What Lawyers Do

Lawyers advise and represent individuals, businesses, and government agencies on legal issues and disputes.

Work Environment

The majority of lawyers work in private and corporate legal offices. Some work for federal, local, and state governments. The majority work full time, and many work more than 40 hours a week.

How to Become a Lawyer

All lawyers must have a law degree and must also typically pass a state’s written bar examination.

Job Outlook

Employment of lawyers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2014 to 2024, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Competition for jobs should continue to be strong because more students graduate from law school each year than there are jobs available.

Growth & Trends

This occupation supported 759,800 jobs in 2012 and 778,700 jobs in 2014, reflecting an increase of 2.5%. In 2012, this occupation was projected to increase by 9.9% in 2022 to 834,700 jobs. As of 2014, to keep pace with prediction, the expected number of jobs was 774,700, compared with an observed value of 778,700, 0.5% higher than expected. This indicates current employment trends are about on track with the 2012 trend within this occupation. In 2014, this occupation was projected to increase by 5.8% in 2024 to 822,500 jobs. Linear extrapolation of the 2012 projection for 2022 results in an expected number of 849,600 jobs for 2024, 3.3% higher than the 2014 projection for 2024. This indicates expectations for future employment trends are worse than the 2012 trend within this occupation.

Lawyers Employment and Labor Information 2023

Lawyers Employment Brief:

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.

Lawyers Job Description

Here is a Job Description an employer might post for potential Lawyers.

Lawyers Responsibilities and Duties:

• Help develop federal and state programs, draft and interpret laws and legislation, and establish enforcement procedures.
• Negotiate settlements of civil disputes.
• Gather evidence to formulate defense or to initiate legal actions by such means as interviewing clients and witnesses to ascertain the facts of a case.
• Select jurors, argue motions, meet with judges, and question witnesses during the course of a trial.
• Present and summarize cases to judges and juries.
• Perform administrative and management functions related to the practice of law.
• Search for and examine public and other legal records to write opinions or establish ownership.
• Study Constitution, statutes, decisions, regulations, and ordinances of quasi-judicial bodies to determine ramifications for cases.
• Work in environmental law, representing public interest groups, waste disposal companies, or construction firms in their dealings with state and federal agencies.
• Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases.

Typical Daily Tasks of Lawyers:

• Getting Information: Evaluate information related to legal matters in public or personal records. Interview claimants to get information related to legal proceedings. Research relevant legal materials to aid decision making.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Arbitrate disputes between parties to resolve legal conflicts.
• Providing Consultation and Advice to Others: Provide legal advice to clients.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge.
• Working with Computers.
• Processing Information.

Lawyers Skills and Requirements:

• Active Learning Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Management of Material Resources Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.
• Equipment Selection Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
• Science Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
• Reading Comprehension Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
• GraphicsWorking with pictures in graphics programs or other applications, including creating simple graphics, manipulating the appearance, and inserting graphics into other programs.
• Technology Design Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.
• Installation Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
• DatabasesUsing a computer application to manage large amounts of information, including creating and editing simple databases, inputting data, retrieving specific records, and creating reports to communicate the information.
• Operation and Control Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Lawyers Education and Training:

Typical education for include: Doctoral or professional degree.

Lawyers Salary, Wages, and Salary and Job Outlook

Lawyers average pay is: $135740 per year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employees who work in Legal Services are the highest paid making $80.11, while Management of Companies and Enterprises make the least at $109.16 per hour.Here are the top city/metro areas with the highest paying salaries for a Lawyers: