Which lawyers

For more details on individual state and jurisdiction requirements, visit the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Most states require that applicants graduate from an ABA-accredited law school, pass one or more written bar exams, and be found by an admitting board to have the character to represent and advise others. Prior felony convictions, academic misconduct, and a history of substance abuse are just some factors that may disqualify an applicant from being admitted to the bar.

After graduation, lawyers must keep informed about legal developments that affect their practices. Almost all states require lawyers to participate in continuing legal education either every year or every 3 years. Many law schools and state and local bar associations provide continuing legal education courses that help lawyers stay current with recent developments. Courses vary by state and generally cover a subject within the practice of law, such as legal ethics, taxes and tax fraud, and healthcare.

Some states allow lawyers to take continuing education credits through online courses. Newly hired attorneys usually start as associates and work on teams with more experienced lawyers. After several years, some lawyers may advance to partnership in their firm, meaning that they become partial owners of the firm. Those who do not advance within their firm may be forced to leave, a practice commonly known as "up or out.

After gaining a few years of work experience, some lawyers go into practice for themselves or move to the legal department of a large corporation. Very few in-house attorneys are hired directly out of law school.

Part-time jobs or summer internships in law firms, government agencies, and corporate legal departments provide valuable experience. Some smaller firms, government agencies, and public-interest organizations may hire students as summer associates after they have completed their first year at law school. Many larger firms' summer associate programs are eligible only to law students who have completed their second year. All of these experiences can help law students decide what kind of legal work they want to focus on in their careers and may lead directly to a job after graduation.

Analytical skills. Lawyers help their clients resolve problems and issues. As a result, they must be able to analyze large amounts of information, determine relevant facts, and propose viable solutions. Interpersonal skills. Lawyers must win the respect and confidence of their clients by building a trusting relationship so that clients feel comfortable enough to share personal information related to their case. Problem-solving skills. Lawyers must separate their emotions and prejudice from their clients' problems and objectively evaluate the relevant applicable information.

Therefore, good problem-solving skills are important for lawyers, to prepare the best defense and recommendations for their clients. Research skills. Lawyers need to be able to find those laws and regulations which apply to a specific matter, in order to provide the appropriate legal advice for their clients.

Speaking skills. Lawyers must be able to clearly present and explain their case to arbitrators, mediators, opposing parties, judges, or juries, because they are speaking on behalf of their clients.

Writing skills. Lawyers need to be precise and specific when preparing documents, such as wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Lawyers who own their own practices usually earn less than those who work in law firms or other business establishments. Occupational Employment Statistics OES survey wage data only includes lawyers working in business establishments.

Employment of lawyers is projected to grow 4 percent over the next ten years, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Demand for legal work is expected to continue as individuals, businesses, and all levels of government require legal services in many areas. Despite this need for legal services, more price competition over the next decade may lead law firms to rethink their project staffing in order to reduce costs to clients. Clients are expected to cut back on legal expenses by demanding less expensive rates and scrutinizing invoices.

Work that was previously assigned to lawyers, such as document review, may now be given to paralegals and legal assistants. Also, some routine legal work may be outsourced to other, lower cost legal providers located overseas.

Although law firms will continue to be among the largest employers of lawyers, many large corporations are increasing their in-house legal departments in order to cut costs. For many companies, the high cost of hiring outside counsel lawyers and their support staffs makes it more economical to shift work to their in-house legal department. This shift will lead to an increase in the demand for lawyers in a variety of settings, such as financial and insurance firms, consulting firms, and healthcare providers.

The federal government is likely to continue to need lawyers to prosecute or defend civil cases on behalf of the United States, prosecute criminal cases brought by the federal government, and collect money owed to the federal government. However, budgetary constraints at all levels of government, especially the federal level, will likely moderate employment growth. See all legal jobs. Despite the projected growth in new jobs for lawyers, competition for jobs should continue to be strong because more students are graduating from law school each year than there are jobs available.

Some law school graduates who have been unable to find permanent positions turn to temporary staffing firms that place attorneys in short-term jobs.

These firms allow companies to hire lawyers as needed and permit beginning lawyers to develop practical experience. Many other law school graduates and licensed lawyers end up finding work in other occupations or industries due to the difficulty in finding jobs with traditional legal employers. Because of the strong competition, a law school graduate's willingness to relocate and his or her practical experiences are becoming more important.

However, to be licensed in another state, a lawyer may have to take an additional state bar examination. While many new lawyers are hired each year by law firms, this does not guarantee stable employment in the profession.

Newly hired lawyers, known as associates, must either advance within their firm or may be forced to leave, a practice commonly known as "up or out. Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators facilitate negotiation and dialogue between disputing parties to help resolve conflicts outside of the court system.

Judges and hearing officers apply the law by overseeing the legal process in courts. They also conduct pretrial hearings, resolve administrative disputes, facilitate negotiations between opposing parties, and issue legal decisions.

Paralegals and legal assistants perform a variety of tasks to support lawyers, including maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research, and drafting documents. Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a wide variety of academic and technical subjects beyond the high school level. They may also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books. American Bar Association.

National Association for Law Placement. Law School Admission Council. National Conference of Bar Examiners. The requirements for admission to the bar in a particular state or other jurisdiction may be obtained at the state capital, from the clerk of the state Supreme Court, or from the administrator of the State Board of Bar Examiners. A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.

Department of Labor. Toggle navigation. Find Jobs. Entry Level. See all Lawyer jobs. Lawyer Work Schedules The majority of lawyers work full time, and many worked more than 40 hours per week. Lawyers must have a law degree and must also typically pass a state's written bar examination.

Finding the right lawyer for your case requires you to ask the right questions. Learn what you can ask before hiring an attorney to ensure you are choosing the right advocate for your case.

Estate Planning Basics. Power of attorney is essential in the event that you're incapacitated or not physically present to make decisions on your own behalf. Learn more in our in-depth guide. Starting a Business. As a business owner, you have many options for paying yourself, but each comes with tax implications.

The terms "lawyer" and "attorney" have a lot in common, but not all lawyers are attorneys. More US Law. This handy primer gives you an overview of the search warrant process, including your right to refuse a search, when a warrant is not required and what to do if the police show up at your doorstep. The foundation of every civil lawsuit starts with an injury or a loss. Find out how to identify your injury or loss and look at the broader context of a lawsuit.

Last Wills. You want to make sure you have all your assets covered, but did you know that not all property can be bequeathed through a last will and testament? The process for getting a patent can be long and complex. Getting a patent attorney to help you is usually a good idea. Types of Lawyers by Belle Wong, J. Here's an overview of the most common types of lawyers. Estate Planning Lawyer The estate planning lawyer specializes in wills and trusts, and can help you to draw up a will to pass on your assets.

Intellectual Property Lawyer Also known as an IP attorney, an intellectual property lawyer can advise you with regard to issues relating to intellectual property, such as copyrights, trademarks, patents, industrial design and trade secrets. Criminal Lawyer If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime, a criminal lawyer is the type of lawyer you should turn to.

Contract Lawyer A contract lawyer specializes in the handling of issues arising from contracts, and can be consulted for a wide range of contract-related issues. General Practice Lawyer Unlike lawyers who specialize in a particular area of law, a general practice lawyer has a practice that handles a wide range of legal issues.

About the Author Belle Wong, J. Related Topics. Facebook Twitter. This portion of the site is for informational purposes only. The content is not legal advice. The statements and opinions are the expression of the author, not LegalZoom, and have not been evaluated by LegalZoom for accuracy, completeness, or changes in the law.

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