The Law, in your hands.
Also known as "attorneys at law", lawyers are the advocates and advisors of the legal world. But, not all lawyers are like the ones you see on Law & Order. Often working in an office setting, lawyers cover a variety of specialties where some rarely, if ever, see the inside of a courtroom. Some areas of legal specialization include environmental law, tax law, intellectual property law, family law, securities law, and litigation among others. Lawyers in the Gulf Coast region are most often found working for independent firms, local governmental bodies, or within large oil and gas corporations as in-house counsels. The job requires long hours and involves extensive reading, writing, and researching of legal topics to provide clients with the best possible representation. Lawyers at higher positions double as managers who oversee paralegals, assistants, and researchers who aid in retrieving and compiling the information their clients need.
Thanks to continued population and business growth in the region, the demand for lawyers is expected to remain strong, increasing 22 percent over the 10-year period.
Lawyers remain one of the highest paid professions with entry-level wages nearly double the median for all occupations in the region.
These skills, interests, and knowledge areas are recommended for a career as a lawyer. The numbers below describe the relative important of each knowledge/skill area to the occupation.
Being dedicated to long hours of research, reading and comprehending documents as well as drafting and rewriting papers and arguments.
Arranging large amount of information into a cohesive pattern or order, and being able to find conclusions or answers to possible questions.
Being able to persuade or convince someone to change their mind or reconcile in some way.
Being a lawyer requires a 4-year bachelor's degree program followed by 3 years of law school to get a juris doctorate (J.D.) from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) or one with a similar course structure.
To get into law school, individuals must take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) to determine their eligibility as applicants. The LSAT is an hour and fifty-five minute long test that measures reading, writing, and logical reasoning.
While in law school, or even before, it is helpful to study more about the various sectors of the legal field and think about which one you intend to pursue.
After law school, prospective lawyers must take a series of licensing examinations, called the "bar," as determined by the Texas State Bar Association before they are allowed to legally practice law.