Exploring selected career specialties for attorneys
According to the American Bar Association, there are currently 1,315,561 lawyers practicing in the U.S. That is approximately one attorney for every 300 citizens. While some attend law school in hopes of becoming the next Clarence Darrow or Earl Warren, there are an astounding number of ways a law degree can be utilized.
Business and corporate attorney Job description
Corporations like banks, hospitals, insurance companies and biotechnology companies frequently employ a number of staff lawyers, while small companies often retain one or two. A corporate lawyer serves only their employer and focuses all their attention on the legal needs of the company for which they work. Sometimes referred to as staff attorneys, in-house counsel or chief legal officers, their primary job is to serve the interests of the corporation. Corporate attorneys are frequently called upon to practice other, related, areas of law. These include employment, tax law, trademarks, real estate and securities.
Skills required
Corporate lawyers need to be able to deal with stress, work in a fastpaced environment, meet with board members, work with management, and strategize under pressure.
Educational requirements
A bachelor’s degree and juris doctorate are required. Corporate lawyers must hold an attorney’s license in the state in which they are employed and be permitted to represent clients in federal court.
Salary
The typical salary for a corporate attorney ranges from $66,000 to $170,000, depending upon experience and the size of the corporation in question. The median income in San Jose is $119,000. Recent law school graduates generally make less, while top salaries are reserved for chief legal officers.
Estate attorney Job Description
Some people spend their entire adult lives building a net worth. At the end of life though, that money has to go somewhere. Estate attorneys help their clients come up with a plan to distribute those funds after they die and to minimize the taxes and other expenses that chip away at the bottom line. They also help the decedent’s family, friends and other beneficiaries navigate the sometimes murky waters of estate law.
Skills required
An estate attorney must thoroughly understand state and federal tax laws, wills, trusts, property and real estate. They should also be sensitive to the emotional component of estate planning and be able to deal with people as they experience grief.
Educational requirements
Estate lawyers must hold a bachelor’s degree and juris doctorate, pass the bar exam in the state in which they will practice, and have specialized training in estate law.
Salary
Estate law attorneys earn a median annual salary of $145,000 in San Jose.
Immigration attorney Job description
Post 9/11, immigration has become a more challenging area of concern. Still, the United States permits 1 million citizens of other countries to become legal permanent residents each year and continues to grant more visas to visitors than any other country. Immigration attorneys possess a thorough understanding of immigration laws as well as the ability to help clients – many of whom do not speak English – understand the process.
Skills required
Patience is truly a virtue when it comes to immigration law. The legal process takes time and rules can change along the way as Congress issues new regulations. It also requires finesse in terms of helping clients understand that the system is working the way it is supposed to, albeit slowly.
Educational requirements
A bachelor’s degree and juris doctorate are required, along with a law school specialization in immigration law. Immigration lawyers must also pass the bar exam in the state in which they plan to practice. Law school students pursuing a career in immigration law routinely take additional classes in citizenship, advising, statutory analysis and interviewing. Internships are recommended.
Salary
Immigration attorneys earn a median income of $109,000 in San Jose.
Criminal defense attorney Job description
The presumption of innocence in a criminal trial is what keeps criminal defense attorneys in business. It is a criminal lawyer who represents, in and out of court, clients who have been accused of a crime.
Skills required
The job requires stamina as there are generally several attempts made to settle cases outside of court before going to trial. It also requires a thorough knowledge of the law and the ability to gain the trust of their clients. A great criminal attorney is able to persuade a jury of his client’s innocence, even in the face of conflicting evidence.
Educational requirements
Criminal attorneys hold a bachelor’s degree and juris doctorate. Experience is key, which makes internships during and after law school a critical step toward career building.
Salary
The median salary for a criminal attorney in San Jose is $81,000, 41 percent higher than criminal attorney salaries nationwide.
Divorce attorney Job Description
There are few fields more contentious than divorce law. At least one party is likely to be unhappy in the event of a divorce which can make practicing in the field stressful. It is the primary responsibility of a divorce lawyer to insure the best interests of her client, whether or not her client has the emotional wherewithal to fight.
Skills required
A divorce lawyer must be able to focus on the job at hand, no matter what is going on with her client emotionally. She must be able to wade through the drama of divorce in order to reach the best settlement for her client. A divorce lawyer should also have the wisdom to determine which battles are worth fighting and which are not important in the grand scheme.
Educational requirements
Like all other attorney jobs, a bachelor’s degree and juris doctorate are required. In addition, law students who know they want to practice divorce law are encouraged to take courses in child custody, property rights and family dysfunction.
Salary
The median salary for a divorce attorney in San Jose is $73,000.
Overall job outlook
These five career paths are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to practicing law. Lawyers can also choose to focus on fields such as employment and labor, intellectual property, personal injury, entertainment, mergers and acquisitions, tax, traffic, bankruptcy, malpractice and digital media, among others.
The value of a law degree lies in the myriad of ways one can use it. The risk was summed up in December 2015 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in their biennial Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) which predicts future employment. The OOH warns, “Competition for jobs should continue to be strong because more students are graduating from law school each year than there are jobs available.”
For law students who understand the potential challenges of finding a job following graduation, the message is clear: be competitive. Take advantage of classes focused on the field of law one plans to enter. Apply for internships and make as many professional contacts as possible. In short, begin to plan for and build a career while still in law school in order to create a resume that stands apart from the crowd.