Why would anybody want to be a lawyer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being a lawyer in DCUM land has one path. Top 10 school, big law for 5-7 years, then boutique or in house. Thats just one very narrow way of looking at law. My sister lives in Ohio where she went to a state law school (U of Akron) for 21k a year while working full time. It was half paid by her employer. After graduation she transferred to said companies legal department where they pay back her loans. She makes 156k in Ohio were a 5,000 sq ft house in a great school district is 450k. I think in our area it seems like the legal profession is soul sucking because there are so many of us but there are lots of ways and places to practice law and this notion of "top tier or not worth it" s silly.

Agreed. One of the lawyers my company uses is a one-woman shop in Wisconsin. Her rates are reasonable, and she specializes in a few obscure areas of law but she's good at it. She'll never end up doing litigation, just contracts stuff. She makes a decent living for the area, and she doesn't have to work crazy hours.

And again- Wisconsin. No. That’s not a choice most of us would make since you know, we live in dc.

I would personally put a gun in my mouth over living in Wisconsin or Ohio.

I’m sure that the people in those states are really missing you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being a lawyer in DCUM land has one path. Top 10 school, big law for 5-7 years, then boutique or in house. Thats just one very narrow way of looking at law. My sister lives in Ohio where she went to a state law school (U of Akron) for 21k a year while working full time. It was half paid by her employer. After graduation she transferred to said companies legal department where they pay back her loans. She makes 156k in Ohio were a 5,000 sq ft house in a great school district is 450k. I think in our area it seems like the legal profession is soul sucking because there are so many of us but there are lots of ways and places to practice law and this notion of "top tier or not worth it" s silly.

Agreed. One of the lawyers my company uses is a one-woman shop in Wisconsin. Her rates are reasonable, and she specializes in a few obscure areas of law but she's good at it. She'll never end up doing litigation, just contracts stuff. She makes a decent living for the area, and she doesn't have to work crazy hours.

And again- Wisconsin. No. That’s not a choice most of us would make since you know, we live in dc.

I would personally put a gun in my mouth over living in Wisconsin or Ohio.

Really? I can’t speak for Ohio, but many parts of Wisconsin are beautiful. There are lakes, historic homes, great food and great people. But you enjoy NOVA. I’m sure it suits you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been a lawyer for 18 years, and I mostly like it. I was in private practice, then a federal prosecutor, now in-house. I like problem solving. I like the rigor of making and responding to logical arguments. But I’ve been lucky that I’ve never been stuck doing doc review for very long or reviewing contracts or any of the legal jobs that I think I would hate. I agree that I wouldn’t encourage it as a profession in which any random person is likely to end up happy because I think the interesting and fulfilling jobs are harder and harder to get.

Most of my best friends from childhood are lawyers (not sure how that happened) and most have had a side of their personality come out that I don't like. I still love them, but they are nit-picky and argumentative and everything has become about who is wrong and who is right. It's tiring. And I'm a pretty strong personality myself who likes to debate, but even still...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I graduated in '09 and law school tuition was somewhat more reasonable then. UVA was around $33K per year ($30K when I started and small increases each year) and now I think it is around $50K+ to attend for tuition alone although that is the nominal cost, not sure how much that is offset by scholarships for some/most.

Biglaw was tough but it was only for a few years and I was able to pay off all of my loans plus accumulate savings so I was in a good position to buy a house. Now, in govt my hours are reasonable and my comp isn't amazing but still not bad. The job is somewhat boring but I think most people have boring jobs.

I think going to law school makes sense if you can go to a handful of schools that at least give you the biglaw option or if your parents are wealthy and will pay for it.

It's interesting to me that most people who are on this site who are lawyers say this. I'm not a lawyer and most jobs might be boring, but most jobs that well qualified smart and hard working people who go to grad school can get? I'm guessing not boring.

[Anonymous]

I both love practicing law AND Wisconsin.

[Anonymous]

I’m married to a lawyer. Love him to death, but wouldn’t recommend this life.

[Anonymous]

Literally everyone I meet who is a lawyer says don’t do it. Have never met a happy one .

[Anonymous]

I was a big law lawyer for 27 years, the last 10 years as a partner. The only thing that I thought was good about it was the ridiculous amount of money I was paid. Thanks to that, I was able to retire very early. The law itself is fine, but lawyers generally have sucky personalities, plus clients suck, opposing counsel suck, and everything about the whole thing just sucks.

None of my four kids showed the slightest interest in following my footsteps into the law, and I certainly didn’t encourage them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m married to a lawyer. Love him to death, but wouldn’t recommend this life.

“This life” meaning his life or your life?

[Anonymous]

I’m a prosecutor and it’s definitely my niche. I love it. I don’t want to do anything else and I don’t have to. I was fortunate to have a full undergrad scholarship, attend a reputable state school with reasonable tuition, and graduate with exactly $19,000 in student loan debt. Many of you would turn your nose up at my law school choice because it’s not an Ivy or some elitist SLAC but I was debt free three years into my career, which I’m now free to keep as a career.

[Anonymous]

When I went to Georgetown Law in the mid to late 80s, the tuition was at $10K. Now it’s over $60K. I’d never encourage my kids to go to law school and assume that kind of debt. I work in-house and make good money but at this point in my life, I’m mostly coasting and saving for retirement. I was worth it in the 80s and 90s to go to law school, not so much now.

[Anonymous]

I'm a lawyer who actually goes to court. I chose it because, growing up, I enjoyed acting and speaking in front of people. I had a full scholarship to law school, so I didn't need to pick a high-paying job. Clients can be annoying and difficult, and opposing counsel can also be hateful, but there is enough of the job that I enjoy to make it worth it.

[Anonymous]

Agreed. One of the lawyers my company uses is a one-woman shop in Wisconsin. Her rates are reasonable, and she specializes in a few obscure areas of law but she's good at it. She'll never end up doing litigation, just contracts stuff. She makes a decent living for the area, and she doesn't have to work crazy hours.

Wisconsin is fine (except weather in the winter), but I would be really sad to wind up doing contracts stuff, which is just of no interest to me. You only get one life, and I want to try to pursue a legal career that is meaningful/interesting. If that woman likes contracts, that's great. But that just isn't me.

[Anonymous]

I love being a lawyer. I handle plaintiff’s side medical malpractice cases. I sleep well at night knowing I am helping families get their lives back on track. It’s very fulfilling work.

[Anonymous]

Not for everyone, but (based on my 40 yrs...

Intellectually engaging
A chance to help people (society)/clients) if you choose
New things constantly



Beyond that ymmv, of course.