Considering a career in law is a significant decision, laden with questions about the investment of time and money. Many aspiring professionals, from high school students to those contemplating a mid-career change, ponder whether the journey to becoming a lawyer truly pays off. Drawing from 24 years navigating the legal landscape, my answer leans towards a resounding yes – I would embark on this path again. However, this endorsement comes with crucial caveats that anyone serious about a legal career should carefully consider.
The Upsides of a Legal Career
Let’s acknowledge the inherent prestige associated with being a lawyer. It’s a profession that commands respect and offers the potential for a comfortable life. In a rapidly changing world, law stands as a stable career choice. Unlike professions susceptible to obsolescence, legal expertise remains consistently relevant. While others grapple with career reinvention, lawyers, upon earning their Juris Doctor, passing the bar, and gaining licensure, possess a durable skillset that ensures long-term employability without constant upskilling or radical career shifts.
The legal field presents a broad spectrum of traditional career avenues. Opportunities abound in law firms of all sizes, corporate legal departments, government agencies at every level, the military’s Judge Advocate General Corps, and various industry groups. Within these sectors, lawyers can specialize in diverse practice areas, from the intricacies of civil litigation and the complexities of criminal law to the nuances of antitrust, corporate transactions, tax law, environmental regulations, intellectual property rights, and numerous other specialized fields.
Beyond these conventional paths, a law degree opens doors to less traditional, yet equally rewarding, opportunities. Investment banks, consulting firms, academic institutions, media organizations, and policy-focused think tanks increasingly value legal acumen. Employers outside the direct practice of law recognize and appreciate the analytical rigor, research proficiency, articulate writing, and compelling presentation skills honed through legal training. These transferable skills make lawyers attractive candidates for roles in business strategy, corporate compliance, and various non-legal domains.
Furthermore, the option to establish a solo practice presents a challenging but ultimately empowering career trajectory. Becoming your own boss provides intrinsic rewards and acts as a safeguard against economic uncertainties. Regardless of market fluctuations or industry disruptions, a solo practitioner possesses the autonomy to forge their own path and secure a livelihood. Witnessing economic downturns in the late 1980s, where friends’ parents in finance and aerospace faced layoffs, highlighted the relative stability of legal careers. While not immune to economic shifts, the legal profession offers diverse avenues for employment that tend to endure despite broader economic trends.
The Realities of Legal Practice
Despite the numerous advantages, a legal career is not without its significant drawbacks. A primary concern is the increasingly saturated job market. Unlike the consistently high demand for medical professionals, recent decades have witnessed an overproduction of law school graduates, exceeding the available positions. While graduates from top-tier law schools in major metropolitan areas generally enjoy favorable prospects, many newly minted lawyers face considerable difficulty securing their first roles or are compelled to accept less desirable positions.
This reality underscores the critical importance of law school selection. While a solid legal education can be obtained from various institutions, the prestige and network associated with certain schools undeniably influence career trajectories. Graduating from a top-tier law school like Columbia, NYU, or Georgetown carries a different weight than graduating from a less prestigious institution when aiming for coveted positions in elite law firms or prestigious government agencies. Even with honors, law review membership, a joint MBA in Public Accounting, and CPA credentials, breaking into top firms like Skadden Arps or the Department of Justice requires leveraging alumni connections and a degree of favorable economic timing. Market conditions and timing play a significant role in early career opportunities.
The financial burden of law school is another major consideration. Even with efforts to mitigate costs through state university undergraduate degrees, partial scholarships, and cost-saving living arrangements, law school graduates often face substantial student loan debt. Decades ago, even with these cost-conscious choices, law school could result in six-figure debt. The pressure to manage this debt while navigating the demanding early years of legal practice can be intense. While a high starting salary at a major law firm might make such debt manageable, many lawyers face a more challenging debt-to-income ratio. The long-term financial implications of law school debt must be carefully weighed.
Finally, the financial rewards within the legal profession are not uniformly distributed. For every lawyer earning a substantial six or seven-figure income at a top firm or in a high-level in-house role, many others struggle to achieve comparable financial success. Some individuals even pursue law school after established careers, only to find their post-graduation earning potential lower than their previous income. This again circles back to law school choice and debt load. Graduates of top 20 law schools generally face favorable earning prospects that facilitate debt repayment. However, beyond this elite tier, a six-figure salary is not guaranteed, particularly in the initial years. Prospective lawyers must realistically assess their earning potential based on their target law schools and the legal markets they intend to enter, balancing this against the anticipated debt.
My Bottom Line
Despite these challenges, my personal experience as a lawyer has been overwhelmingly positive, and I would choose this path again. Having practiced across diverse legal environments – from BigLaw firms to federal prosecution, military service as a US Army JAG officer, and now as General Counsel at SAP National Security Services – I have enjoyed a rich and varied career. My legal background has unlocked extraordinary opportunities, including contributing to an FBI commission, testifying before Congress, and serving as a legal and political analyst for major media outlets. It has been a deeply rewarding journey, and I anticipate continued professional fulfillment in the years ahead. However, a candid evaluation of the realities of legal practice is crucial. A legal career can be exceptionally rewarding, but embarking on this path requires informed awareness and careful consideration of both the advantages and disadvantages.
This article reflects personal perspectives and does not constitute legal advice. For further discussion, connect via LinkedIn or X (@JosephMoreno).
