As one can imagine being a lawyer is not always a walk in the park. Many people believe that after the stresses of law school you can finally fulfill your dream of practicing the law. Yet, that utopian assumption is simply unattainable for most people.
According to the the National Association for Law Placement only half of graduated law students in 2011 were able to obtain a job at a law firm (Farrington 3). When you account for the fact that the average law graduate has racked up about 100,000 dollars in debt, it is understandable why people pursuing this profession feel overburdened.
Hypothetically, let’s say that you were one of the few lucky students that was able to start a legal career right after graduation. Most beginner attorneys work very long tedious hours, so you would have to be prepared to give up many aspects of your social life (Zaretsky 5). Typically, you would be under an immense amount of pressure from clients as well as your employer to creatively solve their problems, with little to no guidance.
Continuing on this downward spiral, lawyers have the fourth highest suicide rate per capita and are about four times as likely to be depressed than nonlawyers (Weiss 4). While it is unclear how strong data rates taken by profession actually are, it is obvious that the stresses of the legal profession can take a toll on one’s mental and physical health.
In my opinion, there will be downsides to every job you choose, you just have to make sure you are passionate about your career so you love what you do. Becoming a lawyer isn’t right for everyone, but I still believe it is right for me.
By: Jasmine Shafquat
Farrington, Robert. "Law School And Student Loan Debt: Be Careful."Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 18 Dec. 2014. Web. 09 Oct. 2015.
Rainbow Butterfly Stock Photo. Digital image. Dreams Time. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2015.
Weiss, Debra Cassens. "State Bars Battle Lawyer Depression; Legal Profession Ranks Fourth in Suicide Rate." ABA Journal. American Bar Association, 22 Jan. 2014. Web. 09 Oct. 2015.
Zaretsky, Staci. "Being A Lawyer Will Probably Ruin Your Social Life." Above the Law. N.p., 22 Sept. 2014. Web. 09 Oct. 2015.
I knew that getting a job after law school was difficult (my best friend actually changed her major because of that) but I didn't know that 50% couldn't obtain a job. That is pretty high number. So how do you distinguish yourself from other lawyers so that you can be picked for the job position at a law firm? So what I am asking is what do you do to ensure that you will get a job after law school?
ReplyDeleteI think that the people who graduate at the top of their class or the ones who graduate from really reputable law schools don't have trouble finding a job. Hopefully, with enough hard work I would be able to attend a good law school that would put me on the correct path to finding a job in my career. I plan on networking a ton even as an undergraduate because sometimes you just have to know the right people.
DeleteAs someone that has a parent who's a lawyer, it was nice reading a post that I can relate to. I've always been aware of the stress and difficulty of getting a position and keeping it, but I was extremely surprised by the suicide rate of this occupation. It definitely opened my eyes up more and I give credit to anyone brave enough to take on this job!
ReplyDelete