10 Reasons to Choose a Career in Law

Updated November 20, 2019

A career in law can be intellectually challenging, personally fulfilling and financially rewarding. Below are ten reasons to choose a career in the legal profession.

Diverse Legal Career Options

Legal professions include judges, lawyers, paralegals, secretaries and more. — Chris Ryan / Getty Images

The complexities of our legal system have created hundreds of legal career options that serve a variety of core and non-core legal functions. From lawyers, judges, and mediators to paralegals, secretaries, and consultants, the legal professional’s role is expanding and evolving to keep pace with the ever-changing legal system.

Growth and Opportunity

In the last several years, the legal profession has experienced staggering growth. A steady rise in profits and revenues expanded headcounts, and significant salary increases have provided plenty of job opportunities in a broad range of legal positions.

Financial Rewards

The legal profession offers many high-paying positions. — domnicky / Getty Images

The legal profession is one of the most lucrative industries in today’s job market. Double-digit growth in recent years has produced healthy revenues and rising salaries. Associates in the nation’s largest law firms start at $150,000 to $180,000, and partners earn average salaries in excess of $1.2 million. Many non-lawyers also reap significant financial rewards in the legal profession.

Client Service

Helping people is at the core of legal jobs. — IPGGutenbergUKLtd / Getty Images

At the heart of the legal professional’s role is client service. Whether you are a lawyer representing a multinational corporate client, a paralegal assisting abused women to obtain restraining orders, or a law clerk researching a tax issue for a new business, the fundamental purpose of the legal professional is the help others resolve their legal problems.

Diverse Practice Areas

Diverse law practice areas include tax law, criminal defense, litigation and more. — Image Source / Getty Images

Increased segmentation and specialization in the legal profession has spawned a growing number of legal specialties and sub-specialties that cater to almost every legal interest. Legal professionals who seek a career in litigation can specialize in criminal law, employment law, family law, products liability or dozens of other practice areas. Legal professionals who prefer a career in corporate law can specialize in tax law, mergers, and acquisitions, real estate, finance or another corporate practice area that satisfies their interests.

Intellectual Challenges

The legal profession is inherently intellectually stimulating. — kali9 / Getty Images

Navigating an evolving legal system, advances in technology, vast bodies of case law and the demands of the legal profession creates a stimulating intellectual environment for the legal professional. Lawyers and non-lawyers alike must grapple with conceptually challenging issues, reason with logic and clarity, analyze the case and statutory law, research complex legal issues and master oral and written communications.

Prosperity

The legal profession weathers poor economies. — andresr / Getty Images

Historically, the legal profession has weathered economic downturns quite well and should do so in the future, in part due to the growing geographic and practice diversification of many law firms. In fact, some practice areas such as litigation, bankruptcy, and reorganization, residential real estate foreclosures, and regulatory compliance will actually benefit from an economic slowdown. As a result, legal professionals should find plenty of job opportunities in any economic climate.

Prestige

In a culture that views high pay, impressive schooling and societal power as hallmarks of success, the legal profession has long been regarded as a noble and elite profession. This image is further boosted by the portrayal of legal careers in the media as exciting, glamorous, fast-paced and desired. As a result, the legal profession has held its allure and careers in the law remain is one of the most sought-after professions in today’s job market.

Global Perspective

the legal professional serves global clients. — YanC / Getty Images

More firms and corporations are crossing international borders and expanding across the globe through mergers, acquisitions, consolidation, and collaboration with foreign counsel. The globalization of the legal profession provides today’s legal professional with a worldview and the opportunity to serve international clients.

Dynamic Environment

The law profession is dynamic and constantly changing. — andresr / Getty Images

The legal profession is continually changing and evolving, bringing new challenges and rewards. Legal professionals must be problem-solvers and innovators, willing to assume new responsibilities, tackle new challenges, master new technology and navigate an ever-evolving legal system. This dynamic legal landscape makes each day unique and fosters an enjoyable, fulfilling work experience.