A career in law can be a rewarding path for many who seek to uphold the justice system and help people—whether it be a case of receiving a fair trial or negotiating a reasonable settlement. However, the industry comes with its fair share of challenges that must not be overlooked. Let’s look at a few issues the modern individual working in the field of law has to deal with on a daily basis.
Long hours: This is one of the most obvious pitfalls when it comes to a career in law. Working long hours and struggling to balance work and home life has been a played-out trope in many television shows and movies, but for good reason: it’s a real struggle. Many times, the mountain of paperwork can contribute to a seemingly eternal task list. Social time is an important part of life, but it can be the first casualty when new lawyers embark on their first case. Be careful to protect personal time as much as possible, accounting for the occasional late nights or urgent projects.
Stress: Going hand in hand with long hours is the stress that accompanies the arduous or tedious tasks one may encounter while working in the legal field. As well as the time spent on tasks, the weight and effect that the outcome of a case could have on someone’s life or livelihood is quite the responsibility to bear. There’s an immense pressure to achieve perfection, which is simply unattainable. While being a lawyer is a serious and important vocation, you must not let the stress overwhelm you; do your best and plan leisure activities so you can unwind, and relieve that pent-up stress.
Law school debt: Attending law school is a large investment—not only in time and energy but also financially. Many recent graduates struggle with finding the right balance of pursuing an area of law that aligns with their passions versus finding a job in the legal field that pays the bills and helps pay off their law school loans. It can be vexing for young professionals, so making a plan ahead of time is the best course of action. One could choose to gain experience in a better-paying job for a few years to help offset the cost of law school before transitioning to their preferred area of expertise, or an individual could choose to pursue their passion and simply create a strict budget so they could afford the necessary payments.
Difficult clients: The law revolves around people – whether it is exonerating them from an allegation that is not true or prosecuting and bringing to justice those who have committed wrongdoing. At the centre of the law is an individual in need of a lawyer to help interpret the law, make a case, and argue that case. There will be instances where clients will be unruly – demanding results that are not attainable or making assumptions about what you will be able to accomplish for them. The bottom line is to simply do the best that you can for your client given the circumstances and information you are privy to at that time.
These challenges, among many others, should not be taken lightly. Remember, you are not alone; there are many lawyers who struggle with similar issues and use support groups for extreme issues of stress and depression. Don’t hesitate to research and find these groups if you are in need of support from colleagues.