Job Responsibilities
Conduct legal research, write legal memoranda and briefs, analyze
situations to advise clients on how to proceed where potential
legal problems may arise. Most of my time is taken up in legal
reading, research and writing.
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Job Requirements
The workload in law school is, of course, very heavy. The
classes in the first year are pre-selected. The following two
years, students can choose electives. The grading, as is true
with most law schools, is somewhat arbitrary. Professors vary
too much to make any general statement about them, but I found it
rare to encounter a professor who was truly accessible.
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Uppers
The pay is good; the work is interesting and challenging. Working in the law,
one can and does learn about many different fields; this is particularly true
for
litigators. Practicing law also provides a solid foundation for second or third
careers.
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Downers
The hours are long and it tends to be very stressful. It's also
difficult to balance the more academic side of the law with the
need to focus on the business end of it. Additionally, the
people who are attracted to the law sometimes tend to be
difficult to work with because they are likely to be competitive
and perfectionists.
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Lifestyle
I would encourage anyone interested in going into the field to
talk to other lawyers in various settings and to examine why it
is they are interested in going into the law. I met many people
in law school who, I felt, were in it for the wrong reasons, such
as image, lifestyle, etc. Anyone interested in pursuing law as a
career should have a serious desire for long term intellectual
pursuit and stimulation, as well as a thick skin.
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Compensation
My base salary is $180,000. Bonuses vary. No stock options.
Benefits are typical, including medical, dental, and life
insurance, long term disability insurance.
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Advice to Jobseekers
I would encourage anyone interested in going into the field to
talk to other lawyers in various settings and to examine why it
is they are interested in going into the law. I met many people
in law school who, I felt, were in it for the wrong reasons, such
as image, lifestyle, etc. Anyone interested in pursuing law as a
career should have a serious desire for long term intellectual
pursuit and stimulation, as well as a thick skin.
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