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Should I be a lawyer? This is a difficult question to answer
because there is no "typical lawyer." The legal profession today has
embraced specialization to a significant extent. Specialties include
criminal law, family law, personal injury or defective product litigation,
trust and estate law, business transactions and litigation, tax law,
employment or labor law, environmental law, patent and trademark law, civil
rights litigation, and many others. There are significant differences in
workload, client contact, work environment, compensation, and overall
quality of life, depending on your specialization.
One way to determine if a legal career is for you is to learn all you can
about the field. Talk with practicing lawyers, attend criminal and civil
trials, attend law school classes, work as a paralegal or messenger at a law
firm and read about the law. It's also important to look at the type of
skills that a person must develop in order to be a competent lawyer.
Although there are significant differences in the different legal
specialties, the essential skills required of any lawyer are mush the same.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Can I empathize with a client while remaining objective about the
situation? A lawyer must be able to empathize in order to properly
understand the needs and concerns of his or her client, but the lawyer
must also be able to objectively analyze the client's legal situation and
to evaluate the available options.
- An I articulate my analysis of a problem in a clear and concise
manner? The key to success is the ability to convince others of the
correctness of one's analysis of the factual problem, the requirements of
the law, and the best result that can be reached for all concerned
parties. One may be a genius, but it will be to no avail if others cannot
understand what he or she is saying. The skill and art of written and
verbal communication is an important key to success for a lawyer. One need
not be flamboyant to be an excellent lawyer, but the ability to
persuasively articulate concrete positions is essential.
- Can I set aside my own preferences to be an advocate for others?
A lawyer does not serve her own interests but her client's. She provides
the client with information, but ultimately, the client decides what to
do. The lawyer must be able to accept and advance the client's decision,
even if she does not agree with that particular course of action.
- Can I meet deadlines and pay attention to detail? The practice
of law is a jungle filled with pockets of quicksand for the sloppy, lazy
lawyer. Legal procedures involve a multitude of arbitrary details and
deadlines. failure to present a client's case on time and precisely as
required may cause it to be thrown out of court and give rise to
malpractice charges.
- Can I deal with conflict? People turn to the law only when
matters are important and other attempts to resolve them have failed. Both
parties usually believe very strongly in the merits of their claims and
pursue their interests aggressively. Lawyers do not usually see people at
their best.
Next: Law School
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