why do people say being a lawyer is smart?

Working as a lawyer is one of the most intellectually rewarding jobs on the planet. From helping to patent a trade secret, or devising a trial strategy, to forming a multi-million dollar merger, lawyers are problem-solvers, analysts, and innovative thinkers whose intellect is crucial to career success. Diverse Practice Areas

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Why do you want to be a lawyer?

 · 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.

Why do so many lawyers seem to be aimless?

 · 3. The adversarial nature of most legal work, in particular, litigation and criminal law. Many lawyers live lives of constant conflict, since their opponents are just as interested in winning their cases as they are. Some people (like me) love this, but others find this life to be incredibly stressful. 4.

Is being a lawyer worth it?

 · Most of this intrepretation is enshrined in court opinions, which are oftentimes dry, usually dull, and very rarely well-written. A lawyer’s job is …

Do lawyers make a comfortable living?

Dress Appropriately. When your lawyer tells you to come to court or to a deposition - dress up for God's sake. When I see people at the courthouse looking like they are on their way to a nightclub, I know that they are a) low-class; b) going to lose their case; and c) their ego got in the way.

Do u have to be smart to be a lawyer?

You need good grades in high school so you can get into a good college or university. Then once you are there, you need a good GPA and good credentials so you can be competitive when you apply for the limited spots reputable law schools have open. So the answer is yes, you do need to be smart to be a lawyer.

Do lawyers have high IQ?

Based on my research, lawyers' IQ ranges. Some have about 114 high IQs (50th percentile), being 109 (25th percentile), and being 124 (75th percentile). However, as in all cases, IQ is just one marker.

What is the average IQ for a lawyer?

Some professionals, such as lawyers, exhibit high average IQ scores (in the 115-130 range), while at the same time scoring lower than the general population on EI (85-95). Nor does emotional intelligence correlate with any particular type of personality.

Are lawyers as smart as doctors?

A recent analysis (via KevinMD) of average IQs of individuals in certain professions revealed that doctors have a mean IQ of almost 10 points higher than lawyers.

What is the average IQ of a 14 year old?

Average IQ score for Children & TeensAge AverageThe average IQ score by age13 year Oldbetween 40 and 6514 year Oldbetween 60 and 8015 year Oldbetween 70 and 9016 year Oldbetween 70 and 9014 more rows•Feb 21, 2022

Is a IQ of 128 good?

85 to 114: Average intelligence. 115 to 129: Above average or bright. 130 to 144: Moderately gifted. 145 to 159: Highly gifted.

Which profession has the highest IQ?

Doctors (Especially Surgeons) Medical professionals, particularly doctors, bagged the number one spot. A study conducted by the University of Wisconsin indicates that doctors have the highest IQ on average. Before individuals can practice medicine, they need to undergo years of schooling.

What is a good IQ for a 25 year old?

Intelligence quotient or IQ is a standardized method to know the mental ability of a person, usually against a peer group. IQ scores between 90 and 109 indicate a normal or average intelligence. Individual adults usually score somewhere in between the 70-130 range, with 100 being the theoretical average.

What are traits of a good lawyer?

Below are ten traits that are common to the best lawyers in the United States.Passion for the Job. ... Compassion for Clients. ... Great Communication Skills. ... Willingness to Listen. ... Knowledge of the Law. ... Strong Writing Ability. ... Creativity. ... Good Judgment.More items...•

Who has higher IQ doctors or lawyers?

A recent analysis (via KevinMD) of average IQs of individuals in certain professions revealed that doctors have a mean IQ of almost 10 points higher than lawyers.

Are lawyers or doctors more attractive?

92% of women would date a doctor, followed by lawyers, architects and property consultants (all 89%). 2. Athletes were considered the sexiest male profession (78%), followed by firemen (75%) and doctors (69%).

Are doctors or lawyers more respected?

Doctors topped the global list of most respected professions, followed by lawyers and then engineers.

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 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.

What is public speaking?

Public Speaking. As an attorney, public speaking is a part of your day-to-day life. You'll present information to clients, juries, judges, arbitrators, opposing counsel, witnesses, boards, and colleagues. Trial lawyers present information in the courtroom. Corporate attorneys must be at ease in the boardroom.

What is constant writing?

Constant Writing. Words are a lawyer’s tool of the trade. Attorneys are expected to be good writers as well as excellent speakers. Trial attorneys will need to master oral and written persuasion as they argue motions, try cases, take depositions, and draft various legal pleadings.

What is client development?

Client Development. Most law firm attorneys are responsible for client development. Compensation, bonuses, draws, and partnership opportunities are frequently based on an attorney’s ability to bring in business for the firm, at least in part. 10 . If you choose to work for a law firm, you must excel at marketing yourself ...

How many hours do attorneys work?

1. The work. Most attorneys work about six days a week, generally fifty plus hours per week, and the norm now is to be available anywhere at any time. It is not uncommon during extreme times (trial, an important deal closing, etc.) for those hours to increase substantially and days off to become elusive. I’ve had stretches in my career ...

What is the role of an attorney in a client relationship?

The nature of the attorney-client relationship. A lawyer’s responsibility is to take on other people’s problems and find solutions. It’s a challenging and intellectual pursuit, but it’s also a stressful one. Some clients are difficult to deal with on a personal basis.

What is the job of a lawyer?

A lawyer’s responsibility is to take on other people’s problems and find solutions. It’s a challenging and intellectual pursuit, but it’s also a stressful one. Some clients are difficult to deal with on a personal basis. Some clients have (grossly) unrealistic expectations of what can be done within the law.

Do lawyers live in constant conflict?

Many lawyers live lives of constant conflict, since their opponents are just as interested in winning their cases as they are. Some people (like me) love this, but others find this life to be incredibly stressful.

What is legal work?

Most legal work is reading, researching, drafting documents, reviewing other documents, and occasional communication with one’s opponent. For some lawyers, that’s all the work they do, but in any event, the ratio of work to “action” is very high. 5. For many lawyers, the money isn’t great.

1. Legal stuff takes time. Lots of time

On every episode of The Good Wife or How to Get Away With Murder , a client hires a lawyer in the morning and then everyone seems to be in court by the afternoon. Unfortunately, in real life, court cases take months, if not years to complete, especially if you are dealing with the federal court system.

2. When trials do happen, they are incredibly boring

Anyone who's had jury duty knows that trials are usually tedious and plodding. Believe me, lawyers know this too, but most of us can't control the urge to talk a lot — using really big words — even when we're awful public speakers. The people that suffer the most are court staff (and I should know, I used to be a court clerk).

3. We most certainly can handle the truth

The kind of witness questioning you see in the movies and on TV is — and I know this will be a shocker — are much more dramatic than real life. Both witness and lawyers prepare extensively for trials, and maybe once in a blue moon does a witness say something so surprising it changes or ruins the entire case (though I have seen that happen. Once).

4. Most of our job is reading, writing, and paperwork

Seriously. There is a reason most trials are boring, and it’s because all lawyers are taught to do in law school is read and then write about the things we read.

5. Not all of us consider ourselves crusaders for justice

Yes, many bright-eyed, bushy-tailed young people embark on law school with a dream of making the world a better place, but often, after law school, comes the crushing reality of rent and those extra crushing student loan payments. Some of us have to get jobs that simply pay more money.

6. If we're at a for-profit firm, everything we do for you will be billed

Seriously, life as a lawyer is broken down into six minute increments (tenths of an hour) and we have to keep track of all of them. We bill for when we talk about clients, every time we send an email or get one — heck, some (extremely unethical) lawyers bill for thinking about cases.

7. We aren't all blood-sucking fiends

It's true that there are lots of opportunistic hacks out there, the ones that are in it just for the paycheck. But although some of us work for the money, it doesn't mean we don't care deeply about our professional ethics, clients, and that everyone gets the treatment in court they deserve.

What happens if you don't pay your lawyer?

If you don't pay your lawyer on the day of trial, or however you have agreed to, then while he or she may be obligated by other ethical duties to do his/her best, they won't be motivated by sympathy for you, and it will show in court.

What to do if your lawyer doubts you?

Tell the Truth. If your lawyer doubts you in the consultation, or doesn't think you have a case, while that may change over time, getting over an initial disbelief is very hard. You have to prove your case. Your attorney is not your witness. They are your advocate - but you are responsible for coming up with proof.

What is the difference between a lawyer and a client?

Well, truth be told, neither do I. The difference between lawyer and client is that the lawyer expects it to take a long time and understands. The client typically thinks it's unjustified. So, your hard truth is that each case takes time. Be patient.

Can a lawyer take your money?

While lawyers can certainly take your money and your time and we can file a case that will be very hard to win, if you don't care enough about your life to get a contract, the judge is not very likely to be on your side. At least, not automatically. Oral contracts are extremely hard to prove. What are the terms.

Do juries get it right?

While juries usually get it right, sometimes, it's not about whether a particular matter is emotional or simple, complicated or straightforward. Sometimes people make decisions on who has the nicer suit, or who is more pleasant to deal with. So even if your case is good or even if it's not so strong.

What do shoes say about you?

Your style of shoes say a lot about you, as a person. They are one of the few things a person can wear that is clearly representative of their personality. For example, someone could be wearing old jeans and a t-shirt, but with nice shoes, you immediately classify them as someone who is deliberate. Your shoes say a lot about you.

What does it mean when you are late?

If you are late, you are disrespectful. It doesn't matter the circumstance--unless the other party is luckily in the same boat (both of you enduring the same traffic). But still, it's always best to be the one on time. Rule of thumb: if you're not early, you're late. 2.

What to do if you're not early?

Rule of thumb: if you're not early, you're late. 2. Dressing appropriately. Some people say, "It's always better to be overdressed.". I disagree. Being overdressed is the same issue as being underdressed, except you're probably a lot less comfortable.

Is it better to be overdressed or underdressed?

Some people say, "It's always better to be overdressed.". I disagree. Being overdressed is the same issue as being underdressed, except you're probably a lot less comfortable. But they still highlight the same issue: you didn't do enough due diligence to figure out what would be appropriate to wear.

Is exercise good for you?

It’s proven that exercise promotes healthy lives. If you don’t care about that, that’s one thing. If you’d like to exercise, though, but you just don’t have time for it, you’re too busy.

How to discourage people?

You discourage people, not just by saying so outright but also by not giving them the time of day. In a way, you’re telling them that their ideas or their problems are not worth your time or your (perceived) intelligence. Smart people help encourage others by actually paying attention.

Why don't people come to you?

People don’t come to you to talk about their problems or even celebrate their successes because you always end up talking about your own problems and successes. If this sounds like you, consciously decide to listen and focus on the what the person is saying the next time you’re in a conversation with someone.

Is rest unproductive?

Occasional periods of rest are not unproductive, they are essential to productivity. Extended periods of non-stop activity result in fatigue, and fatigue results in lower-quality output. As Sydney J. Harris once said,

How to tell if you're overloaded?

One of the surest signs of an overloaded schedule is morning fatigue. This is a good indication that you’ve not rested well during the night, which is a good sign that you’ve got way too much on your mind.