Lawyer

What a Lawyer Does

The legal system is complex and can be tricky to navigate for the layperson. This is why lawyers play an essential role in the courtroom. Their duty is to protect the rights of their client during a trial as well as to present evidence and arguments in defense of their client. Even after their client has been sentenced, lawyers may go through additional processes to get the sentence shortened or amended. Lawyers are experts in the legal system, as well as in the niche of law in which they specialize. Those working to become lawyers can choose to focus their studies and future career in a particular legal area, such as family law, bankruptcy law, environmental law, or a number of other niches. Private practice is one of the most common areas in which lawyers specialize, which is broken down into civil and criminal law. Those working with civil cases help clients with wills, trusts, contracts, and mortgages. Those working in criminal law deal with cases involving those who have been charged with a crime. To prepare for a case, lawyers meet regularly with their clients and conduct extensive research before heading into the courtroom.

How to Become a Lawyer

Lawyers must be experts in the field of law, so an extensive education is required for the profession. Prospective lawyers must earn a bachelor's degree from an accredited university, during which time they should take courses in public speaking, research, analyzing, and other classes that will help them to hone useful skills. There is no official prelaw program, but earning a bachelor's degree in a field like criminal justice will help students to get familiar with studies in the legal field. Law school entry is highly competitive, and students must earn high marks on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) to get into the best law programs in the nation. Those who are granted admittance typically take three years to earn a juris doctor (J.D.) degree. In law school, students take courses in constitutional law, civil procedure, taxes, and other related topics. Clinical programs where students will work in professional law firms for college credit are also common as these experiences help students to gain firsthand experience of what it is like working in that environment. Upon graduation and before they may begin practicing professionally, law school graduates must successfully pass the bar examination to gain their legal licensure.

Career Outlook for Lawyers

As the population explodes in numbers, criminal and civil cases will inevitably increase. This will drive up the demand for lawyers because more people will need the help of a lawyer's legal expertise to make sense of official documents as well as to defend them in criminal trials. In particular, lawyers working in healthcare law, environmental law, and corporate law should experience the biggest boost in job openings. Overall, the employment opportunities for all types of lawyers are expected to increase 13 percent during the 2008-18 decade, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported. This will increase the 759,200 lawyer positions held in 2008 to 857,700 positions by 2018, adding an astounding 98,500 new jobs into the market. This is certainly a positive change for those aspiring to break into the legal field as a career choice. Yet, the benefits of becoming a lawyer do not end with the prospering job climate. Lawyers earn a substantial salary as well. The median annual salary for lawyers was $110,590 in May 2008, the latest information available from the BLS. Even graduates a mere nine months out of law school earned a comfortable average salary of $68,500 per year.