Most lawyers list "litigation," "law firm," and "legal issues" as skills on their resumes. We go into more details on the most important lawyer responsibilities here:
What Does a Lawyer Do?
A lawyer is a legal practitioner who specializes in understanding and interpreting laws and other legal matters. Their responsibilities revolve around providing legal counseling and advice, representing clients in different kinds of court proceedings, conducting research, collecting evidence, and coordinating with various experts. A lawyer must also manage and oversee the performance of assistants, paralegals, and other team members. Furthermore, there are instances when a lawyer must draft or manage documents such as contracts, trusts, deeds, and wills, assisting clients as needed.
Lawyer Responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real lawyer resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.
- Participate in drafting legal documents and prepare business contracts, perform taxation duties for the enterprise and settle disputes with employees.
- Handle all types of civil claims and provide notary services
- Review of complaints relate to judicial ethics and employee misconduct.
- Draft, proofread and ensure filing and service of criminal motions.
- Draft a variety of pleadings and motions on behalf of the plaintiff.
- Assist clients at the notary public office and negotiate licensing agreements for virtual data rooms.
- Promote legality and transparency of the ministry s actions through interpretation and legal analyses.
- Track and supervise successful case management of European, German, and international IP and commercial litigation proceedings.
- Provide litigation support by leading case investigations, gathering underwriting, claim, and agency information and subpoena responses.
- Represent individual and institutional clients in all aspects of commercial and residential real estate acquisition, financing and leasing and foreclosure.
- Conduct successful mediations on behalf of clients.
- Represent clients in mediations; conduct negotiations with defense attorneys and claims adjusters.
- Prepare cases for emergency removal hearings and trials before the court including preparing witnesses and filing motions and subpoenas.
- Handle arbitration hearings and relate matters.
- Serve as guardian ad litem as appointed by circuit court judges to represent children in insurance settlement hearings.
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Lawyer Skills and Personality Traits
We calculated that 14% of Lawyers are proficient in Litigation, Law Firm, and Legal Issues. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Interpersonal skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Lawyers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Litigation, 14%
Listed in first edition of Best's Directories of Recommended Insurance Attorneys and Adjusters Quarterly Communication -Member Council for Litigation Management
- Law Firm, 8%
Handled various administrative responsibilities within a Law Firm or Legal Department.
- Legal Issues, 7%
Conducted investigative research on legal issues related to international intellectual property and trade as well as IP and international trade matters.
- Real Estate, 6%
Provided legal advice to corporate clients regarding business, taxation and real estate transactions and oversaw in corporate negotiations.
- Legal Research, 6%
Performed legal research and drafted interoffice memorandums regarding Nevada law, including consolidating multiple cases and peer review privilege.
- Civil Law, 5%
Conducted criminal and civil lawsuit, drew up legal document and advised clients as to legal rights.
The three companies that hire the most prestigious lawyers are:
- Axiom Global40 Lawyers Jobs
- Latham & Watkins25 Lawyers Jobs
- Womble17 Lawyers Jobs
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What Student Attorneys Do
A Senior Attorney supervises all activities of junior attorneys and deals with all complex legal transactions. They identify legal issues and offer businesses and their customers optimum solutions, as well as ensure that businesses respond appropriately to any legislative changes.
In this section, we take a look at the annual salaries of other professions. Take student attorney for example. On average, the student attorneys annual salary is $10,623 lower than what lawyers make on average every year.
Even though lawyers and student attorneys have vast differences in their careers, a few of the skills required to do both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require legal issues, legal research, and legal advice in the day-to-day roles.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. A lawyer responsibility is more likely to require skills like "litigation," "law firm," "real estate," and "civil law." Whereas a student attorney requires skills like "domestic violence," "fact investigation," "irs," and "low-income clients." Just by understanding these different skills you can see how different these careers are.
The education levels that student attorneys earn is a bit different than that of lawyers. In particular, student attorneys are 8.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a lawyer. Additionally, they're 1.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.
What Are The Duties Of a Senior Attorney?
An Assistant Staff Attorney performs a wide range of clerical and administrative work that requires knowledge of legal terms, documents, and procedures. They also communicate with clients to keep them informed on case progress.
Next up, we have the senior attorney profession to look over. This career brings along a lower average salary when compared to a lawyer annual salary. In fact, senior attorneys salary difference is $4,806 lower than the salary of lawyers per year.
Not everything about these jobs is different. Take their skills, for example. Lawyers and senior attorneys both include similar skills like "litigation," "law firm," and "legal issues" on their resumes.
But both careers also use different skills, according to real lawyer resumes. While lawyer responsibilities can utilize skills like "real estate," "civil law," "corporate law," and "contract law," some senior attorneys use skills like "eeo," "internal clients," "excellent interpersonal," and "risk management."
When it comes to the differences in education between the two professions, senior attorneys tend to reach lower levels of education than lawyers. In fact, they're 7.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.
What Technology Do You Think Will Become More Important And Prevalent For Lawyers In The Next 3-5 Years?
William Logue
Director of Dispute Resolution Training Interim Director of Summer Programs, Quinnipiac University
The pandemic has and will continue to accelerate the use of technology. Six months ago, few mediations or arbitrations were held by video conference. Now, the majority have moved in that direction. Being familiar with, and skillful in using, the new technology, and the role it can play in dispute system design, will be necessary. The adoption of online dispute resolution (ODR) and integration of artificial intelligence will move faster because of the pandemic and the new demand and increased user comfort level with technology. Show more
How an Assistant State Attorney Compares
A Document Review Attorney reviews various types of legal documents, such as contract and employment law, intellectual property, and commercial litigation, to identify any areas of risk or information that may need correction.
The assistant state attorney profession generally makes a lower amount of money when compared to the average salary of lawyers. The difference in salaries is assistant state attorneys making $33,553 lower than lawyers.
By looking over several lawyers and assistant state attorneys resumes, we found that both roles utilize similar skills, such as "litigation," "legal issues," and "legal research." But beyond that the careers look very different.
Some important key differences between the two careers are a few of the skills necessary to fulfill responsibilities. Some examples from lawyer resumes include skills like "law firm," "real estate," "civil law," and "intellectual property," whereas an assistant state attorney might be skilled in "appeals," "rehabilitation," "law enforcement agencies," and "criminal division. "
Assistant state attorneys typically study at lower levels compared with lawyers. For example, they're 10.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 24.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.
Description Of a Document Review Attorney
The fourth career we look at typically earns lower pay than lawyers. On average, document review attorneys earn a difference of $34,627 lower per year.
According to resumes from both lawyers and document review attorneys, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "litigation," "law firm," and "legal issues. "
Each job requires different skills like "real estate," "legal research," "civil law," and "legal advice," which might show up on a lawyer resume. Whereas document review attorney might include skills like "complex litigation," "e-discovery software," "qc," and "attorney-client privilege."
The average resume of document review attorneys showed that they earn lower levels of education to lawyers. So much so that the likelihood of them earning a Master's Degree is 8.5% less. Additionally, they're more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 33.6%.
Types Of Lawyer
Legal Extern
Average Salary: $47,238
Bachelor's Degree
Available Jobs: 57,288
How To Become a Legal Extern
Attorney
Average Salary: $109,476
Doctoral Degree
Available Jobs: 49,359
How To Become an Attorney
Contract Attorney
Average Salary: $97,474
Doctoral Degree
Available Jobs: 14,370
How To Become a Contract Attorney
General Counsel
Average Salary: $125,248
Bachelor's Degree
Available Jobs: 8,173
How To Become a General Counsel
Staff Attorney
Average Salary: $110,028
Doctoral Degree
Available Jobs: 6,710
How To Become a Staff Attorney
Housing Counselor
Average Salary: $78,730
Bachelor's Degree
Available Jobs: 5,141
How To Become a Housing Counselor
What a Lawyer Does FAQs
Can I Become A Lawyer With A Felony?
Yes, you can become a lawyer with a felony; however, there are a few states that prohibit felons from becoming lawyers. The three states that ban felons from becoming lawyers are:
Kansas
Mississippi
Texas
How Hard Is Law School?
Law school is very hard. To start with, getting into law school is difficult. You need to have a strong GPA and score well on the LSAT.
The LSAT is an exam that must be taken to enter law school, and it is notorious for being very hard. Many applicants have to take it multiple times before getting a passing grade. And if you are planning to attend a top law school, the competition is fierce.
How Many Hours Do Lawyers Work?
Lawyers work a variety of different hours depending on several factors. Lawyers working for large-scale law firms work an average of 66 hours per week, while attorneys working for small or medium-sized law firms work an average of 42-54 hours per week, and lawyers working for government institutions generally work around 40 hours per week.
The amount of hours a lawyer works really depends on the type of lawyer they are and who they work for. Another factor is the unique demands of each individual case they work on. Certain lawyers even offer their clients 24/7 access to them.
Many lawyers do keep a fairly average work week of around 40 hours; however, most lawyers work much more than this, as stated above.
One of the reasons lawyers choose or need to work many hours is because they have minimum billable hour requirements. These requirements are assigned by the law firm in which they work.
They also have other tasks that take up a fair amount of time, such as travel, research, gaining new clients, and communicating with various different legal parties. All of these activities make it impossible for some lawyers to keep a work week of 40 or fewer hours.
Another reason for lawyers' long hours is that their job requires them to be fully dedicated to their clients. Many lawyers work outside of their firms' business hours to deliver quality legal services to their clients.
Even if a lawyer does not work for a firm where minimum billable hours are demanded, they often have to work outside of their normal business hours to keep up with all of their legal-related tasks.
How To Be A Good Lawyer?
To be a good lawyer, develop your communication skills, remain persistent, and stay passionate. Being a lawyer can be a wonderful career, but it can also be a stressful career, so finding ways to keep yourself on top of your work can help alleviate this stress.
How To Reduce Lawyer Burnout
You should take time away from the office, utilize technology, and focus on your health in order to reduce lawyer burnout. Here are more details on each of these strategies you can employ to reduce lawyer burnout:
What Are The Benefits Of Being A Lawyer?
The benefits of being a lawyer are having a variety of career options and a lucrative salary.
If you're interested in becoming a lawyer, it's important to consider all of the pros and cons of this exciting career. Understanding the benefits and drawbacks of this role will help you determine if you're well-suited for this career path. No matter the type of law you choose to practice, there will be benefits and drawbacks.
What Are The Best Gifts For A Lawyer?
The best gifts for a lawyer are ties, massages, and books. Here are some details on these great gift options and others from the lawyer in your life.
Lawyers need to dress to impress, so you can't go wrong with getting them a nice tie to compliment one of their many suits. There is such a wide selection of ties you won't have trouble finding the perfect one to match their personality and taste. Try to purchase high quality, maybe from a designer you know they prefer.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Being A Lawyer?
The pros of being a lawyer are having a variety of career options and a lucrative salary, while the cons include being in a high-stress role and having an expensive education.
Pros:
If you're interested in becoming a lawyer, it's important to consider all of the pros and cons of this exciting career. Understanding the benefits and drawbacks of this role will help you determine if you're well-suited for this career path. No matter the type of law you choose to practice, there will be benefits and drawbacks.
One of the benefits of being a lawyer is that you will actually have several career options in both the private and public sectors. Once you pass the bar exam, you can choose the speciality that you are most interested in. You can choose to practice as a criminal prosecutor helping to keep your community safe.
Or you can choose to work in areas like real estate and corporate law. You can also choose to work for an established law firm and work towards becoming a partner, or you can choose to start your own business. If you choose to start your own business, you can decide how you want to operate.
For example, you can work with multiple clients at one time, or you can work with a single client for an extended period of time. You can also choose to operate solely or to bring on a team of lawyers to work for you.
In addition to the ability to build the career of your choice, you will also likely be able to earn a generous income. In 2022, the average salary in the United States for a lawyer with one to two years of experience is $80,335 per year, and $99,456 per year with six to nine years of experience.
Along with the lucrative salary, many lawyers enjoy a level of prestige in the community. Many people view the profession of a lawyer as one with a high level of regard. This typically stems from their impressive degrees and their level of authority. In many ways, the career of a lawyer is associated with wealth and glamor.
Cons:
While being a lawyer comes with several enticing advantages, you also need to consider the drawbacks of this profession. If these drawbacks don't outweigh the cons, this may be a suitable career for you. Perhaps one of the biggest drawbacks to consider is the stress of being a lawyer.
When you are a lawyer, it is important to meet deadlines and as well as the demands of your clients. On a daily basis, lawyers will have to juggle deadlines, work long hours, and complex cases. They will also typically have to deal with clients who are in emotional situations.
This is particularly true if you are a criminal or family lawyer. It can be incredibly difficult to shoulder and share the emotional burden of your client's situation, and it is not unusual for clients to take their negative feelings and stress from their situations out on their lawyer.
In addition to the stress associated with the day-to-day tasks, many lawyers are also stressed out by the expensive education that comes along with their careers. Many law schools come with a large price tag. Typically, the better and more prestigious the law school, the more expensive the educational expense.
Even with a generous salary, new lawyers may not be able to pay off their debt as quickly as they would like.
What Degree Do You Need To Get Into Law School?
You need a bachelor's degree to get into law school. While there is not a minimum undergraduate GPA for law school, you can tell if your GPA is in the ballpark by looking up the median GPA of the incoming class for the schools you are interested in attending.
What Does A Lawyer Wear?
A lawyer wears a dark suit, pants suit, or dress skirt, with a white button up shirt (with a tie) or blouse with a blazer. Lawyers finish the ensemble with brown or black dress shoes.
What Does A Typical Day Look Like For A Lawyer?
A typical day for a lawyer involves client meetings, legal research, and court appearances. An average day in the life of a lawyer can depend on the type of law they practice, where they work and what their experience level is.
What Hours Do Lawyers Work?
Most lawyers work standard working hours of a 5-day week, consisting of 8-hour work days each day. This is often when their offices or their practices are open. Many lawyers may need additional hours researching cases or preparing and reviewing documents.
What Should I Study To Become A Lawyer?
You should study courses that will help with problem-solving, critical reading, and argumentation to become a lawyer. While there are no specific prerequisites for law school, the courses that you take as an undergraduate and the degree that you earn are important.
Why Do You Want To Be A Lawyer?
You want to be a lawyer because it enables you to help individuals, groups, and organizations with their legal matters and it is a profession that advances the public good.
There are many different kinds of lawyers and people choose this profession for a variety of reasons. In almost all cases, though, lawyers are an essential part of society that helps to hold the fabric of modern laws and ethics together.
Legal Consultant Vs Lawyer
A legal consultant works in an advisory capacity for a client, while a lawyer offers a client representation before a judge or in other legal matters.
A legal consultant is a professional who provides legal advice and strategies to individuals and organizations. While they can perform many of the same functions as a lawyer, legal consultants strictly provide services outside of the courtroom. They can work in many different areas of law including financial law, foreign affairs, real estate, as well as many others.
Have more questions? See all answers to common legal questions.