Why are the benefits of being a lawyer?
607913
Dear Friend,\n\nThere are economic benefits.  Depending on whether you work for a big firm, for yourself, for government and/or, or a corporation, the salary can be huge or minimal.  \n\nThere are social benefits.  For all the lawyer jokes, being an attorney is still a widely-respected profession.  To be an attorney is to have a certain amount of status.  More fundamentally, much of society is run by people with law degrees -- like all judges, most legislators, and a fair amount of executives and other government officials.\n\nBut, ultimately, you will hate the law if you choose it for those reasons.  The only real reason to be a lawyer is because you want to take part in the progress of the law, the continual and gradually process of creating an orderly and equitable society.  Even the big money attorneys working for world-class corporate clients have to think in terms of values like due process, reasonableness, fair notice, and proportionality.  It is a professional all about getting facts straight and making value judgments -- applied social philosophy -- and when approached correctly, it can be the best job in the world.\n\nYour Friend,\nFrancesois
156096
Be greedy and don't cheat yourself thinking that you going to help others to make justice, PLEASE!\n\nThe Lawyer career is one of the most profite profession on this earth, but in the other ...they're all going to go to hell...\n\n;)
716810
I work in one.  Your friend is overly sensitive.  People are jerks everywhere you go and people are nice everywhere you go.  Law practice can be stressful and lawyers do vent sometimes.  Personally, I really like the professional enviroment.  I'm only here 35 hours a week and the rest of my life is the part that counts.  I'm just here for the paycheck and at 5:00, I leave the office and don't give it another second's thought.
172585
It can be hard to get into a good law school but providing your grades for the Finance/Accounting were good, you should find a suitable law school. Of course the more important question is "Why on earth would any thinking person want to be a lawyer?" Lawyers drive up the cost of doing business and usually add only marginal benefit. Why don't you look at something useful like an MBA.
474058
HAHAHA, as a law student I think irdll's answer is hilarious... Sure if you believe in ridiculous stereotypes, yeah, we all want money.  But there are lots of lawyers who take public interest jobs, work with the ACLU, etc.  Lawyers are the ones who make sure your rights aren't trampled on on a daily basis, products are safe for you to use on the shelf, and keeps us from all getting out phones wiretapped.\n\nOk, there's a few things increasing the numbers of applications to law school.  The economy is one of them... it is harder to get a good job and make money unless you have a higher degree - graduate school is expensive, you are gathering debt while you are going, and you aren't bringing any income in during that time.  Doctors can make a lot of money when they graduate, but they're in school, residency, etc for 5 or more years after their bachelor's.  Lawyers have 3 years of school, then they can go out and pay off their debt, and be more comfortable. Also, I live in SoCal, where to have a "middle class" household you need a house that will cost you at least $500k in this market, and both parents need to work and earn at least $60k a year, if not more, just to get by comfortably.  Most lawyers aren't rich, they have more money than others, yes, but they also work twice as hard.\n\nAlso, lawyers are always in demand.  Everyone is always suing everyone, and with current issues like living wills (think Terri Schiavo), abortion, the increase in e-commerce, technology and the need for new patents, there are plenty of exciting areas to explore.\n\nIf you are asking why law school became important in order to work in a legal field (your question is a bit vague), you can check out the history of the legal field on wiki, etc.  However, some schools used to offer legal degrees without a bachelors many years ago (it wasn't the same Juris Doctorate you get at law school today).  But since the legal field is so increasingly important, and states have the need to license and endorse attorneys (American Bar Association, various state bars) there needs to be an approved type of institution to regulate the minumum educatiional guidelines.\n\nI'm not sure if I have answered your question, but hopefully I've given you something to think about.
288684
Most of practicing law is research, and very few lawyers are actually trial lawyers.  If that's what you want to do, it may take some time after you get out of law school to work your way up, gain experience, and get more involved at trials.  The type of person who succeeds in law school is someone who can reason, argue, write well and most of all likes it!!  If it's your passion go for it with all you've got, and you'll succeed.
471842
The US judicial system functions in such a way that allowed the legal profession to become a lucative career. There is no regulation of legal fees and law firms can charge whatever they think you can pay. \n\nThough a common complaint, I think it is a major generalization to say that all lawyers are out to screw people because I know quite a few who aren't.\n\nJustice in the US is like anything else. You need to be white, male, well-connected and wealthy to have it work your way. Otherwise you need to know your rights (which is more than most Americans will ever manage) do a lot of work and spend a lot of money in hopes that your lawyer is not a bottom feeder in someone else's pocket.
76029
Your questions contain non-sequitors that indicate a possible inability to become an ideal lawyer, much less a member of the bar.  One doesn't attain secrets.  One has secrets.  One might attain a secret desire.....etc.\n\nHowever, I didn't pick this to abuse you...but rather to help.\n\nI'm not sure what an "ideal lawyer" is, although I have some idea.  I'm pretty sure that studying political science is not necessarily the way to go about it...in fact, I'm pretty sure that in most countries, one studies law to become a lawyer.  If you are referring to undergraduate studies prior to law school, that is another question.  There is no such thing as an ideal lawyer as law is practiced in many ways....corporate law, criminal law, tax law, general practice, specializations, etc.  \n\nFrankly, the discipline of political "science" (yeah like it is really a science", prepares one to understand political systems and processes.  It gives one the tools to analyze these systems and understand them more clearly than the average person.  As an academic subject, it is practically useless except as preparation for other study.  It does provide a good foundation for analysis of policy and law, which could be useful in law school.  However, most pre-law programs are probably better suited for preparation to be an attorney.  There, one gets targeted preparation in subjects and skills.  One gets history, political science, legal history, communications.  It is important to study philosophy (specifically logic), debate, psychology, and then other subjects that can be hlpful in specialization...accounting and business for tax and corporate lawyers, sociology or forensics for family and criminal lawyers, etc.  Good luck.\n\nAn ideal lawyer, in my view, is an attorney who represents his client to the best of his ability while observing the ethical standards of his profession.
1133129
you seem to nice to stoop to be a lawyer....
910920
Law school opens a lot of doors, including the FBI, CIA and the other government agencies mentioned above.  \n\nYou must realize that in law school there is very little debating and arguing of topics.  You will do a load of reading and writing though.  \n\nFurther, you should realize that an attorney is ultimately a counselor to his or her client and MUST have some empathy or pity or your clients will not be happy.  You will need to be able to identify with your client's position and support it and believe in it to be sucessful.  \n\nI would really consider what your options are.  Remember that law school can cost over $100,000, and unless you go to a top law school or graduate at the very top of your class, you aren't looking at that great of a salary (average is $60,000/year)\n\nGood luck!
92908
Well, they don't - that's the whole idea of pro bono.  \n\nBut you're right, no lawyer can earn money by doing pro bono work.  More often, however, is that when a lawyer is involved in some organizations, or has really deep personal conviction on certain issues, he/she will take on a client/case free of charge.  Lawyers working for non-profit organizations aren’t really working pro bono, because they still get paid – though much less than working for a law firm or corporation.  \n\nDifferent attorneys have different reasons to take pro bono cases.  Some take it because of the publicity.  Some for personal beliefs/convictions.  Some do it to be on God’s good side.  Some large firms actually require their associates to do a certain hours of pro bono works every year, or to qualify for bonus/time off.  Some state bars also require pro bono services.  \n\nIn any event, not enough lawyers are doing pro bono works… this world needs more good advocates for the under-represented and un-privileged.
212150
The Constitution does not define what a lawyer's role is. Given your attitude, I imagine you are independently wealthy and don't need to or want to work for a living,
657493
To keep attorneys employeed.\n\nBut seriously, criminal law is based on the presumption that your are innocent until proven guilty.  It is also to help protect the rights of the victim as well as the defendant.  \n\nYes, it's imperfect, but it's the best system going.  Like people and society, it is a constantly changing system.  The concept of being judged by ones peers is one of the strong points.  Fate should not be decided on one person's opinion.
384988
Actually, you don't have to even have a degree to be a lawyer. You just have to pass the bar exam. Good luck doing that without goint to law school. To go to law school, you need a bachelors degree usually. Abraham lincoln was a lawyer, yet he didn't even graduate high school. Of course that was 150+ years ago.
885105
Meet a lawyer. You are legally entitled to a visit
1140048
If you go into a law career, you're going to have to learn to spell and write clearly.  Well, clearly for a lawyer, anyways.  Full, complete, and correct sentences.\n\nWith a law degree, you can work in a law firm, for the government, for large businesses, or in politics.\n\nHope this helps.
420912
It really depends on the law firm and the kind of law practiced by the attorney you report to. A paralegal for a trial lawyer who handles criminal cases may do a lot of running around the office--- making copies, fetching law books from the library, doing research, etc--- because that's a pretty high-energy, high-stress workplace. If you work for an estate lawyer, it may be more sitting because their cases don't have the same frantic pace.