A career in law can be highly rewarding and there are so many reasons why you should be thinking about becoming a lawyer. Just as with any other career, there are some challenges you can expect.
The challenges of being an attorney are unique which you only get to find out once you start practicing. If you’re still weighing your options, here are some of the challenges you can expect when you decide to become a lawyer.
Deadlines
There will be deadlines, dealing with clients, attending court proceedings which make a career in law as one of the most stressful professions. The high-stress levels are one of the reasons why there is a growing level of dissatisfaction among the members of the bar.
Studies have shown that depression is a common occurrence among members of the bar. The American Bar Association has come out on numerous occasions that they wouldn’t recommend a career in law to a young person.
Long Hours
Once you become an attorney, you should be ready for long hours. It will only stop when you decide to retire from the profession. There is a high likelihood that you could be handling multiple clients at the same time. You might not have enough hours in the day to deal with all your work.
Since the goal is to make your clients happy, you will find that you’re working for long hours on a regular basis. This could have an impact on your social life. It is not uncommon for an attorney to work more than 50 hours a week. This is something that you should be prepared for when you decide to become a lawyer.
Law School Debt
Law school debt has been soaring in the last couple of years and the situation will only get worse as time goes by. You can expect to pay up to $40,000 annually in tuition fees even for average law school.
There are some people that will be put off with the figures and will prefer to search for a course that is less expensive. A career in law could make you end up in serious debt.
Technology
Technology has disrupted every profession and law is no exception. An attorney is required to be proficient with some technologies if they’re to have a competitive edge. Those that are stuck in the past are finding it hard to adjust to the changing times.
Technology is also making it easy to access legal services more cheaply and effectively. The only way for an attorney to survive is to adapt to the changing times.
Demanding Clients
There is no guarantee that you will like all your clients. Even if you don’t like them, you’re expected to be professional at all times. This can be a tough balancing act as sometimes you don’t have much choice when it comes to choosing an attorney.
You could be wondering how other Melbourne Lawyers handle such a challenge. You might get a wealthy client that pays for all the legal fees in advance but he or she is arrogant and impatient. To be a good attorney, you’ll need to learn how to deal with different personality types. You don’t want to be losing your temper as that could also mean losing clients too.
Negative Image
A lot of people are of the opinion that lawyers are money-hungry sharks who will do anything to advance their interests. There have been sensational stories in the news of lawyers misbehaving which has worsened the public image.
It could take some time to get used to all the things that you hear about attorneys. The key is to uphold the highest standards of ethics and integrity. It is what will keep the clients coming.
Legal Outsourcing
Outsourcing of legal services has now become a reality. People are looking to save on money and they’d rather reach out to overseas companies when seeking legal services. The jobs that are traditionally meant for an attorney are quickly disappearing.
Should You Become a Lawyer?
Having looked at the many challenges, you’re probably wondering if it is still worth the trouble pursuing a career in law. Just because there are challenges doesn’t mean that it is not worth giving it a try.
The rewards can be enormous. You get to help people who can’t be said for a lot of careers. Lawyers are also highly compensated. The average income for an experienced attorney is set at $120,000 and you can earn more if you’re highly sought after.
