, but law is a competitive profession, target driven and that can negatively impact on culture. A good working environment depends a lot on the people you work with and the management philosophy of the firm. A good indication of a happy place to work is high staff retention, if people are happy where they are, they tend to stay. If work life balance and flexible working arrangements are important to you, think carefully about the type of firm and area of law most likely to offer that.