To all lawyers; is the job fun? Pay is fine? Do you struggle? Pros and cons of your law career?

simmychick

Pay depends on how many clients I have

I don't struggle, but I'm not rich by any means.

The job is interesting, but it's not for everyone. There's alot of time spent doing very boring things. It's not like what you see on television at all.

The biggest con is all the people that want free legal advice, but don't follow through, or do not hire me to represent them. Although this is their choice, it does take alot of time away from my work.

You do meet alot of people, but they are not for social purposes. They are there for you to assist, they are clients. These contacts must remain professional.

This career takes alot of patience, so if you are not patient, this would not be a good choice for you.

kikidismom

Fun? I don't know that I would say my job is "fun" but it has funny moments. After you have been doing it for over 20 years, any job gets kind of routine but there are parts of it you like a lot more than others and look forward to those. I am a trial and appellate lawyer so my answers are geared to my practice. Pay? If you are a hard worker, you will never starve but I am not rich by any means. At 20 years out, most defense lawyers are making a little over $100,000 plus benefits which can be significant. It's certainly nothing to sneeze at but it isn't going to buy you the life of the rich and famous either. Struggles - the most difficult part of my practice is keeping all the my cases, reporting requirements, hearings, administrative tasks (like billing) all current all the time. On the "pro" side, a law degree opens lots and lots of opportunities for different kinds of jobs and you are sure to find something you like but there has been a lot of downward pressure on wages in our field in the last 10 years or so so our wages haven't grown as much as inflation. Also our insurance clients are very demanding now about what they want and when and it has become much more demanding to work in our field in the last 5 yrs. I still enjoy my job but I know a lot of people in litigation who are getting burned out and moving into other jobs in their 50s.

ChinHoYang

I'm a management labor and employment lawyer and its a fun job. Every employment case is different, and the facts are usually pretty interesting. The labor union matters are probably the most dull. The money is good (though plaintiff's personal injury attorneys are the ones who make the big money).

If you like to meet people, practice in a small town. Most of my clients are scattered around, so it really doesn't matter where my office is. I live and have an office in a small parish in Louisiana. My local clients are the only non-employment law clients that I have. I'll have 2 or 3 people come in the office every day. Most have one question that can be quickly answered. So, if you want to meet people, try the small town practice.

blktan23

fun no reading contracts all day is not fun. pay is bad. law school is so expensvie that it is nto worth it if you dont go big law. struggle with money at times.
pros havent paid a traffic ticket in a few years
cons long hours ok pay.

The Guru

Take bribes, pad my bills, lots of lies, long hours, and laugh at the face of justice.

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