Loio Explains The Hardest Part Of Being A Lawyer

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 30, 2021 / The depiction of lawyers on television and through media tends to gloss over the truth behind the image. Not everyone has the dramatic and sophisticated successes portrayed by Jessica Pearson of Suits or Alan Shore of Boston Legal. Even fewer get to be on the side of good in real life like Ben Crump or Thurgood Marshall. Here, Loio Explains The Hardest Part Of Being A Lawyer

The reality is that being a lawyer is extremely challenging. It is one of the most demanding professions in the US and different difficulties arise throughout a legal career. Of all the qualities required to be a consummately professional lawyer, resilience is a necessity.

If you currently have a law school or LSAT application in hand and are wondering what the hardest part is, read on.

1. Dealing with Debt

It is no secret that law school doesn’t come cheaply. To progress from school leaver to getting a law license, you will incur law school fees which on average work out to be around $145,500. In real terms, with the national student interest average attached to the debt, you would end up paying close to $200,000 for your education.

Now, you might be thinking you will be on an exceptional salary so it works out in the long run and there is some truth to this. The average salary for 2019 was $145,300 so paying student loans off should be doable. However, it is not usually paying down the debt, that’s the problem. It is the lifecycle impact.

Paying down loans at $1650/month means your debt will take roughly 10 years after spending nearly 7 years to become qualified. Depending on how frugal you have been and how well-paid you are, it could be 17 years into your adulthood before you are free of student debt and well-positioned to purchase a property. The trickle-down impacts to the rest of your life can be hard to stomach for many.

2. Time Management

For lawyers, everything comes down to time management. Early on, you will find savvy tools to speed up your tasks like proofreading and legal document review and every move for greater efficiency will pay off. But where the challenge really comes is balancing your time between work and home.

While it is not uncommon for lawyers to work 80-hour weeks, the national average is 49.6 hours. That equates to an extra day a week or as much as 10 weeks of overtime a year. It doesn’t leave much time for enjoying a fulfilling personal life.

Managing to commit time to your personal affairs is a matter of health. Lawyers who fail to get their work-life balance under control end up suffering mentally from depression (28%), alcohol (21%), and substance abuse (19%).

Time management is utterly crucial from applying the right amount of time to billable work, employing automation and software where possible but also in understanding the need to take time to care for your health. This is why time management is one of the hardest parts of being a lawyer.

3. Running a Business vs Being a Lawyer

Ambitious lawyers often dream of becoming a partner or opening their practices, and it is admirable. You get to make the decisions, be your own boss, represent clients who you see fit, and achieve autonomy.

The lesser appreciated side is the fact that you are, indeed, running a business. You will be required to perform the administrative, human resources, marketing, onboarding, and intake duties. You go from making $350 an hour in billables to teaching recruits the necessities like “what are the elements of a contract” and “how to conduct a deposition”.

Balancing growing the business and practicing law is a considerable challenge. One cannot exist without the other but which do you apply more attention to? And, at what point do you hire and begin task shedding?

Beyond the internal debates are the competitive market struggles. How can you win a market share whilst still doing what you love? Practice ownership asks many questions of the ambitious.

4. Dealing with Pressure

Much like visiting a doctor, clients rarely come to a lawyer when everything is going smoothly.

Most clients will find themselves in an uncomfortable situation and be awash with emotions. They are coming to you for an empathetic ear and because they don’t have the skills to protect themselves legally. This is typically the case for employment, family, civil rights, criminal, health, personal injury, and immigration law. The pressures of having someone’s future in your hands are not always the easiest to cope with.

This pressure doesn’t evaporate in the field of corporate law either. Often you will be dealing with vital business matters that could impact your career wherever you go. No matter the size of the task given to you, it usually means legal binding or protection for your client.

Dealing with the pressures of law and leaving the emotion behind when you leave for home is exceptionally difficult. If you find it difficult to compartmentalize and deal with stress, you will find law a difficult profession to be in.

5. Accepting the Reputation

Have you ever attended a mechanic that you know is overcharging but you don’t know enough about cars to challenge it? That is a significant portion of what your clients feel like.

Having witnessed the recent exploits of Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, Michael Avenatti and knowing the election process of judges, it is hard to argue that the justice system is free of controversy and corruption. Clients and the general public are quick to tar everyone with the same brush and treat you like a con artist.

As a professional who has worked incredibly hard to get to where you are, this reputation will always feel at odds with you. It is a tough pill to swallow, especially for those who got into the role to fight injustice.

In Closing…

The field of law is unforgiving. Burnout and stress are almost foundational expectations accompanying the long hours and stress. The practical impacts on your personal life pose a significant obstacle to your fulfillment and happiness.

Ultimately, your decisions reverberate in both your career and your personal life. Achieving balance will be the key.

Company: Loio
Email: info@loio.com
Website: https://loio.com/

SOURCE: Loio

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