why lawyer sucks

by Audie Okuneva 3 min read

Why do many lawyers suck ? Let’s face it, lawyers have a bad reputation. And I’ll admit, it’s often well deserved. The problem is the inherent conflict of interest between a lawyer and the client, and this is magnified in the field of criminal law.

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Why are so many lawyers unhappy?

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Is your lawyer working against the law?

Why do many lawyers suck ? Let’s face it, lawyers have a bad reputation. And I’ll admit, it’s often well deserved. The problem is the inherent conflict of interest between a lawyer and the client, and this is magnified in the field of criminal law. A person is …

What if my lawyer seems unenthusiastic when they speak to me?

Apr 12, 2016 · TL;DR Nutshell: A common complaint from startups about their law firms is that, while they like their corporate counsel, the ‘specialists’ (patent, employment, benefits, export, etc.) that they end up working with suck. The core reason for this usually has to do with the incentives of large, outdated law firms to cross-sell their poorly-fitted specialists, even when better …

What is the most stressful part of being a lawyer?

Originally Answered: What are some drawbacks to the lawyer profession? Being a lawyer can be and usually is damn hard, stressful, risky work, with a lot of responsibility to people, and overhead and expenses to keep an office running. Long hours. Deadlines. Details. Conflict. Did I already mention stress? Well, it’s worth mentioning again.

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What are the worst things about being a lawyer?

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

Are lawyers really miserable?

Studies show that 56% of lawyers are frustrated with their careers. And I hear that day in and day out from the 3,000+ members of the Leave Law Behind community – how either miserable or bored or frustrated they are practicing law.Mar 6, 2020

Why do so many people hate being a lawyer?

Most people hate the idea of getting charged every time they talk to their lawyers. Some firms charge hundreds of dollars per hour, which doesn't go down well with most people. The fact that the clock starts ticking every time you speak with them or do work for them is likely why many people despise lawyers.Feb 1, 2021

Is legal work boring?

The Most Boring Professions

Project management came in a close, boring second, but otherwise most professionals seemed to be having more fun at their jobs than lawyers. Here's the full list: Legal Jobs, 81 percent bored. Project Management, 78 percent.
Mar 1, 2017

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

Are lawyers rich?

Most lawyers earn more of a solid middle-class income," says Devereux. You probably will be carrying a large amount of student loan debt from law school, which is not at all ideal when you're just starting out in your career. "Make sure you only become a lawyer if you actually want to work as a lawyer.Sep 18, 2020

How stressful is being a lawyer?

Twenty-eight percent of lawyers struggle with depression; 19 percent struggle with anxiety. These statistics come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the demands of being a lawyer.

Are lawyers happy with their jobs?

Lawyers are one of the least happy careers in the United States. At CareerExplorer, we conduct an ongoing survey with millions of people and ask them how satisfied they are with their careers. As it turns out, lawyers rate their career happiness 2.6 out of 5 stars which puts them in the bottom 7% of careers.

Do lawyers work hard?

It's widely known that lawyer working hours are long and grueling. For attorneys, a full-time role rarely means nine-to-five: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the majority of lawyers work full time, with many putting in more than 40 hours each week—especially private practice and large-firm lawyers.Jul 20, 2021

Are law students Boring?

Is law boring? “Yes,” says Minor. “The qualifying law degree modules are dryish, with the exception of maybe criminal and property. There is so much reading.Mar 21, 2017

Is being a lawyer interesting?

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.Nov 20, 2019

What is the most boring job?

Top 5 most boring jobs
  • Data analysis.
  • Accounting.
  • Tax/insurance work.
  • Cleaning.
  • Banking.
Mar 22, 2022

Why (Some) Lawyers Suck

Why do many lawyers suck ? Let’s face it, lawyers have a bad reputation. And I’ll admit, it’s often well deserved. The problem is the inherent conflict of interest between a lawyer and the client, and this is magnified in the field of criminal law. A person is in trouble with the law and turns to a lawyer for help.

The Best Interests of the Client ?

I received a call not long ago from a former client who had been involved in a hit and run. It was late at night a few days prior, in a neighborhood he was unfamiliar with. He backed into a vehicle, and then panicked and drove away. He had no idea if anyone saw him or not. Obviously, the right move would have been to stop and leave a note.

How to tell if a lawyer is good?

As you’ve been reading this, perhaps you’re wondering, “I can tell my lawyer sucks, but how can I spot the signs of a good lawyer?” Here are five signs you’re dealing with a lawyer you can trust: 1 Responsive to your needs: a lawyer that is available for your questions, and proactively updates you on case developments 2 Transparent in decisions: a lawyer that readily provides both the detail and “why” behind each decision and fee. 3 Beyond reproach with the law: you should never have the slightest doubt your lawyer is working against the law. Instead, your lawyer should be able to demonstrate your rights, the law and their actions, every step of the way. 4 Personally invested in your case: you need a lawyer that truly cares about your freedom and the outcome of your case, not just a payday from your wallet. 5 Well respected in the legal community: your lawyer should command the respect of the court, community and clients alike.

What does winning over a jury mean?

Winning over a jury means presenting a thoughtful case with logic and conviction. If your lawyer seems unenthusiastic or wishy-washy when they’re speaking to you, imagine how a jury is going to react to them presenting your case.

What does it mean to win a jury trial?

Lack of Enthusiasm for Your Case. Winning over a jury means presenting a thoughtful case with logic and conviction. If your lawyer seems unenthusiastic or wishy-washy when they’re speaking to you, imagine how a jury is going to react to them presenting your case.

What is responsive to your needs?

Responsive to your needs: a lawyer that is available for your questions, and proactively updates you on case developments. Transparent in decisions: a lawyer that readily provides both the detail and “why” behind each decision and fee.

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 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.

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 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.

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 ...

Specialists and Sub-Specialists

One of the most important concepts founders need to understand in interacting with lawyers is that lawyers, just like doctors, have specialties and even sub-specialties; at least the good ones do. Corporate law is a specialty. Startup/VC Law is a sub-specialty of corporate law.

Ecosystem v. BigLaw

You would think that, as a startup/VC lawyer at a boutique law firm, I would always tell companies that they should avoid BigLaw and choose focused boutiques instead (the “ecosystem” I write about). You’d be wrong.

Right-Sized Lawyers

The “max out” size of boutique firms varies with their structure and the credentials of their attorneys (particularly partners, who manage the large deals). At MEMN, we say about $400MM is where our model usually stops making sense, and we’ll even assist a client in finding successor counsel to handle that size of deal.

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Biglaw would be okay, for most people anyway, if going to work every day didn't fill them with a sick sense of dread and the certain knowledge their soul was slowly being sucked away

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