15 Pros and Cons of Being an Attorney

The field of law is one of the most essential aspects of society.

To understand the complexities of law, attorneys are experts in specific areas and can effectively provide legal advice to or represent individuals or companies in court.

As a result, many think that being an attorney is one of the most prestigious and exciting career paths one can take.

While there is some truth in the profession, there are also many drawbacks that the average individual isn’t aware of, but it is important to understand before deciding to attend law school.

Before taking the next step, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of this profession.

Keep reading to learn more!

Pros of Being an Attorney

Regardless of the specialization you choose, becoming an attorney comes with various advantages.

Understanding these benefits can help determine if you wish to proceed in this field.

Pros include:

One: Adaptable Skills

Given that attorneys are constantly learning and dealing with people, they have the opportunity to grow and gain new skills that are transferable to other careers, should they decide to leave.

For instance, negotiation skills are highly applicable to real estate professions, research skills can be beneficial to work as a legal consultant, and problem-solving skills provide excellent customer service, which is needed in all careers.

As attorneys gain experience, these and many other skills improve, making them better lawyers.

Two: Challenging Work

Due to the complexities of the legal industry, the competitive environment, and the required hard work, many want to face these challenges head-on.

Those who enter the legal field understand the difficulties that they will endure and are excited to overcome them.

If you enjoy debating and arguing, becoming a trial lawyer is likely an excellent choice.

During a court case, you can present your findings, argue legal theories, debate interpretations, and make a strong point to the jury and courtroom.

Three: Earn Respect and Prestige

Lawyers are often viewed with a high level of prestige and respect.

This is typically due to their extensive educational requirements and the authority they have when utilizing the law.

This profession requires respect and is glamorized by the media in movies and television shows.

Four: Extensive Job Opportunities

Lawyers have the major benefit of an extensive number of job opportunities in the private and public sectors.

Once you pass the Bar Exam, you can select a specialty you are passionate about.

For instance, if you want to give back to the local community, you can become a criminal prosecutor, putting the bad guys in jail.

On the other hand, you may want to protect innocent lives and become a criminal defense attorney.

From corporations to real estate and environmental law, there are a multitude of opportunities in this profession.

Five: Flexible Schedule

Although attorneys may have an unpredictable schedule, there is always time for a vacation.

Also, lawyers who choose to own a practice can set their hours.

Also, there is extensive flexibility when attorneys are between cases.

Some choose to complete continuing legal education, while others take a well-deserved vacation until the next case.

Those who work for a law firm may be able to work from home most of the time.

This allows you to spend more time with your friends and family and offers an excellent work-life balance.

Six: Help Others in a Time of Need

Attorneys can help people and businesses during a time of need.

While you may be seeking justice for one party, there are emotional rewards attached to helping an individual.

Some view this fulfillment as more beneficial than financial compensation.

Winning a case that resolves your client’s issue can also add to the emotional satisfaction of the profession.

Seven: High Financial Compensation

One of the most obvious advantages of becoming an attorney is the financial compensation.

It’s most common for U.S. lawyers to earn well into the six-figure income range, which is highly attractive for those deciding upon a career path.

Just remember that new lawyers do not automatically earn high salaries; they must gain experience and work towards six-figure incomes.

In some instances, satisfaction within a legal specialization may be worth more than an annual salary.

Eight: Potential to Start a Business

Attorneys with extensive experience and an entrepreneurial spirit can start a private practice.

When you run a legal firm, you can decide the best way to operate, make decisions, and have more flexibility than in someone else’s practice.

For instance, you can work with a single client for a lengthy period to ensure job security and consistency or multiple clients if you enjoy the social aspect of the profession.

If your firm is successful, you can create a team of attorneys to grow the business.

Cons of Being an Attorney

Although becoming an attorney offers these extensive perks, it’s important to also understand the drawbacks of this career path.

If the pros outweigh these cons, then this may be the right profession for you.

One: Can Be Highly Stressful

Being a lawyer puts you in highly stressful situations, beginning with law school.

Those who do not have the flexibility of a private practice or cannot work from home have a poor work-life balance and work stress due to the long hours.

In large firms, it’s common for attorneys to work 60 to 90 hours per week.

The good news is that these large firms are aware of the negative impact on their employees and productivity and are trying to give them a better work-life balance.

Some firms are offering increased vacation time and regularly promoting time off between cases to help decrease stress.

Two: Constant Legal Changes

As an attorney, it’s essential to remain updated on the law and related changes in specific areas.

This means heavy research must be applied for each case to ensure you are following the proper regulations and latest legal practices.

This extra work of researching the latest laws can feel incredibly overwhelming, thus resulting in longer days in the office to better support the case.

Three: Expensive Education

Most lawyers are paying off their student loans for many years after graduation.

Some of the best law schools in the United States cost around $150,000 per year without accommodations, food, and other expenses.

Even with a generous starting salary, most attorneys cannot pay off their debt as fast as they would have hoped.

Four: Lawyers Get a Bad Reputation

Although being an attorney is a reputable career, it’s also possible to garner a poor public image.

Even if you win cases and are highly successful, it’s not always possible to escape jokes and a negative reputation from the general public.

This is more common with trial lawyers who are regularly in the media for criminal cases.

Those who work in other areas of law are not subjected to this level of scrutiny from the media or public.

Five: Must Work Long Hours

Even with a flexible schedule, there are days or weekends when you must meet the demands of your clients and certain deadlines.

This is most common for new lawyers who have just started their careers.

While a typical workweek is 40 hours, some lawyers work double this amount each week to meet the needs of the cases they are managing.

As you gain experience and seniority, the work hours improve, but there are occasional long days that arise.

Six: Threat of Outsourcing

Since clients are becoming more aware of high legal fees and companies are more conscious of their spending, they are outsourcing legal work to foreign countries with a lower cost of labor.

This means they complete the same work for a cheaper price than in the U.S.

This results in fewer available positions since the work is shifting to overseas low-wage workforces.

Also, due to high legal fees, some clients are taking their business to paralegals or utilizing technology to answer questions.

Seven: Work with Difficult Clients

Whenever you work with clients, they aren’t all going to be easy.

Those who work in law firms may not be able to select their clients, which increases the chance of working with difficult individuals or someone with opposing moral views.

While this can be challenging, knowing how to deal with difficult clients can help to improve your customer service skills for when you are assigned the next problematic client.

In any case, lawyers must do their best to represent the client, regardless of their personality or morals.

Pros and Cons of Being an Attorney – Summary Table

Should You Become an Attorney?

There are many rewards to becoming an attorney, like making a difference in the lives of your clients, intellectual stimulation, high financial compensation, earning respect and prestige, and extensive job opportunities.

However, it’s important to understand the demands of the profession, such as a high potential for stress, long hours, difficult clients, and constant legal changes.

Also, law school is incredibly expensive, so you will be paying off student loans for many years.

The pros and cons of being an attorney must be carefully weighed, as law school is a significant time and financial commitment.

First, consider your strengths, interests, and whether you are prepared to meet the demands and challenges of the profession!