Do you spend hours of your time watching riveting courtroom dramas? Maybe you keep hearing about your star cousin who started law school recently? Is the idea of becoming a lawyer sounding more and more appealing?
If you’ve answered yes to at least one of those questions, this is the guide for you! Deciding to start a new career path can be daunting, especially when it’s one of the more demanding professions.
The good news is there are numerous reasons to become a lawyer, and they’re all beneficial.
Keep reading to learn more.
1. The Opportunity to Help Others
There are plenty of jobs that you can get if you’re looking to help others, but being a lawyer puts you in a unique position. You’re able to help individuals, organizations, and groups with their legal problems and help society’s greater good.
Sure, you can become a lawyer that works for corporations; similarly, you can go down a route that focuses less on helping others. However, that altruistic choice still stands, and you have the ability to go in that direction.
Many people need legal assistance and can’t afford attorneys. If you work in private practice, you can perform pro bono work to help low-income individuals and the less represented. This includes victims of domestic abuse, children, and the elderly.
2. Status and Prestige
If you can look past some of the harmless jokes about lawyers, you’ll easily find that most people understand and respect the vital role lawyers play in society. They are a part of bringing about necessary justice, and it takes a lot of dedication to both study and works in law.
Take a look at some of the most popular pieces of media—you’re sure to find plenty of examples of how Hollywood upholds the legal profession as a prestigious career. Of course, you’ll find some villainous portrayals of lawyers (movies are movies, after all), but there’s always the hero that fights for justice.
It wouldn’t be surprising if one of your first inspirations for pursuing law was a television show or movie. You wouldn’t be alone either! In fact, Legally Blonde inspired an entire legion of female lawyers.
You’ll have to study hard and work hard too, but the amount of respect you’ll receive will be worth it.
3. Financial Rewards
Whether or not money is an important factor in your decision to pursue law, it’s something worth mentioning. Law school comes with a hefty price tag, and you wouldn’t want to invest without the potential of a decent salary. You’ll not only have job security as a lawyer, but you’ll begin your career with a high annual salary.
Lawyers made a median salary of $122,960 in 2019. Most attorneys earn salaries well above the national average. Of course, the actual amount varies depending on what you specialize in, but even if you decide to become a law professor, you’ll have an impressive salary.
Money isn’t everything, but it does make life a lot easier. Why not earn a decent salary while doing the thing you love most? You can even receive an LMI waiver, which is lawyer home loans, making it easy to finance a home.
4. Meeting Like-Minded Colleagues
One of the best aspects of becoming a lawyer is that you don’t work completely alone. You’ll likely join a firm and become part of a team. It’s exciting to work with other passionate people and put your heads together to help crack a complicated case.
This can be very invigorating, especially if you like a challenge and you play well with others. You’ll also be in a great position to meet a variety of different people, groups, and companies who are looking for answers when it comes to complicated legal questions.
You’ll be upholding the rule of law, which is no small matter. This is a great privilege that allows you to meet a variety of interesting and unique individuals. You’ll also be able to take what you learned and apply it to something that can help others.
5. Transferable Skills
Down the line, once you’ve been a lawyer for several years, you’ll realize that you’ve attained an impressive number of skills.
That’s because studying and working in law teaches you how to articulate complex thoughts and theories, improve public speaking skills, and also learn things like mediation. Those are just a few examples!
Studying law is no quick feat, and you’ll go through the wringer as you start to run mock trials before moving on to the real deal.
Whether you decide to stick to being a lawyer or not, almost any profession you pursue afterward will be a piece of cake with the transferable skills you acquire.
6. The Intellectual Challenge
Some people in the world can’t handle the mundane day-to-day life and need a little extra challenge. If you’re that type of person, becoming a lawyer is a great goal. There are plenty of intellectual challenges and rigor associated with pursuing law.
You’ll need to be an innovative thinker, a problem solver, have a great memory, and think on your feet. Be prepared to be challenged daily. Some people may not be interested in that, but for those who are, learning law is a rewarding experience.
7. Flexibility
You may have heard about the complicated schedules that lawyers have. Long hours, few days off, and demanding quotas, that may not sound too great. However, attorneys have been discussing better work-life options that pushed many firms to provide more flexibility.
If you find the right firm, you’ll be able to find a work schedule that works for you. This is great if you plan on having a family or have one already. You’ll be able to spend quality time with the people you love while looking forward to going to the job you love.
Great Reasons to Become a Lawyer
Now that you know all of the reasons to become a lawyer, you’re probably ready to start searching for law schools. You’re in for a rewarding career that is sure to challenge you in the best way. Get ready to meet a variety of different people, do some good, and acquire impressive skills.
How does that old saying go? Oh, right, “do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
Loved this article? Be sure to check out the education section of our blog for more!
