There are more than 1 million licensed attorneys in the United States, and it is internationally regarded as one
of the safest places for a legitimate foreign business to operate -- if they like a predictable, enforceable legal
system. A person on the receiving end of a legal action may not feel that attorneys are decent people -- until
they get their own legal help. Other attorneys are bad, but their own attorney is only asserting their legitimate
rights and helping them with paperwork. The more attorneys there are, the more likely are people, in general,
to be able to have access to enforcement of their rights. The legal system and respect for law distinguish
countries like the United States from those with totalitarian systems where people "know their place" and
private enforcement is more common than legal enforcement. Despite delays and inconveniences and
occasional miscarriages resulting from abuses of the legal system, the legal system we have is great for our
social system and comparable systems work well, elsewhere -- better than hiring "hit men" or governments
kidnapping suspects at night.
of the safest places for a legitimate foreign business to operate -- if they like a predictable, enforceable legal
system. A person on the receiving end of a legal action may not feel that attorneys are decent people -- until
they get their own legal help. Other attorneys are bad, but their own attorney is only asserting their legitimate
rights and helping them with paperwork. The more attorneys there are, the more likely are people, in general,
to be able to have access to enforcement of their rights. The legal system and respect for law distinguish
countries like the United States from those with totalitarian systems where people "know their place" and
private enforcement is more common than legal enforcement. Despite delays and inconveniences and
occasional miscarriages resulting from abuses of the legal system, the legal system we have is great for our
social system and comparable systems work well, elsewhere -- better than hiring "hit men" or governments
kidnapping suspects at night.
What do attorneys do? There are hundreds of different types. Their pay ranges all the way from the low
$20,000.00 annual salary for public interest attorneys and those defending the poor in such areas as Legal
Aide, to triple digits -- $100,000.00 or more per year -- for those who have been practicing law for years and
those who begin employment with large firms that help businesses -- the largest source of lawsuits -- win
cases. In one recent case, McDonald v. Pension Plan, cv-05-1435, 1630, 1749, 4140, 4288, a sole
practitioner's rate was reduced from $425.00 per hour to $390.00 per hour. The decision noted that "partner"
pay for a law firm might have merited $500.00 per hour, but that much of the work would have been delegated
to junior associates at the lower rate. For the sake of the public, it should be clear that most attorneys can
work at half that rate, and a higher rate might apply only to more complicated matters. Further, in much of
plaintiff's litigation, the fee may be contingent, so you are charged only if the case is settled or won.
$20,000.00 annual salary for public interest attorneys and those defending the poor in such areas as Legal
Aide, to triple digits -- $100,000.00 or more per year -- for those who have been practicing law for years and
those who begin employment with large firms that help businesses -- the largest source of lawsuits -- win
cases. In one recent case, McDonald v. Pension Plan, cv-05-1435, 1630, 1749, 4140, 4288, a sole
practitioner's rate was reduced from $425.00 per hour to $390.00 per hour. The decision noted that "partner"
pay for a law firm might have merited $500.00 per hour, but that much of the work would have been delegated
to junior associates at the lower rate. For the sake of the public, it should be clear that most attorneys can
work at half that rate, and a higher rate might apply only to more complicated matters. Further, in much of
plaintiff's litigation, the fee may be contingent, so you are charged only if the case is settled or won.
Wisdom, as well as Law School class rank -- even if it was 30 years ago -- are viewed as important to the
largest employers, but actually keeping a practice going depends as much on attracting and keeping grateful
clients happy enough to refer others, as it does on whether one got an "A" or a "C" in a 10 to 12 week
Contract Law class in 1975. For the same income level, the job of attorney isn't quite as attractive or
glamorous as being an airline pilot, but the practice of law, like any other profession or job -- fry cook, doctor,
nurse, janitor, air host or hostess, waitperson, paralegal, secretary -- it's what you make of it and your level
of happiness will depend on your attitude and behaviors.
largest employers, but actually keeping a practice going depends as much on attracting and keeping grateful
clients happy enough to refer others, as it does on whether one got an "A" or a "C" in a 10 to 12 week
Contract Law class in 1975. For the same income level, the job of attorney isn't quite as attractive or
glamorous as being an airline pilot, but the practice of law, like any other profession or job -- fry cook, doctor,
nurse, janitor, air host or hostess, waitperson, paralegal, secretary -- it's what you make of it and your level
of happiness will depend on your attitude and behaviors.
The grass is always greener on the other side. Still, ask most pilots, they wouldn't give up their jobs to be
attorneys, and there are a lot of attorneys who wouldn't mind being pilots or doctors if they had the
background and skills for that kind of work. Many, in fact, end up in somewhat related careers, like corporate
officer, stock analyst, or business manager. For the right person with a sharp mind but without the strong
scientific orientation needed for medicine and science, and without business or financial background needed
for high levels of success in the world of high finance and economics, a career in law is a generalist's answer to
the question, "What am I going to do with my brains, just squelch them?"
attorneys, and there are a lot of attorneys who wouldn't mind being pilots or doctors if they had the
background and skills for that kind of work. Many, in fact, end up in somewhat related careers, like corporate
officer, stock analyst, or business manager. For the right person with a sharp mind but without the strong
scientific orientation needed for medicine and science, and without business or financial background needed
for high levels of success in the world of high finance and economics, a career in law is a generalist's answer to
the question, "What am I going to do with my brains, just squelch them?"
Law has as many areas as there are people. Ranging all the way from such pursuits as the prosecution or
defense of accused criminals to car accident attorneys or insurance defense, to such non-court-intensive areas
as business and estate planning law, immigration, divorce and child custody law, corporate counsel,
government lawyer. There is something for everyone. It's all about participating as a citizen. It just takes the
initial intellectual interest allowing one to pursue the law as a career pursuit, in the first place. However,
beyond that, there's not much more in common between injury litigation attorneys and business contract
drafting attorneys than there is between accident victims and businessmen, in general. Thus, an attorney is
someone who may work on injury cases, or may work advising businesses on business law, or may make wills
for people, but not many attorneys do all of those things at the same time -- just as a car mechanic may be a
specialist in bodywork or in engine electronics, but not usually both. The attorney who represents people
injured in car accidents may feel more in common with accident victims, traffic police and doctors who treat
accident victims, than he or she feels in common with attorneys who draft corporate merger and acquisition
contracts -- even if they both go to the same American Bar Association annual meeting. Surprisingly to many
people, the plaintiff's attorney may feel he is in the same profession as injury defense attorneys, but almost as
if in a different profession from those who handle patent and trademark law.
defense of accused criminals to car accident attorneys or insurance defense, to such non-court-intensive areas
as business and estate planning law, immigration, divorce and child custody law, corporate counsel,
government lawyer. There is something for everyone. It's all about participating as a citizen. It just takes the
initial intellectual interest allowing one to pursue the law as a career pursuit, in the first place. However,
beyond that, there's not much more in common between injury litigation attorneys and business contract
drafting attorneys than there is between accident victims and businessmen, in general. Thus, an attorney is
someone who may work on injury cases, or may work advising businesses on business law, or may make wills
for people, but not many attorneys do all of those things at the same time -- just as a car mechanic may be a
specialist in bodywork or in engine electronics, but not usually both. The attorney who represents people
injured in car accidents may feel more in common with accident victims, traffic police and doctors who treat
accident victims, than he or she feels in common with attorneys who draft corporate merger and acquisition
contracts -- even if they both go to the same American Bar Association annual meeting. Surprisingly to many
people, the plaintiff's attorney may feel he is in the same profession as injury defense attorneys, but almost as
if in a different profession from those who handle patent and trademark law.