So you’re fresh out of college and have created a job alert for an associate attorney? Or you’re already working for a respectable law firm full-time but would prefer to move to the legal department of a pharmaceutical company?
Whatever your situation, your years of education and/or experience have taught you better than to think attorney jobs are all about the lavish lifestyle, benefits, and perks that TV shows portray them to be. For those still wondering if their career path should take them to legal waters, here is an overview of what you need to know about the job of an attorney in the United States.
An attorney’s education path is long and winding but highly rewarding. Entry-level attorney jobs usually require a degree in law and a few years of practice. Although the level of education needed is similar for all aspiring attorneys, duties and responsibilities vary depending on the area of law. Some recurring tasks, however, are part of any attorney’s job description.
The Daily Routine
One of the recurring tasks is to provide legal support to clients, independently or as part of a legal team. In fact, providing counsel to clients on a daily basis is a big part of what an attorney does in law jobs most frequently advertised by employers.
Of course, the area of law an attorney practices can make for a relatively mundane daily routine, for example, keeping up with regulations to ensure a client’s compliance with legislative developments. This is especially true of corporate lawyer jobs in industries such as pharmaceuticals and banking.
On the other hand, litigation attorney and criminal defense attorney jobs can be far more exciting, though they also require keeping up with legislative developments - something for recent graduates to keep in mind when creating job alerts for what they think will be Perry Mason-style work.
Attorney jobs in the USA also involve painstaking research. While working on a case, a lawyer or legal team is responsible for researching all the evidence. In addition to physical evidence, attorneys will search for accident reports, other documentation from the police, and pleadings.
Interpretation of law is another example of the daily routine you can expect in any of the jobs for an attorney. This involves analyzing statutes and past decisions in similar cases. General attorney jobs at a law firm typically entail poring over case law for clients looking for an appeal or a second opinion.
Work-from-home attorney jobs, which have become more common in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdowns, involve any of the above daily routines to be expected in an experienced attorney position.
Strategy, Scrutiny, and Yes, Bureaucracy
In addition to being knowledgeable about the law, those pursuing an attorney career have to be great strategists. Sometimes clients don’t have the resources and want to close the case as soon as possible without taking it to court.
Taking a case to court inevitably means that it will be time-consuming, not to mention expensive. That’s why sometimes it’s up to an attorney to find a way to settle a case and save the client time and money.
Even though attorney positions can be fascinating, dealing with bureaucracy is sometimes inevitable. Clients often cannot independently prepare wills, deeds, and contracts because creating such formal documents requires meeting specific standards. This is another example of why even associate attorney jobs play a crucial role in the legal industry.
In other words, any legal document that inexperienced individuals draft requires a lawyer’s expert scrutiny to ensure compliance with the law. Attorneys also often create documents from scratch. Such work is inherent even to the best jobs for attorneys, which is why document review attorney jobs require individuals with proper training and years of experience.
Attorney Salary
The average salary for attorney jobs in the USA was $148,910 in 2020. The median salary was $126,930, with the top-earning 25% making $189,520 and the lowest-paid $84,450. Of course, attorneys can also get commissions from various projects, whether independent contractors or law firm employees.
Job opportunities for lawyers are diverse. In addition to traditional law firms and solo practices, many companies have separate, in-house law departments. Corporate attorney job postings often come with competitive salaries, depending on the industry.
Best Paying Industries, Cities, and States
Some of the highest-paying attorney jobs are in specialized design services, with an average salary of $233,400. Computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing comes in second with $221,000. Other lucrative industries include motion picture and video, as well as cable and other subscription programming, where average salaries for attorney jobs are typically in the ballpark of $215,000.
Federal and civil attorney jobs generally mean a higher income than freelance and remote attorney jobs. At the same time, self-employed lawyers often earn less than peers employed by private companies and consulting agencies.
When it comes to the most lucrative places to work as an attorney, San Jose, California, tops the list with an average salary of $231,610. San Francisco, CA, follows with $201,920. Other top cities include Washington, D.C., with $186,220. The fourth and fifth on the list are Los Angeles, CA, with $180,220, and New York, NY, with $180,160.
Washington, D.C. pays higher lawyer salaries than any US state, $197,100, followed by California, $179,470, and New York, $174,060.
Overall, employment opportunities for lawyers are on the rise, with projections showing job listings for the legal profession will grow by 9% from 2020 to 2030.
Becoming an Attorney
A bachelor’s degree is one of the prerequisites for attending law school. Another is to take the Law School Admission Test or LSAT. If you don’t want to take the test, your school choices will be limited, and your future attorney resume may look less desirable.
If tax attorney jobs are your goal, you may choose to major in accounting. If your goal is to become a corporate lawyer, you may want to consider a business law major. Some fields you can specialize in before starting your legal career include patents and registered trademarks, immigration, the environment, and civil rights.
Finishing your formal education doesn’t mean you’re done learning altogether. After getting your degree, you'll need to secure an internship, which will be your first contact with the legal world. Internships for US attorney jobs are typically available in law firms and usually occur during the summer. After completing your internship, part-time attorney jobs are sometimes the first step in a career.
If you don’t manage to secure an internship, an externship may be an option. The entry process and requirements are the same, except that externships happen in agreement with non-profit and government entities. Externships often help land non-profit attorney jobs.
What ensues after an internship or externship is the actual job search, at which point you should update your resume and create the appropriate job alerts or simply search for “lawyer jobs near me.”
Continuing Education
Gaining entry to your state bar should be the top priority after graduating from law school, while still searching for entry-level associate attorney jobs. To achieve this, you’ll need to take an examination that will span two days and test your general knowledge of the law and legal principles. This examination is in the form of an essay on the first day and specific state law problems on the second day.
Passing this test doesn’t mean you’ll be admitted to the state bar, but it will undoubtedly increase your chances. In other words, this test is a form of reviewing your character for future attorney job openings.
No matter what type of practice you choose, it will allow you to gain relevant experience and hone your skills. You want to focus on improving your writing, critical thinking, oral skills, and time management. Continuous education is not only a good idea even after you’ve gained employment - it is necessary for a lawyer.
For example, applicants for US attorney office jobs must undergo comprehensive education and training. The specific education path may vary from state to state. Still, you’ll need at least four years of undergraduate studies, three years of law school, and a Juris Doctor degree.
Skills and Requirements
Keep in mind that while a formal education gives you an excellent basis to become a reliable attorney, it’s the soft skills that help you become a great one. Each of these skills is equally important, even when it comes to alternative jobs for attorneys.
Communication: Being a great communicator is essential in the legal world. An attorney should be able to express ideas clearly and understandably, both in writing and orally. Since communication is a two-way street, those aiming for a legal career must also learn to be good listeners and pay attention to details.
Research: To reach a valuable conclusion and build a good case, an attorney must have research skills. Jobs for attorneys always include ample research, meaning you have to achieve results using available resources.
Patience: Patience is the quintessential trait to have as a legal professional. No matter what, attorneys need to stay calm and not lose their nerves in front of their clients or juries.
Problem-solving: An attorney has to be able to solve problems quickly. Not only is time literally money at the going hourly rates, but court cases can unexpectedly go south, requiring swift and creative solutions.
Interpersonal skills: The law industry is a service industry, and attorneys are in contact with different people daily. Being able to show compassion and support their clients is a great skill, even in non-law jobs for attorneys.
Summary
The advantages of the most coveted attorney jobs include prestige and a lavish lifestyle that comes with a six-figure salary. From a distance, it’s easy to believe that attorneys live a glamorous and stress-free life, as seen on TV. However, what you don’t see on TV are the downsides of the job - long hours, often working outside the office, challenging clients, and dealing with pressure.
Before you decide to go down this road, consider all these factors. Working as an attorney can be gratifying, but there are many personal investments and sacrifices you have to make. Should you decide you’re willing to pay the price, give your 100%, and success will follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
Is being an attorney a good career?
A:
If you’re willing to commit to a life of excellence and continuing education, a career as an attorney can be gratifying and rewarding. It certainly pays well - the average lawyer salary in the US is $233,400.
Q:
What type of law is the least stressful?
A:
Intellectual property law is considered one of the least stressful areas of the legal profession. The same goes for real estate law and estate planning law.
Q:
In what city do lawyers make the most?
A:
That would be San Jose, CA, with an average annual salary of $231,610.
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