Career And School Info For Lawyers
Schools by State for This Career
Career Highlights
Training generally required for this career includes: First professional degree.
| Jobs and Salary | |
|---|---|
| Median Salary (2008) | $110,590 |
| Unemployment Vs. Other Jobs | Very Low |
| Jobs (2006) | 761,000 |
| Job Growth (2006-2016) | 11% |
| Jobs (2016 forecast) | 844,000 |
| Flexibility | |
|---|---|
| Working Part-Time | 6% |
| Self-Employed | 27% |
| Education of Current Workers | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor Degree or Higher | 99% |
| Some College | 1% |
| High School or Less | 0% |
What Kind of Person Has This Career?
(Numbers are % of people choosing the item.)
| Important Natural Abilities | |
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| Oral Expression | ![]() |
| Oral Comprehension | ![]() |
| Written Comprehension | ![]() |
| Work Values | |
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| Recognition | ![]() |
| Achievement | ![]() |
| Pleasant Working Conditions | ![]() |
| Areas of Personal Interest | |
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| Mental Problem-Solving | ![]() |
| Self-Expression Or Artistry | ![]() |
| Work Style Characteristics | |
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| Integrity | ![]() |
| Analytical Thinking | ![]() |
| Attention To Detail | ![]() |
Which Skills and Knowledge are Needed for this Job?
(Numbers are % of people choosing the item.)
| Important Personal Skills | |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | ![]() |
| Writing | ![]() |
| Judgment And Decision Making | ![]() |
| Important Professional Knowledge | |
|---|---|
| Law And Government | ![]() |
| English Language | ![]() |
| Customer And Personal Service | ![]() |
Which Activities and Situations Are Involved in Doing The Job?
(Numbers are % of people choosing the item.)
| Common Work Conditions | |
|---|---|
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | ![]() |
| Telephone | ![]() |
| Letters And Memos | ![]() |
| Common Job Activities | |
|---|---|
| Getting Information | ![]() |
| Making Decisions And Solving Problems | ![]() |
| Resolving Conflicts And Negotiating With Others | ![]() |
Tools and Technologies Used by Some
Lawyers
- Accounting Software
- Analytical Or Scientific Software
- Calendar And Scheduling Software
Information Sources
BrainTrack's information on colleges and careers is drawn from many sources, including government databases, BrainTrack's own research, and results from original data analysis algorithms.

Lawyer Job Description
The practice of law affects the daily lives of people in any community, of any race, age, faith or gender. Laws keep people safe at work and at home, protect their investments and health, help with buying houses and starting businesses, and enforce the individual rights of each citizen. Lawyers (also called attorneys) represent involved parties or "sides" in civil and criminal disputes, and usually specialize in a particular area of expertise such as bankruptcy, probate, elder, disability, business, real estate, intellectual property, insurance, international, or environmental law. While specific responsibilities will vary with their area of specialty, general responsibilities of lawyers include:
- studying laws, old and new
- researching laws and the applications of laws as they apply to a specific case
- advising their clients on their obligations and rights, how the legal system works, and recommended courses of action
- presenting evidence; arguing in court in support of their clients
- interviewing clients and witnesses
- understanding courtroom procedures and strategies
- preparing and filing paperwork and legal documentation
- defending or prosecuting individuals, companies or groups
Most lawyers work in private practice. Others work for private or public companies, the government, or non-profit organizations that provide legal assistance to disadvantaged individuals. Some lawyers choose only cases of public interest, where the outcome might have an impact on the application of law.
Degrees and Schools
Most lawyers have studied law for a minimum of seven years - four years to receive a bachelors degree in order to get into law school, where they study for three years. Law schools accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) meet rigorous industry standards.
Classes
Most colleges and universities offer multidisciplinary programs that provide the broad range of courses necessary to prepare students for law school.
- English and foreign languages
- Business
- Speaking and debate
- Government
- Logic, philosophy and history
- Economics and mathematics
- Computer science and information technology
- Legal terminology
- Sociology and Psychology
Additional courses specific to the field of interest, such as accounting for tax law or engineering for patent law, are recommended.
Law school admission is usually based on undergraduate grades, scores on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), prior work experience and interviews. Core coursework for the juris doctor (J.D.) degree is completed in the first 1 1/2 years, and includes:
- Property law
- Constitutional law
- Torts
- Contracts
- Civil procedure
- Legal writing
Specialized courses follow, in fields such as labor, tax or corporate law.
In addition to classes, law students often spend time gaining practical experience through:
- school-sponsored legal clinics and moot court competitions
- practice trials supervised by experienced lawyers and judges
- researching and writing for the school's law journals
- working on legislative committees or in legal aid offices
- finding part-time or summer clerkships in law firms, corporate legal departments or government agencies
Online Classes and Programs
Online bachelor's degree programs in multidisciplinary studies are plentiful and well-suited for aspiring lawyers. It is important to check what kinds of online credits and degrees are accepted by preferred law schools, and the state in which the student intends to practice. To have the same access to internship and job placement opportunities as on-campus programs, consider online programs that are offered as a service of brick-and-mortar schools.
Any law school, online or on-campus, should be accredited by the ABA. Online programs should also be accredited by the Accreditation Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).
Employment Requirements
In addition to a bachelors degree and JD degree from an ABA-accredited law school, lawyers in any state must be admitted to its bar (licensed). In most states, applicants must pass both written bar and ethics examinations. These exams often include the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), Multistate Performance Testing (MPT), Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE), Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) and sometimes a locally-prepared state bar examination.
How to Evaluate Schools
When comparing law programs, legal students should consider the following factors:
- Reputation and rank - How does the program rank nationally? What is its reputation among students, law firms and other schools?
- Accreditation and focus - Is the school accredited by the ABA? Does it provide adequate course offerings in areas of chosen specialty?
- School and class size - What is the student/teacher ratio in most introductory classes? Are classes or programs crowded or difficult to get into?
- Practical experience - Are internship programs and other practical experience opportunities well-organized with plenty of opportunities?
- Tuition and financial assistance - What support is offered to students who wish to take advantage of scholarships, grants, loans, work/study and other financial aid options?
- Career success - What is the school's track record for graduating students who became licensed, practicing lawyers?
Example Job Titles
(Titles per survey respondents and career experts.)
- Admiralty Lawyer
- Agency Legal Counsel
- Assistant Attorney General
- Assistant Corporation Counsel
- Assistant Counsel
- Assistant County Attorney
- Assistant District Attorney
- Assistant Federal Public Defender
- Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
- Assistant Prosecutor
- Assistant Public Defender
- Assistant State Attorney
- Associate
- Associate Attorney
- Associate Counsel
- Attorney
- Attorney at Law
- Attorney General
- Bar Examiner
- Barrister
- Business Lawyer
- City Attorney
- City Solicitor
- Civil Lawyer
- Claim Attorney
- Closing Agent
- Commonwealth Attorney
- Consumer Advocate
- Conveyancer
- Corporate Attorney
- Corporate Counsel
- Corporate Counselor
- Corporate Lawyer
- Corporation Counsel
- Corporation Lawyer
- Counsel
- Counselor at Law
- County Attorney
- Criminal Defense Lawyer
- Criminal District Attorney
- Criminal Justice Lawyer
- Criminal Lawyer
- Defense Attorney
- Deputy Attorney General
- Deputy Chief Counsel
- Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
- District Attorney
- Divorce Lawyer
- Entertainment Lawyer
- Enviromental Attorney
- Environmental Lawyer
- Estate Planning Attorney
- Family Lawyer
- Foreign Law Consultant
- Foreign Legal Consultant
- General Counsel
- General Counselor
- Immigration Attorney
- Immigration Lawyer
- Immigration Specialist
- Insurance Attorney
- Insurance Counselor
- Law Writer
- Lawyer
- Legal Adviser
- Legal Advisor
- Legal Arbitrator
- Legal Consultant
- Legal Counsel
- Legal Department Manager
- Legal Examiner
- Legal Research Analyst (Lawyer)
- Legal Researcher
- Litigation Attorney
- Military Lawyer
- Partner
- Patent Attorney
- Patent Lawyer
- Patent Solicitor
- Probate Lawyer
- Professional Degreed Law Clerk
- Prosecutor
- Public Defender
- Rating Board Specialist
- Rating Specialist
- Real Estate Attorney
- Real Estate Closer
- Real Estate Lawyer
- Regulatory Analyst
- Solicitor
- Sports Attorney
- Sports Lawyer
- Staff Attorney
- Staff Counsel
- Tariff Counsel
- Tax Agent
- Tax Attorney
- Tax Lawyer
- Title Attorney
- Title Lawyer
- Trial Attorney
- Trial Lawyer
Relevant Schools for This Career That Respond Quickly to Info Requests Through This Site
Schools below offer related online and distance education programs. School names link to detailed profiles. Please use the More links to contact one or more schools directly for additional information.
| School | Campuses | Awards | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champlain College | Online | Master | |
| Concord Law School | Online | Doctorate | |
| Empire College | CA | Doctorate | |
| Kaplan University | Online | Executive Juris Doctor, Juris Doctor, Master | |
| National American University | Online | Bachelor | |
| The University of Liverpool | Online | Master |






