Are you thinking about becoming a lawyer? It is a highly esteemed profession with lots of status in society. It’s up there with becoming a doctor, or a teacher, or a scientist. There are so many types of law you can specialize in, too, after doing your Juris Doctorate or Master of Laws online. You could work in family law, civil, commercial, property, criminal, immigration, or even for a local community legal center or the state legal aid service. There are so many options. But there is also much to consider.

Before you embark upon this career journey, you need to ask yourself some questions. Not everyone is suited to becoming a lawyer for various reasons. Lucky for you, we’ve prepared this helpful article, which will share the eight essential questions you need to ask yourself before becoming a lawyer. Continue reading to determine if this pathway of study and work is right for you.

Can I Commit to Four to Six Years of Study?

Depending on the qualification you obtain, and if you choose to study entirely or part-time, you are looking at dedicating at least four years of your life to get the degree required to become a lawyer. This is a significant amount of time, and if you’re a mature-aged student, you’ll need to balance your studies with other personal, family and other commitments. When you study, your ability to earn income is reduced due to the time it takes to commit to study. Before starting your journey to become a lawyer, you need to contemplate if you can commit the years required to obtain the necessary qualifications.

What Area of Law Do I Want to Work In?

As mentioned above, there are a variety of specializations in law. Each is unique and offers its challenges and opportunities. For instance, you could specialize in intellectual property law in the music industry – which is a very niche field. Other areas could include property law, business or finance. What you choose might depend on your interests and passions. Some lawyers work for firms that offer basic law services, such as conveyancing, family law, will disputes, wills and employment. In this case, you might work across these areas of law.

It’s worth considering if a particular speciality is for you. For instance, criminal defense can be lucrative financially. Still, it also carries a burden as you’re privy to details about criminal cases that can have an impact on you and the victims of crime. It is not for everyone. Consider what area you can manage and succeed in before choosing a career in law.

Can I Work Long Hours?

It is no secret that lawyers, like doctors, tend to work long hours. This is especially the case when legal firms make their money through billable hours or charging for hours worked by lawyers on cases or legal matters. As a junior lawyer, you will likely have to work beyond the typical 9-5, unlike other professions. This is not always the case, as legal aid services or community legal centres tend to have friendlier hours but generally pay less than private practice. But if you are getting into law for the money, you should be prepared for long days. 

Can I Deal With Stress?

This is an important question to ask yourself. Practicing law is stressful work, and combined with long hours, demanding clients, sometimes distressing case material and other factors, you’ll have to have a high-stress tolerance. Burnout is real and can impact new lawyers who aren’t quite prepared for the rigorous workload and stress levels that being a lawyer involves. You need to have a thick skin and be proactive about your self-care and leisure time away from work, as managing stress and your workload will be critical to your success as a lawyer. Before studying law, it is worth assessing if you can manage the stress and demands of the job.

Do I Have Excellent Attention to Detail?

Knowing and understanding the law is a complex undertaking, with legislation being dense and thick and tricky to absorb, understand and interpret. A lawyer needs to have impeccable attention to detail and the ability to spot discrepancies and errors in legal documents such as contracts, wills and trust documentation. For instance, if you’re responsible for drafting an employment contract or other legally binding document, you need to be extremely careful with wording and clauses and produce a legally airtight contract. This means that attention to detail is significant. Before studying law, it’s worth asking yourself if you possess this skill or if it can be developed. It will even be necessary during your study, especially when it comes to sitting tests or exams.

Do I Want to Work My Way Up?

No lawyer starts their career as the director, partner or owner of a law firm. You usually have to start in an entry legal position, such as a legal assistant, paralegal or junior lawyer. You’ll typically work on administrative tasks or “grunt” work, with the senior lawyers and solicitors handling the more complex tasks for the firm. With some time and experience, you can work your way up the ladder, provided you get good feedback and perform to expectations. It’s worth asking yourself if you’re willing to put in the time, hours and effort to gain a promotion and obtain more senior positions within law firms.

Will I Be Happy with the Pay?

Lawyers earn much more than minimum wage, but it can take some time to earn lots of money. An entry-level lawyer will earn around 80-90 thousand a year before tax. Some may earn more or less, depending on the firm you work for and the type of law you practice. No one works for free, obviously, but you should consider if the salary reality for lawyers is in line with your expectations. It is worth researching what lawyers earn in your city to see if you are happy with the pay rate.

Will I Be Happy in General?

Finally, this is a question that anyone should consider when embarking on a particular course of study or pathway to employment. Work is often a means to an end – a way to make a living, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t settle for a career that doesn’t bring you fulfillment. We all want to be happy and content in life, and it’s worth asking yourself if working as a lawyer will offer this to you.

A Law Career Conclusion 

This helpful article has shared eight essential questions that you should ask yourself before becoming a lawyer. It’s worth pondering your answers to these questions before you enroll in an online law course to determine if this career pathway is truly a calling for you.

Published By: Aize Perez