Lawyer

By Justyna Kubek

What is a lawyer?
A lawyer is a person who practices law and is
considered an attorney, counsel, and/or a
solicitor.

Vision

Successful lawyer
Owning a law firm in downtown Chicago
Give back to the community
Support higher education

Why I chose to become a lawyer?

Opportunity to help others
Gain skills (legal consulting, writing, management,
mediation)
Make an
Influence
Flexibility
Traveling

Labor Demand & Growth

Quick Facts: Lawyers

2012 Median Pay

$113,530 per year

$54.58 per hour

Entry-Level Education

Doctoral or professional degree

Work Experience in a Related Occupation

None

On-the-job Training

None

Number of Jobs, 2012

759,800

Job Outlook, 2012-22

10% (As fast as average)

Employment Change, 2012-22

74,800

Salary
As stated in U.S. News and World Report Money,
the lowest-paid salary was around $54,310 and
the highest-paid
salary was around
$187,999.

Top 10 Cities for Young Lawyers

1. Washington, D.C.
2. Atlanta, Georgia
3. Boston, Massachusetts
4. Denver, Colorado
5. Dallas, Texas
6. Seattle, Washington
7. Chicago, Illinois
8. San Francisco, California
9. Minneapolis, Minnesota
10. Houston, Texas

Education
To become a lawyer it takes 7 years of full-time study.
4 years of undergraduate study
3 years of law school
Note: Most states require lawyers to complete a juris
doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law institution by
the American Bar Association (ABA).

Typical Career Path

Law Firms
Continuing education
- Depending on the state, every year or two,
there are advanced practice workshops to
be updated and educated about new trends
in laws and practicing law.

Required Skills
Inquisitiveness
Problem Solving Abilities
Reading, Writing, Research
Communication Skills
Organized/Management Skills
Competent
Ambitious
Cooperative
Leadership
Punctual

Three Goals
1. Complete undergraduate studies
2. Start working at a law firm
3. Attend a law school

Goal #1: Earn a Bachelors Degree

Attend a 4-year university/institution

Study A LOT!
Earn a high GPA
Complete an internship at a law firm

Opportunity Cost:
Less of a social life
Money

Goal #2: Work at a Law Firm

Gain experience and skills working at a wellknown law firm
Connections/Networking
Opportunity Cost:
Time
Less of a social life

Goal #3: Law School

Study a lot to have a high GPA
Internship
Gain connections with students and professors
Research with a professor
Opportunity Cost:
Getting higher education (ex. Masters) in a different
field
Job right after undergraduate studies
Less of a social life

Career Destination

1-5 years ---> Work at well-known law firm

5+ years ---> Open up my own firm
Run for Alderwoman
Support higher education
High School Law Program
Give back to charities
ex. cancer research
Start a scholarship

Challenges to Foresee

Time management (Law Firm & Alderwoman)

Workaholic vs. Social Life
Financial Issues
Workload (School & Job)

Sources
http://www.lawyeredu.org/lawyer-skills.html
http://osu.uloop.com/news/view.php/106022/the-top-ten-citiesfor-young-lawyers
http://legalcareers.about.com/od/legalcareerbasics/tp/Top-10Reasons-To-Become-A-Lawyer.htm
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/lawyers.htm