Lawyer by Giuliana Crespo

1. Job Description & Responsibilities

gcrespo25 — 2025-03-25 13:31:47 UTC

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.

2. Working Conditions

gcrespo25 — 2025-03-25 13:35:20 UTC

Lawyer work often involves long hours, potentially high stress, and a fast-paced environment. Lawyers, especially those in private practice or large firms, often work more than 40 hours a week. May work may evenings and weekends. Lawyers can work in a variety of settings, including law firms, corporations, government agencies, and in their own practices. Lawyers may struggle to balance their work and personal lives, especially in demanding practice areas because the legal profession can be highly stressful.

3. Local Earnings and Benefits

gcrespo25 — 2025-03-25 13:39:17 UTC

Average salary of $106,688 per year, while experienced salaries are 179,750+. Lawyers are typically paid a yearly salary, rather than an hourly wage. Common benefits include Healthcare, Dental, Life Insurance, Retirement Benefits, Sick Leave, and Vacation.

4. Employment Trends

gcrespo25 — 2025-03-25 13:43:13 UTC

In 2023, there were approximately 1.22 million workers employed in legal occupations in the United States. Pennsylvania is among the top 10 states for lawyers in terms of job openings and salaries. There are approximately 49,087 lawyers in Pennsylvania. Legal Services employed the highest number of lawyers in the U.S. in 2023, with approximately 445,000, and Local Government had roughly 57,000 lawyers employed in the same year.

5. Qualifications

gcrespo25 — 2025-03-25 13:45:05 UTC

To become a lawyer, you'll need a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree after completing a bachelor's degree, along with passing the bar exam in the state where you intend to practice. You should be Argumentative, Composed, Communicative, and Compassionate. For aspiring lawyers, high school courses in English, history, government, and political science, along with extracurricular activities like mock trial, debate, and public speaking, are highly valuable for developing essential skills.

6. Educational Institutions

gcrespo25 — 2025-03-25 13:48:03 UTC

Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
Penn State Law
Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law
University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
University of Pittsburgh School of Law

7. Job Benefits & Job Drawbacks

gcrespo25 — 2025-03-25 13:49:50 UTC

Benefits: intellectual stimulation and the potential for high earning.

Downside: demanding workload.

Works Cited

gcrespo25 — 2025-03-25 13:53:35 UTC

https://blog.collegevine.com/lawyer-extracurriculars-and-classes

https://www.alu.edu/alublog/what-makes-a-good-lawyer/

https://www.apu.apus.edu/area-of-study/business-and-management/resources/what-degree-do-you-need-to-be-a-lawyer-and-practice-law/

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/what-degree-does-lawyer-need

https://bold.org/blog/law-schools-in-pa/

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-lawyer