There’s no doubt, a law career is one of the most pursued career paths. So if you’re looking to become a lawyer and start your own firm, you’re in good company. Did you know the number of lawyers in the United States has been increasing steadily since 2007? Today, there are about 3.5 million lawyers in the country, up from 1.4 million in 2007.
But what if you’re on the fence about pursuing this career? Feel like you need some convincing?
Here are some of the top reasons to be a lawyer.
You Can Specialize
Are you passionate about specific legal issues?
Perhaps you’ve got a strong urge to help millions of immigrants who’re facing challenging times, or you want to work with victims of child abuse and domestic violence. Or you’ve got a dislike for people who pollute the environment.
Well, the good news is you can specialize in specific legal fields, depending on your preferences. For instance, you can become an immigration lawyer, child abuse lawyer, environmental lawyer, car accident lawyer, criminal lawyer, business lawyer… the options are quite many.
Follow the Money
At the end of the day, what you take home matters. In a law career, turns out the take-home package is impressive.
The mean annual wage for lawyers in the U.S. is a whopping $144,230 (as of 2019). In other words, they earn about $69 per working hour.
Of course, you won’t earn this amount in your first job. You’ll have to gain some experience and win some cases in court before your employer ups your salary. But this doesn’t mean the starting salary is too shabby. How does a starting annual wage of $58,200 look?
The Demand Is There
When choosing a career, it’s super important to evaluate its outlook. Is there a good demand for newly-qualified professionals? You certainly don’t want to pursue a career that will keep you unemployed for several months.
As an aspiring lawyer, you’ll be happy to know that the demand for legal services will always be there. The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts an 8 percent job growth for lawyers from now through 2026. As such, it’s safe to say you’ll likely find a job soon after law school.
You Can Start Your Own Law Firm
What if, for whatever reason, you don’t land a job after a law school?
Enter plan B.
You can start your own law firm and work on your own terms. After all, it’s every lawyer’s dream to open a law firm one day. What stands in most lawyers’ way is a lack of capital and business expertise.
If you’re business savvy and able to raise adequate startup capital, you can start a law firm straight after law school. What’s more, you can pool resources with one or two of your lawyer friends and start a partnership practice.
There Are Solid Reasons to Be a Lawyer
Settling on a career is one of the most important decision’s you will ever make. If you’re considering a law career, you’ve made a smart decision. As we’ve demonstrated, there are solid reasons to be a lawyer.
Good luck and keep an eye on our blog for more insights.
