Law is one of the most sought after and highly accredited professions in our society. A career in law promises stability, a healthy income, and status. But above all, choosing law as a profession provides the opportunity to positively contribute to our society.
But becoming a lawyer is not for everyone, an aspiring lawyer must be ambitious, hard-working, dedicated and driven to change our society for the better. Lawyers are integral to putting laws into practice, defending individual rights, and facilitating social change.
This article dives into the incredible benefits of a career in law, from intellectual stimulation to financial reward, to personal growth and diverse and rewarding career opportunities. But before exploring these benefits, let’s define what a lawyer is and the different types of lawyers one can become.
What is a lawyer?
In short, a lawyer is someone who practices law and helps clients navigate the often complex world of legislation and law. There are many types of lawyers all with their focuses and differences. But one aspect that connects all law disciplines is the practical application of complex laws, to solve problems.
The exact definition of what a lawyer is and does differs, depending on the jurisdiction and the type of law in question. So, what are the different types of lawyers?
The different types of lawyers
Law is an incredibly diverse profession with numerous specializations within the broader ‘law’ spectrum. Each specialization caters to different legal needs, representing various areas of society, from crime to immigration, and business to family issues, lawyers are prominent in many areas of life. Here are the most common types of lawyers:
Criminal defense lawyers
A criminal defense lawyer represents individuals who have been accused of committing a crime. They work to protect the rights of the accused and ensure they receive a fair trial and sentence if applicable. Criminal defense lawyers must be well-versed in the intricacies of criminal law and have the ability to build strong defense cases to drive favorable outcomes for their clients. This involves excellent negotiation skills, communication, research and courtroom litigation.
Corporate lawyers
Corporate lawyers, otherwise known as business lawyers, focus on cooperation and business issues. This area of law involves numerous aspects including acquisition, property, employment, and regulatory compliance. These lawyers play a critical role (acting as an essential middleman) to facilitate smooth legal business transactions, ensuring the deal is fair on both sides.
Family lawyers
A family lawyer specializes specifically in family matters. They help clients with issues such as divorce, custody disputes, adoption and any other issues related to family dynamics. Family lawyers provide compassionate guidance during emotionally charged cases, striving to protect the wellbeing of their clients and any involved children.
Personal injury lawyers
For those who have suffered physical harm due to mistreatment or negligence, this is where a personal injury lawyer steps in. These cases range from personal accidents to work-related issues and even medical malpractice. Personal injury lawyers aim to help their clients, receive compensation to cover medical expenses, recover wages and generally reduce the financial headaches involved with an injury.
Intellectual property lawyers
An intellectual property lawyer helps protect the rights of property owners. This involves everything from patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. They help their clients secure their creative works and represent them in cases such as infringement and copyright disputes.
Immigration lawyers
Another type of lawyer one can choose to become is an immigration lawyer. Lawyers who specialize in immigration help their clients secure visas, gain work permits and generally navigate complex and often confusing visa rules. Anyone who has ever moved to a new country will know first-hand how tough and complicated it can be. Immigration lawyers are critical in helping anyone who wants to move abroad and live their overseas dream.
Environmental lawyers
Environmental lawyers are involved with environmental practices and sustainability issues. They work on environmental regulations, land use, pollution, and conservation cases. An environmental lawyer may collaborate with NGOs, government agencies, and corporations to ensure environmental laws are adhered to.
Human rights lawyers
Human rights lawyers help protect human rights. They are advocates for individuals and groups facing human rights violations, working to ensure justice and equality for all. Human rights lawyers may engage in international law to address issues on a global scale.
Real estate lawyers
Real estate lawyers handle legal matters directly related to property transactions and real estate law, which can be incredibly complicated and tough to navigate. These types of lawyers are facilitators in property transactions, helping to oversee purchases, negotiate lease agreements, and resolve disputes between landlords and tenants. Real estate lawyers play a pivotal role in ensuring that property transactions are legally sound and protect their client’s interests. So now we know some of the different types of law and which avenues that can be pursued as a lawyer, what are some of the benefits that can be gained from becoming a lawyer?
The benefits of becoming a lawyer
There are countless benefits to becoming a lawyer. Regardless of specialization, lawyers help people navigate some of the toughest situations in their lives. It is an incredibly rewarding role which can involve helping people overcome some of the most challenging aspects of their lives.
Intellectual stimulation and lifelong learning
Becoming a lawyer requires considerable commitment. All the time, hard work, and dedication it takes to study and then practice law takes years, and it will take the best part of a decade to become a good lawyer. It is a long and arduous academic pursuit, so it is not for everyone. But for an academic who wants to embark on a lifelong pursuit of learning and academic endeavor, law could be the right choice.
Enrolling in law school is an intellectually stimulating environment that shapes aspiring lawyers through critical thinking tasks, and analysis, and provides the tools to construct persuasive arguments (put strong cases together). Legal education nurtures intellectual curiosity and lifelong learning, as laws and legislation continuously evolve. Lawyers engage with complex legal issues, developing innovative solutions to real-world problems, and stay at the forefront of dynamic legal developments.
Diverse and rewarding career options
As discussed above, a career in law offers countless areas of specialization and therefore, numerous career opportunities. Because law is such a broad field, lawyers can follow their individual interests. Whether it be courtroom litigation, corporate advisory, human rights advocacy, or environmental law, there is an option for everyone. The legal field is vast and therefore allows professionals to specialize in diverse areas of law.
Advocating justice and equality
Lawyers are paramount in promoting justice and equality in society. They safeguard individual rights and ensure everyone has access to fair legal representation. These matters are vital to our society and for people wanting to make a true difference, advocating justice is a reason alone to pursue a career in law. Advocacy marginalized communities, civil rights battles, and social justice initiatives are just a few examples of how lawyers can drive meaningful change and create a more equitable world.
Developing problem solving and negotiation skills
Lawyers expose themselves to countless problems and so becoming a great problem solver and negotiator is key. When resolving disputes, lawyers must navigate complex legal frameworks and negotiate agreements that satisfy all parties involved. These skills are not only valuable in the courtroom but also in various aspects of life, including personal relationships and business interactions.
But these are not simply skills that will help one to succeed in a law career but are both transferable into various aspects of life. Essentially, these skills help people grow, both personally and professionally.
Financial stability and potential for growth
While advocating justice alone is enough of a reason to become a lawyer for most, one of the other most significant benefits to the career is the promise of financial stability and endless room for monetary growth. The most experienced lawyers in private practice or at the upper end of top firms can earn lucrative salaries, providing financial security for their families and enabling them to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle.
Influence on public policy and legislation
Lawyers often have the opportunity to have a significant impact on public policy and legislation. Many lawyers serve as legislators, policymakers, or legal advisors, and contribute to the formation of laws. The very laws that shape our society. By participating in the legislative process, lawyers influence decisions that affect communities and industries.
Empowerment through education and guidance
Lawyers have great power when it comes to guiding others through extremely complex legal situations and ensuring the fair treatment of their clients. What an amazing feeling — to be able to give someone the power to feel in control of their lives again. With a deep understanding of legal jargon and knowledge of complex laws, lawyers bridge the gap between these laws and the everyday person.
Transferable skills
A career in law not only demands a deep knowledge of the practice of law itself, but successful lawyers must also develop a wide range of other soft skills, all of which are transferable to other aspects of life. For instance, skills such as communication, negotiation, research, and critical analysis are all integral to being a great lawyer. But this versatility in skill set allows lawyers to transition smoothly into roles such as corporate management, academia, politics, and entrepreneurship.
Global opportunities and cross-cultural engagement
It is not just here in the US that legislation exists. While laws differ drastically from country to country, many laws transcend borders and legal structure that is universal. This gives laws an amazing opportunity to work with a wide range of cultures and people from around the world. International law, human rights advocacy, and cross-border transactions present lawyers with a chance to broaden their horizons, work on global issues, and collaborate with professionals from different countries.
Prestige and social recognition
What do you think of when someone tells you they are a lawyer? Oh wow! They must earn a lot of money, or wow, how intelligent must they be? Common thoughts come to mind and with a profession that requires such knowledge, education and dedication, it certainly does come with some level of social recognition and prestige. The original high status, high earning job.
From a professional perspective, lawyers are considered trusted advisors and advocates, they are respected for their expertise and contributions to society. This recognition can lead to a wide network of contacts, increased collaboration opportunities, and a sense of pride in their accomplishments.
Key personality traits of lawyers:
Driven
It goes without saying for a career in law one must have a certain degree of drive. Even to become a lawyer, one must study rigorously for decades, and then, even long after one starts working as a lawyer, they must continue to seek and acquire new knowledge — embarking on a lifelong learning journey to becoming a top lawyer.
Committed
To keep that drive up for years and decades to pursue this sort of career, one must have a super high level of commitment. This applies from the moment one decides to become a lawyer and of course through all the cases one takes on.
Argumentative
While this is a personality trait that can land people in trouble in day-to-day life, as a lawyer, it is one that can be used to one’s advantage. To put together compelling, and convincing cases, a lawyer must have some level of argumentation within them.
Confident
Confidence is something we all want to have in all areas of life. However, it is especially important for lawyers, who represent others, and therefore must exude a high level of confidence in order to be hired. While one may already be a confident person, developing other skills and gaining an understanding of the law will help lawyers develop that confidence even further.
Compassionate
As a lawyer, one must be able to see things from others’ perspectives. They must get into the minds of others to understand how they are feeling, to position themselves to help them. This can also help lawyers understand the opposition.
What does it take to become a lawyer?
What does it take to have a career in law? Consider an online law program that teaches everything needed for a long and illustrious career in the field. Cleveland State University will help to expand a person’s skill set to help them on their journey to becoming an attorney. This program is comprised of externships, clinical programs, mentorship and six in-person weekend residencies.
Final words
Becoming a lawyer is a multifaceted and deeply rewarding journey, offering a plethora of benefits that extend beyond financial rewards. Intellectual growth, diverse career options, advocacy for justice, and the ability to make a meaningful impact are just a few of the advantages that come with a legal career.
Lawyers possess valuable skills that are transferable across various industries, making them versatile professionals with the potential to effect change on both a local and global scale. Embracing the path of law opens doors to endless opportunities for personal fulfilment, and professional growth, so for those who want to be someone who leaves a lasting legacy in society, a career in law could be the right choice.
