This weeks ‘A Day in the Life…,” is about life as a lawyer. I had the pleasure of interviewing Andrew who is a probate and estate attorney. He owns his own private practice in Wichita, Kansas called The Law Office of Andrew Rowe. Andrew had some great insight and advice about being a lawyer.
A Day in the Life of a Lawyer
The Job
There are many different directions you can go with a degree in law. For example, Andrew is a probate and estate attorney. He helps clients plan their wills and trusts. In the event a client passes away, he helps the client’s family with executing their wills and trusts.
Another direction law majors can take with their degree is being a criminal attorney. Criminal attorneys spend a lot of time in court and in appointments with clients. There are also divorce lawyers, advertizing lawyers, and many more. If you are interested in pursuing law, working part-time in a firm, or completing job shadows and internships can help you find a specialization you are passionate about!
Who Would Excel in this Career?
Lawyers have to be self-motivated and committed to continuing to learn about their field. In addition, they have to be good with people because they need to work with clients on a daily basis. If you are thinking of becoming a lawyer you must be a people person. After all, your work usually revolves around people and communicating with others.
In addition to being a good communicator, motivated, and a life-long learner, lawyers also have to be good at problem-solving and presenting solutions to client’s problems. Also, you have to be good at explaining things to clients in terms they understand. Taking industry language and communicating it in a way that the public at large will understand is very important. Lastly, lawyers have to be okay with being at a desk all day or in court. A significant amount of time is spent preparing for meetings and court.
Day-to-Day
A day in the life of a lawyer deals with a lot of desk time and appointments with clients. Depending on the type of lawyer they may spend a lot of time in court as well.
Andrew’s day-to-day consists of one to two consultations, three if he is busy, and a lot of time at his desk. He spends much of his time drafting wills and trusts for clients. As you may have guessed, written communication skills are also very important. He said that his days are usually stress-free and he does not have many deadlines due to his specialization in wills and trusts. In addition, he has great control of his schedule because he owns his own practice, a perk desired by many!
Education
Becoming a lawyer is not easy. First, you must go to college to get an undergraduate degree. Andrew recommended taking logic classes to help prepare for law school. After obtaining an undergraduate degree you can go on to law school. Finally, after law school, you have to take the bar exam.
There are both part-time and full-time law schools available. For aspiring lawyers who want a more traditional schedule, many schools offer a full-time, daytime course schedule. Alternatively, several law schools offer part-time, evening and weekend cohorts! Some lawyers will choose to work in a different career field first and then go to law school. If your life demands the part-time schedule and approach, don’t worry, there are programs for you such as this one in Central California!
The Future
Will a day in the life of a lawyer look different in the future? It depends on a lawyer’s area of expertise; however, the one thing Andrew says will change in the next five to ten years in his specialization are the rule and regulations on taxes when it comes to wills and trusts. Changes with taxes are constantly changing. If you are in criminal or medical law, however, changes happen more frequently. The desire to continue learning and growing that was mentioned above becomes very important as a result.
Related Paths Requiring Less Education
Some people have a strong interest in law but are not excited about the educational commitment and student-loan debt that come with it. If you can relate with these thoughts, consider exploring the option of Paralegal or Legal Assistant! Often, the education required for this career path is a two-year degree. And, the national average salary is almost $52,000 according to ONET’s My Next Move website. Getting experience in the field working daily with lawyers can help inform your long-term decision of whether or not a career as a lawyer is for you.
Interested in a career as a Lawyer?
Career planning can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! Are you considering a career in law, but just aren’t sure or don’t know how to achieve this goal? Look no further. We specialize in career planning for students and young adults. Remove the uncertainty and plan for the future with confidence! Book a free consultation today to talk about your interests and future!
About the Author
Hello! My name is Rebecca and I am Loren’s intern for this summer. I’m focusing on bringing you great tips on social media and informative blog content! I am majoring in integrated marketing communications with a minor in graphic design at Wichita State University. To learn more about me visit the Meet Rebecca page.
