Most lawyers work with a government agency, lawyers in your city corporation, or law firm where you have the privilege of working in an actual office. That means you have four walls, some privacy, and maybe even a window to enjoy while you are getting through your daily responsibilities. That means you can avoid the issue of being in a cubicle in the middle of the office where you must manage the relationships you have with coworkers along with the deadlines that you must meet.
Being an attorney means that you are afforded certain privileges that come with the prestige of this degree that other vocational opportunities do not have. You can have access to an expense account, set your own hours, and some lawyers even have a decorating budget they can access.
7. There is a lot of flexibility available in your daily schedule as a lawyer.
Even though some attorneys have unpredictable schedules, demanding quotas, and long hours to work each week, there does tend to be more flexibility in this career than in others which are available today. Some law firms even offer the opportunity to telecommute or work in alternative schedule to expand the amount of time that you can spend with your family. You might even have the option to hire a virtual assistant who can reduce your workload even further.
8. You will learn skills that transfer to other career options.
One of the most significant benefits that you can access with a law becoming an attorney can transfer over to an alternative career. There are several different legal careers which you can pursue if you decide that being a lawyer is not the right option. You can get into legal consulting, publishing, administration, banking, technology, and even human resource management with your education.
List of the Cons of Being a Lawyer
1. There are high levels of stress in this career.
Being a lawyer means that you will face numerous deadlines throughout your career. There will be billing pressures that your business must confront every month. You will be working long hours, face difficult client demands, and be continuously researching changes to the law as they occur. Because of these issues, 44% of today’s practicing attorneys say that they would not recommend this profession to someone who is debating what career path they should follow. Depression, mental health concerns, and suicide are all at higher rates in this industry compared to the general population.
2. You will work long hours as an attorney.
Lawyers are asked to put in long hours every week to support their clients, especially in the early years of your career. As rising workloads and shrinking staff levels occur, attorneys are working more today than ever before. Having work weeks top 60 hours is not uncommon in this field, and some are putting in more than 90 hours each week. Because it is such a competitive environment to find the best jobs, there’s more time spent on business management and client development than billable hours in some situations.
3. It costs a lot to attend law school for your education.
The cost of attending law school is outpacing the rate of inflation in most areas of the United States and around the world. You can expect to pay at least $40,000 per year to attend an institution even if that school has a less-than-positive reputation. If you want to earn a degree from one of the best law schools in the country, then you might pay over $100,000 per year for your educational expenses.