[Brigitte V.]

I would like to know the pros and cons of being a lawyer for a research paper in my English class. I am still in high school and am very interested in being a lawyer in the future.

User Detail :  

Name : Brigitte V., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Age : 17, City : Thompson Falls, State : MT, Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, 

[Dave26034]

It can be a very interesting, intellectually stimulating field. On the whole it pays well. Sometimes it leaves you with a feeling that you have done something worthwhile for a deserving client. But know what it is you’re talking about. We have a legal system (applying existing laws to new situations), not a justice system (makeing things as they ought to be, cf. Plato’s Republic). At best, the former only approximates the latter. At worst, there are some kangaroo courts out there. Also, lawyer jokes did not develop for no reason–there are MANY lawyers who are, to some degree and in some ways, dishonest. On a lighter note, try to find an article in the Yale Law Journal from around 1991 called How Not to Succeed in Law School. It’s funny, but also contains a fair amount of sly insight.

User Detail :  

Name : Dave26034, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, City : New Orleans, State : LA, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[nerol snevets]

Look, the only thing good a lawyer has done in this country, is to write the national anthem. Ben Franklin had it right, which would have been a collective MISDEMEANOR!!!

User Detail :  

Name : nerol snevets, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Lutheran, Age : 59, City : las vegas, State : NV, Country : United States, Occupation : retired, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Michael J. Wolter]

I am sorry to see that no one has responded to your question in the year and a half since you posted it. I assume you’ve already finished your research paper–or not. If you’re still weighing the pros and cons of a career in the law, I would be happy to give you some examples of each.

User Detail :  

Name : Michael J. Wolter, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 50, City : Clifton, State : VA, Country : United States, Occupation : Attorney, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Bloss]

As someone who has been working with lawyers for my entire 26 year career I can tell you two things about that occupation with certainty. One, there are way too may of them. Two, there’s always room for a good one.

User Detail :  

Name : Bloss, City : Madison, State : WI, Country : United States, 

[Natalie]

What kind of lawyer?

User Detail :  

Name : Natalie, Gender : F, Age : 15, City : NT, State : NA, Country : Australia, 

[liz22324]

Pros: can help to do some good in the world, have knowledge of the law and know how things REALLY work (can interpret a law’s real meaning), have a good take on the history surrounding various laws, etc., there is a certain sense of power with the knowledge you have obtained. Cons: Other people might assume that you are wealthy, (even if you work for legal aid), and try to take advantage of the situation, you may not always like your clients, (some can be a real pain, some can be dangerous, and some firms may have corrupt clients and are they are fine with it), you are ALWAYS asked for free legal advice from everyone you know, and lately, trial lawyers have gotten a bad rep from our current administration (which I feel is way off base considering what trial lawyers have achieved, which can be quite admirable when you think about it (class actions, etc).

User Detail :  

Name : liz22324, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Unitarian, Age : 35, City : chicago, State : IL, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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