What is a Lawyer?
Position Description Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.
Lawyer Responsibilities
- Act as agent, trustee, guardian, or executor for businesses or individuals.
- Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
- Present evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in criminal or civil litigation.
- Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
- Study Constitution, statutes, decisions, regulations, and ordinances of quasi-judicial bodies to determine ramifications for cases.
- Work in environmental law, representing public interest groups, waste disposal companies, or construction firms in their dealings with state and federal agencies.
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Lawyer Needed Skills
When polled, Lawyers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Types of Lawyer
- Attorney at Law
- Foreign Legal Consultant
- Defense Attorney
- City Attorney
- Staff Counsel
What Kind of Lawyer Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 792,500 jobs for Lawyer in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 65,000 new jobs for Lawyer by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 40,700 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Lawyer are Utah, Nevada, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Maine, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Lawyer Make?
The typical yearly salary for Lawyers is somewhere between $58,220 and $208,000.
Lawyers who work in District of Columbia, California, or New York, make the highest salaries.
How much do Lawyers make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $117,100 |
| Alaska | $121,680 |
| Arizona | $145,750 |
| Arkansas | $98,780 |
| California | $171,550 |
| Colorado | $147,560 |
| Connecticut | $153,640 |
| District of Columbia | $192,530 |
| Florida | $128,920 |
| Georgia | $128,930 |
| Hawaii | $111,290 |
| Idaho | $99,360 |
| Illinois | $152,980 |
| Indiana | $113,360 |
| Iowa | $112,630 |
| Kansas | $109,020 |
| Kentucky | $100,100 |
| Louisiana | $105,490 |
| Maine | $107,120 |
| Maryland | $128,340 |
| Massachusetts | $165,610 |
| Michigan | $110,180 |
| Minnesota | $119,330 |
| Mississippi | $97,990 |
| Missouri | $113,780 |
| Montana | $88,600 |
| Nebraska | $108,170 |
| Nevada | $138,920 |
| New Hampshire | $125,890 |
| New Jersey | $139,020 |
| New Mexico | $105,910 |
| New York | $167,110 |
| North Carolina | $129,990 |
| North Dakota | $107,290 |
| Ohio | $121,520 |
| Oklahoma | $118,790 |
| Oregon | $119,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $138,610 |
| Rhode Island | $125,330 |
| South Carolina | $105,320 |
| South Dakota | $109,070 |
| Tennessee | $124,470 |
| Texas | $150,250 |
| Utah | $112,380 |
| Vermont | $107,490 |
| Virginia | $139,180 |
| Washington | $136,480 |
| West Virginia | $98,630 |
| Wisconsin | $130,450 |
| Wyoming | $105,600 |
What Tools do Lawyers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Lawyers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Word processing software
- SAP
- Microsoft Project
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Microsoft Publisher
- LexisNexis
- Google Analytics
- Tax software
- Fund accounting software
- Corel WordPerfect
- Microsoft Office SharePoint Server MOSS
- Novell GroupWise
How to Become a Lawyer
What kind of Lawyer requirements are there?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Lawyers Sector
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming a Lawyer might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Okan Г‡alД±Еџkan via CC0 Public Domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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