<p>i think it may be time to bring up this thread again – <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/78046-career-advice-practicing-attorneys.html?[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/78046-career-advice-practicing-attorneys.html?</a></p>
<p>it was in the parents forum – many practicing and former attorneys weighing in on the profession. you’ll probably get a good feel for what some people like about being lawyers and what other people hate about being lawyers. only you can judge which you are more likely to be. when reading thru this thread, don’t just keep count of the number of happy vs. the number of unhappy – really think about what factors people are describing and how you would likely feel about them.</p>
<p>the other thing in general you just really have to understand – being a lawyer is being a hired gun – it is your job to do what your client hires you to do (as long as its not illegal or unethical). your clients dictate the nature of your work, the nature of your hours. i think too many prospective law students get caught up in the appeal of the theoretical side of law without understanding the reality of a client driven life. which is not to say this is a negative – working on behalf of a client whose interests you care about, or a client whose needs push you in new or exciting directions can be a big reason some people are very happy in the profession. you just need to understand the reality of the client driven nature of the job. (and even if you work for the government, a corporation, or a not-for-profit, there is still typically a “client” – ie someone other than the attorney setting the agenda for the attorney’s work)</p>