10 downsides to being a lawyer

10 downsides to being a lawyer

 

 

While the legal career has many advantages, it is also one of the most difficult. Here are the ten biggest disadvantages of working as a lawyer ...

We recently told you about the ten good reasons to become a lawyer. Here are this time the worst defects of this career, according to The Lawyerist.

 

 

1. A stressful job

Who didn't know? All lawyers have their fair share of stress, whether it is due to delays, the pressure to achieve billable hours, client requests as well as legislative changes… the list goes on!

 

 

2. A busy schedule

 

The Bar Meter report, which compiles statistics on the practice of lawyers, revealed in 2015 that more than half of lawyers work more than 40 hours per week. For some it is even 60 or 70 hours and more. This is the competitive environment of the field as well as the possibility of being reached at all times on your cell phone.

 

 

3. An unsatisfactory career

 

The combination of elements 1 and 2 creates significant dissatisfaction among members of the Bar with regard to their work. Indeed, lawyers have some of the highest rates of depression and suicide. What cool a student who wants to get into law!

 

 

4. Significant costs

 

Unlike other countries, tuition fees are relatively low in Quebec. However, lawyers generally pay more than average, whether for the very expensive Bar School or for doctrine books and laws. Without counting any higher studies ...

 

 

5. A competitive environment

 

There are more and more lawyers ... and fewer and fewer positions available. Obviously, then, lawyers have no choice but to charge less, to be more available and to work more. This is often frustrating ...

 

 

6. Customer pressure

 

If you don't feel like having to continually discuss your fees with your clients, then this isn't the job for you. Lawyers constantly have to justify the amounts billed to their clients, who are always opposed. Account actions are very common, in both large and small firms.

 

 

7. The loss of control over the law

 

The work of the lawyer evolves. For the best or for the worst? Anyway, we have to admit that lawyers no longer have a monopoly on the law, while more and more resources are emerging, such as information sites, virtual law offices or paralegals. At least, some acts remain reserved exclusively for lawyers.

 

 

8. Technology

 

New technologies are emerging that facilitate the work of the lawyer, of course, but they force him to familiarize himself with it. A lot of software, which has become essential for any lawyer, will necessarily have to be purchased, whether in terms of document review, calculation of limitation periods, invoicing ...

 

 

9. Outsourcing of legal processes

 

It’s more than a trend; the outsourcing of legal work to foreign countries is an economic reality. More and more legal work is sent to low-wage workers abroad or to regional delivery centers. In doing so, local lawyer jobs are displaced or limited.

 

 

10. An image problem

 

“What do you call 10,000 avocados at the bottom of the sea? A good start! While fans of Better Call Saul are now familiar with lawyer jokes, they do reveal that the image of the profession is grim with the public. Indeed, lawyers have a constant image problem and are among the most hated people. And stories that we regularly hear about lawyers, about fraud or overly high fees, do not help matters ...