Lawyer By: Erika

Job Description  Lawyers represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.

Duties of Position  Advise and represent clients in courts, before government agencies, and in private legal matters  Communicate with their clients and others  Conduct research and analysis of legal problems  Interpret laws, rulings, and regulations for individuals and businesses  Present facts in writing and verbally to their clients or others and argue on their behalf  Prepare and file legal documents, such as lawsuits, appeals, wills, contracts, and deeds

Hours They Work  The majority of lawyers work full time, and many work long hours. Lawyers who are in private practice or those who work in large firms often work long hours, conducting research and preparing and reviewing documents.

Pay  The median annual wage for lawyers was $113,530 in May The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $54,310, and the top 10 percent earned more than $187,200.

Educational Background Needed  Becoming a lawyer usually takes 7 years of full-time study after high school—4 years of undergraduate study, followed by 3 years of law school. Most states and jurisdictions require lawyers to complete a juris doctor (J.D.) degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). ABA accreditation signifies that the law school— particularly its curricula and faculty—meets certain standards.  A bachelor's degree is required for entry into most law schools, and courses in English, public speaking, government, history, economics, and mathematics are useful.  Almost all law schools, particularly those approved by the ABA, require applicants to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). This test measures applicants' aptitude for the study of law. As of August 2013, ABA had approved 203 law schools; others were approved by state authorities only. A J.D. degree program includes courses, such as constitutional law, contracts, property law, civil procedure, and legal writing. Law students may choose specialized courses in areas such as tax, labor, and corporate law.

Why I Choose this Career  I choose this career because I have always liked to argue my point and win. This is a career where I can do that. I would also like to help people. Feeling happy inside that I just saved someone from going to jail and that I made a family happy. In this job I can also commit justice and make someone pay for what they have committed. These are reasons why I would like to be a lawyer.

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