I would like to make two points, but please note the following: 1) I am only in my second year of practice; 2) I have my own small firm and handle a variety of cases. This may make my answer different from others, and of course experience varies. Nonetheless, here is my experience: It’s very stressful. It’s a very controversial job and sometimes even a nasty job. I now have about 55 cases on my docket, which means that in every case there is at least one person (usually more) who hates me to the core and will do anything they can to sabotage my work and destroy me. case, making me look stupid, bullying me, etc. Add to that the courts, who will deny a motion or point out an error in a second, and the regulators, who are just waiting for lawyers to make mistakes in trust fund management, annual requirements, taxes, and more. Add to that — sometimes — your own clients who insist you weren’t tough enough on the other side or swear you could have gotten more for their settlement, etc. That works out to hundreds or thousands of people who may challenge you in some way every day. This will definitely cost you. You need to be thick-skinned and able to tolerate loneliness to succeed. It’s a power trip. Perhaps this feeling will fade over time, but I am still amazed at the power I can wield in the office, just by writing a few words on a piece of paper, or arguing a few words in court. For a DACA immigrant to stay in this country, for a mother to get her child back, for a young man to stay out of jail…it’s incredible to be able to have such an impact on someone’s life. Our country gives lawyers tremendous power in their daily lives. This is a very decadent industry. The vast majority of lawyers have negative emotions, either because they are born that way or because the profession dictates it. It’s just a part of the industry, and honestly, it’s one of the least attractive things about it for me. But there’s nothing they (and I) can do about it. It’s a very confrontational industry and you typically see the worst every day, so it’s hard to be a Pollyanna among your prospects. There are no words to describe how interesting it is. If you love learning, you’re bound to have fun working in law. Of course, you learn something new about the law itself every day; but you also learn a lot about the world, history, business, society, human nature, and everything in between. Because we are a nation of laws, from which everything else flows. The most interesting thing is the people. I sometimes feel like I’m living in The Simpsons’ Springfield because I have people from all walks of life on my daily schedule. Pastor whose church filed for bankruptcy. Small business owners who never receive a paycheck. A Burmese father who is working towards naturalization. A millionaire doctor who just wants to get his Bentley back to normal. Every day I come into contact with all levels of society, from the top to the bottom, left to right. Your insight into human nature is amazing, and you’ve learned to read and understand others in ways that most people can only dream of. It’s very prestigious. Most people are in awe of you when they learn you are a lawyer. Many of them won’t say it, and some will deny it, but the fact is that the public is fascinated, feared/hated, and admired by lawyers at the same time. People will think you are rich and very smart. They will ask you to join the board of directors, speak at events, and volunteer for their organization. They will ask for your advice and tell you their deepest secrets. This is truly amazing and something I was not prepared for (or expected) when I signed on to become a lawyer. It (could/should) be very profitable. Of course, there are some lawyers who don’t make a lot of money, either because they’re new to it, or because the socially conscious practice areas they intend to work in don’t pay well, or because they don’t know how to properly market themselves or their firms. etc. But overall, there is a lot of money flowing in this industry, and it’s not at all difficult for lawyers to make good money after putting in the hard work. But it takes a lot of effort. I work at least 12 hours a day, 6 days a week…I always leave a lot on my desk when I leave, so I can work non-stop. Some of this may be due to me owning my own law firm, but I know enough attorneys/partners to know that this is common throughout the industry.
