10 Weird Facts About Lawyers You Probably Don’t Know About

Have you ever wondered what it’d be like to be a lawyer? All most of us know about this career is that they make a lot of money and wear suits.

There’s got to be more, right?

Lawyers have diverse careers. Some are natural public speakers, others never see the courtroom. They must complete extensive education and can rack up huge student loan debt.

For anyone pursuing this career, it’s important to know all aspects of it. Lawyers do a lot more than fighting for justice. Keep reading for 10 surprising facts about lawyers.

1. They Have to Be Flexible

A day in the life of a lawyer is unpredictable. They may plan on being in the office, but then get called to a client meeting.

Clients contact their lawyers at all hours of the day and night. They have very little downtime. The phone’s always ringing; the emails are always flooding in.

Some days, they don’t get everything done that they needed to. That’s why many lawyers spend long nights at the office finishing up their work. Without flexibility, they’d never finish a day’s work.

2. Organization is Key

With all the surprises that come up, organization is crucial. Most lawyers have elaborate organization systems to keep them on top of their work.

Digital calendars are a popular tool for managing time. They may also work from remote locations for better focus. Or, they’ll work from their car since they’re always on the go.

Lawyers often enjoy having an assistant or receptionist to keep them organized. It can help to have someone fielding the phone calls and troubleshooting for them.

3. They’re Not All Rich

We assume lawyers are rich because of the hefty costs of hiring one. But, that’s not the case for many litigators.

This is especially true for young lawyers beginning their career. They may work for a firm that chooses their rates. A portion of their rates goes to the head lawyer.

Plus, the cost of going to law school causes immense debt for many lawyers. Even if they’re making a healthy salary, a large portion is going back to their debt.

4. Varying Fields of Law

A lawyer who practices family law won’t know much about commercial litigation. There are so many types of law that require their own unique specifications.

If you’re considering becoming a lawyer, you need to choose a field you enjoy. Working in a field you find boring will lead to a dull life.

With so many types of law to choose from, you can have a fulfilling and exciting career. You can view here for more about different types, like expungement litigation.

5. Self-Care is Crucial

Work-life balance is hard to find in a lawyer’s life. Since their work floods into their personal time almost every day, it can feel like all they do is work. Lawyers often experience anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders.

Self-care is being talked about in more and more fields of work. Lawyers especially need to open the conversation on self-care.

It can be as simple as turning off your phone for one hour while you have dinner with your family. Or, doing physical activity each day. Small changes like this can improve the life of a lawyer.

6. Lots of Time Spent Alone

It’s surprising how much time lawyers spend alone. On TV, we see them constantly in court or hustling with coworkers. In reality, they’re often working alone at their desk.

The workload of a lawyer comprises of a lot of desk work. They research, analyze, and document every part of their case. They’re taking notes and fact-checking everything they read.

People who need lots of socialization at work should reconsider becoming a lawyer. You must be self-sufficient and independent to do this job.

7. First Jobs Are Scary

Even though lawyers go to law school, they don’t have all the skills needed to practice law. That first job after law school can be intimidating.

Experience comes with time. The first year of working in the real world has many eye-openers. New lawyers often feel surprised by how different their career is from what they thought it’d be.

As a young lawyer, know that you’re going to make mistakes. The trial and errors of learning this job are what make you a great lawyer.

8. Not All Social Butterflies

Lawyers don’t have to be extroverts to be good at their job. But, they do need a strong amount of social skills to get by.

Working with clients and coworkers demands basic interpersonal skills. Small talk is a regular part of the workday. Lawyers must network with clients and courthouse staff.

They also have to make their clients feel comfortable and happy. This means getting interested in their client’s interests. And, building a good rapport with them.

9. So Much Writing

If you hate writing, don’t become a lawyer. The amount of writing you must do in this career is astounding.

You’re taking notes constantly throughout the day. Then, you’re writing official documents that get filed with the case. Email correspondence is also a crucial component of being a lawyer.

To be a good lawyer, you have to have excellent written communication skills.

10. They Have to Get Creative

Sometimes, lawyers don’t know if their client is innocent or guilty. The story isn’t always clear. Their job is to fill in the blanks.

Great lawyers know how to spin a story and get creative.

They have to excel at critical thinking and expect questions they’ll get asked. Predicting their opponent’s moves allows them to stay ahead of the game.

Interested in More Facts About Lawyers?

Being a lawyer isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. Sometimes, it’s more. If you’re thinking about becoming a lawyer, make sure you understand what it’s like.

We often think of lawyers as rich people in suits. But, their job is about much more. There are more facts about lawyers than most of the general population knows.

If you’re interested in becoming a lawyer or finding the right career for you, check out the blog.

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