Intellectually stimulating

So you think you want to a be a lawyer…well, it’s not as easy or glamorous as popular television shows

According to the Hildebrandt study, lawyers are:

• High scorers on learning, "suggesting that they value education and enjoy academic activities";• Self-critical and temperamental;• Lousy on interpersonal sensitivity. They are task-oriented and speak their minds, coming across as "cold, critical, and argumentative";• Easily excitable, "becoming tense and overly critical";• Cautious to the extent they have a hard time taking risks and making decisions; and• Resistant to authority and skeptical of others.Despite having a stressful job, lawyers don't adjust well to pressure, says Richard, a psychologist

Once you become an attorney and you are still this awkward and bitter person in social settings, you will quickly lose in the game whether you are dealing with clients or other co-worker attorneys at a firm. You must be a great thinker and be highly logical, but also must be a friendly person with people skills.

Can you sacrifice work-life balance?The sad truth is that many successful lawyers do not work a 40-hour work week.

Lawyers often work long hours, including nights and weekends. Travel is quite common;

lawyers must visit out-of-town clients and attend distant depositions, hearings, trials, site

inspections, board meetings, conferences and other events. Those lawyers that work a

sane schedule – such as those in public interest venues and academia – often trade

high salaries for a better work-life balance. If you value a short work week and plenty of

downtime, a career as a lawyer might not be right for you.

Are you prepared to dress the part?Unlike many other industries, casual dress for lawyers is not the norm. Despite the

adoption of “casual Fridays” and other casual dress conventions, most lawyers wear

suits and formal attire. Client meetings, court appearances, depositions, closings, board

presentations and other events require business dress; formal attire helps lawyers

command respect, inspire trust and convey a polished image.

Do you have an analytical mind?

Logical reasoning and critical thinking skills are essential to the practice of law.

Analytical skills are necessary in every practice areas, whether you are structuring a

multi-million dollar deal, analyzing complex case law, or developing a trial strategy. If

you like logic puzzles, research and critical thinking, then you may enjoy the practice of

law.

Do you like words?

Words are the lawyer’s tool of trade. Lawyers must be excellent communicators, adept

at oral argument and strong writers. Trial lawyers must master the art of oral and written

persuasion; they argue motions, try cases, take depositions and draft briefs, motions,

legal memos, pleadings, discovery and other legal documents. Corporate lawyers must

master the art of negotiation and be proficient at drafting transactional documents such

as agreements, indentures, resolutions and other legal instruments. If English was not

your favorite subject or you despise writing, you may want to explore other career

opportunities.

Are you comfortable with public speaking?

To be a successful lawyer, you must be comfortable presenting information to large

groups of people including clients,prospective clients, juries, judges and arbitrators,

opposing counsel, witnesses, boards and colleagues. Trial lawyers must be comfortable

advocating to a judge and being center stage in the courtroom; corporate lawyers must

be equally at ease in the boardroom. In-house lawyers, too, are required to head

committees, lead meetings and make presentations to staff, executives, clients,

business units, the board of directors and others.

Do you perform well on tests in high pressure environments?

In addition to the LSAT and the bar examination, law students take numerous tests

throughout law school. In many courses, your grade is determined by only one test

given at the end of a year-long course. Thus, performing well in law school is, in part, a

measure of one’s test-taking ability.

Sign #5: You’re cool under pressure

Are you a panicker? Then you may not make a great lawyer (sorry!). Liesje admits to working long hours in her job – sometimes late into the night if she’s working on a big case. How does she do it? By staying calm, focussed and not getting flustered. “You need to have faith in your own abilities to succeed in this career,” she explains. “That doesn’t mean being arrogant, but just having confidence in yourself. And if that’s becomes difficult, use your acting skills!”

Sign #3: You like English...

… and drama. “I always loved English at school,” says Liesje. “Particularly when analysing stories and trying to decide what the author meant. I loved drama too – and both these subjects are extremely useful in law. An analytical mind is essential when interpreting the law, while being able to act is vital for when you’re in court presenting the case.” 

*plotr note: In case you’re not sure, barristers are the lawyers who present the case to a judge, and solicitors are lawyers who prepare the case for a barrister. Sometimes, if the case is very small, a solicitor will present the case too.

Sign #2: You care

Hate it when someone is blamed for something they didn’t do? Feel compelled to report it, or put the situation right? Lawyers are concerned with fairness and justice – and in some cases stop wrongly accused people from going to jail. “It’s wrong to think that lawyers are hard-hearted,” says Liesje. “I always feel as though I’m making a real difference to the client’s situation. You need to care.” 

Think all you need to become a lawyer are good grades and a sharp suit? Think again. Some of the most important skills – like passion, motivation and dedication – can’t be tested by exams. To find out more, plotr asked Liesje Dilworth, 27, a trainee solicitor at Eversheds, what she reckons makes a brilliant lawyer…

Sign #1: You’re a Sudoku whizz

Law is all about finding solutions to problems – and those don’t just come out of thin air! Instead, you need a methodical, clear-thinking way of approaching challenges. “As a lawyer, you do lots of research and reading, and sometimes it takes forever to unearth what you’re looking for,” says Liesje. “But when you do find the answer to a client’s problem it’s incredibly rewarding. So if you’re somebody who enjoys being analytical, tackling problems and working your way through them, that’s a good sign.”