Overview for Lawyers

Lawyers act as both advocates and advisors in society. As advocates, they represent one of the parties in criminal and civil trials by presenting evidence and arguing in court to support their client. As advisors, lawyers counsel their clients about their legal rights and obligations and suggest particular courses of action in business and personal matters. Whether acting as an advocate or an advisor, all attorneys research the intent of laws and judicial decisions and apply the law to the specific circumstances faced by their clients.

The more detailed aspects of a lawyer's job depend upon his or her field of specialization and position. All lawyers are licensed to represent parties in court, but some, such as trial lawyers, appear in court more frequently than others. Lawyers may specialize in a number of areas, such as bankruptcy, probate, international, elder, or environmental law.

Most lawyers are in private practice, concentrating on criminal or civil law. In criminal law, lawyers represent individuals who have been charged with crimes and argue their cases in courts of law. Attorneys dealing with civil law assist clients with litigation, wills, trusts, contracts, mortgages, titles, and leases.

Employment Situation

About 27 percent of lawyers are self-employed, either as partners in law firms or in solo practices. Competition for job openings should be strong due to the large number of students who graduate from law school each year.

Employment of lawyers is expected to grow 11 percent during the 2006-16 decade, about as fast as the average for all occupations. The growing population and increased business activity is expected create more legal transactions, civil disputes, and criminal cases. Job growth among lawyers also will result from increasing demand for legal services in such areas as health care, intellectual property, venture capital, energy, elder, antitrust, and environmental law. In addition, the wider availability and affordability of legal clinics should result in increased use of legal services by middle-income people. However, growth in demand for lawyers will be constrained as businesses increasingly use large accounting firms and paralegals to perform some of the same functions that lawyers do.

Education Outlook

Formal requirements to become a lawyer usually include a 4-year college degree, 3 years of law school, and passing a written bar examination; however, some requirements may vary by state. Competition for admission to most law schools is intense. As of 2006, there were 195 law schools accredited by the American Bar Association. Others were approved by state authorities only.

Becoming a lawyer usually takes 7 years of full-time study after high school—4 years of undergraduate study, followed by 3 years of law school. Law school applicants must have a bachelor's degree to qualify for admission. To meet the needs of students who can attend only part time, a number of law schools have night or part-time divisions. Federal courts and agencies set their own qualifications for those practicing before or in them.

Although there is no recommended "prelaw" undergraduate major, prospective lawyers should develop proficiency in writing and speaking, reading, researching, analyzing, and thinking logically—skills needed to succeed both in law school and in the law. Regardless of major, a multidisciplinary background is recommended. All accredited law schools require applicants to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Find an online legal degree.

Salary Expectations for Lawyers

In May 2006, the median annual earnings of all lawyers were $102,470. The middle half of the occupation earned between $69,910 and $145,600.

Related Information

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