What We’ve Learned: It’s a Hard Knock Life

      Our blog was created with the intentions of informing ourselves as well as anyone else similarly interested in learning about life as a lawyer or economist. After researching and blogging about various aspects of both professions, we have collectively come to the conclusion that everyone considering these career paths should be aware of how challenging and competitive these occupations are. It is important for people to become knowledgeable on the demanding journey it takes to become a lawyer or an economist, as early as possible, so they can prepare for an extensive educational experience and make themselves stand out in order to be successful in these fields.

In fact, the minimum requirements for job placement in this field specifies that you complete:

     

                       LAWYER                                                                  ECONOMIST

Undergraduate Degree (Political Science, Criminal Justice etc.)	Undergraduate Degree (Economics, Business etc.)
Law School Admissions Test	Graduate Records Examination Test
Juris Doctorate Degree	Graduate Degree
Bar Exam	Masters Degree (varies)
Apply for a job	Apply for a job

*  Internships must be completed at various times through the education process as well.

After the education process for the future lawyers:
      Once you have the necessary education background fulfilled, passed your bar exam, and received your law license, the time comes to start the daunting task of finding a job with your law degree. Currently, the amount of lawyers in the U.S. outnumbers the amount of job positions, so there is a lot of competition in the job market. With so many people fighting over the same job, it is important that an applicant stands out to the job recruiter. If you want to read about the difficulty of obtaining a job as a lawyer in depth you can check out this blog post here: http://lawyerandeconomists.blogspot.com/2015/10/unemployment.html When researching what law firms are looking for in potential employees, a law recruiter said that these characteristics are important to have:

• Motivation 
• Law experience 
• Strong communication skills 
• Ability to work in a team 
• Humor 
• Perseverance 

      If you want to read more about what it takes to get a job at a law firm, you can read our blog post here: http://lawyerandeconomists.blogspot.com/2015/09/what-are-law-firms-looking-for.html

      It is important for future lawyers to know what background experience and characteristics they should have in order to succeed in finding a job, and it better prepare applicants for the competitive job market. The resource used to research what law firms are looking for was a recruiter for a law firm, so a primary source that decides who to hire at a firm can speak from personal knowledge about the topic. In order to find a job at a law firm, it is essential that someone is a well-rounded lawyer and person.

After the education process for the future economists:
      As you further your education in economics, whether you obtain a Masters or PHD, the probability of you obtaining a job increases. Nonetheless, before graduation you should be conscious of the criteria companies are looking for when they hire economists. For example, prior to completing your all-encompassing education, you should consider getting an internship since firms will likely hire workers that have experience working as an economist. Businesses say they would be interested in economists that have the various skills listed below:

• Communication Skills 
• Analytic Skills 
• Comprehensive Mathematic Skills 
• Detail oriented 
• Knowledgeable on Politics and history 
• Critical thinking Skills 

      To learn more about the necessary skills economists should have check out our other blog post: http://lawyerandeconomists.blogspot.com/2015/09/how-to-become-economist.html

      Being an economist requires you to excel in a wide range of skills. On top of that, many people compete for the same jobs within this field, so even if you complete all of the required education and obtain all of the necessary talents, it is still hard to get a job since firms are choosing from the best of the best all over the world.

      On the bright side, if you don’t succeed in getting your desired job, as a lawyer or an economist, you can find placement from a wide spectrum of options such as:

1. Nonprofit organizations 
2. Banking and finance 
3. Government officials 
4. Political consultants 
5. Educators 

      Whether you are looking to become a lawyer or an economist, it is important to be aware of the challenges you are likely to face in both of these fields. Even after all of the education, some of the most eager people in these professions struggle with finding a job and making themselves stand out. Despite all of this, if you are passionate about becoming a lawyer or economist then there are other avenues for success within these fields, so do not let any statistic stop you from starting a career.

By: Jasmine Shafquat, Katie Nagy, and Syarah Ahamad