Attorney Career

attorney-500

Becoming an attorney requires a substantial commitment. After a bachelor’s degree, people interested in becoming attorneys must complete law school and take the required bar exams.

Attorneys complete a rigorous training program and often endure grueling hours once employed. However, careers in law are prestigious and the salaries are often high.

In addition, you can choose from many different areas of the law including; environmental law, criminal law, tax law, and patent law to name just a few. If you like the thought of upholding the law, then becoming an attorney might be the career for you.

Attorney Career Assessment

Take our Attorney career assessment. This 30 question quiz let’s you know if you’re cut out for a career as an attorney by analyzing your abilities, skills, and interests.

1. Are you OK with the idea of representing clients in court?

2. Are you capable of analyzing the probable outcome of situations?

3. Do you like the idea of interpreting laws and rules?

4. Could you meet with judges and question witnesses?

5. Are you willing to study the constitution and statutes?

6. Do you have knowledge of the English language including spelling and grammar?

7. Are you interested in gaining knowledge of laws including legal codes?

8. Are you up to the task of meeting or exceeding customers/clients needs?

9. Do you have or are you interested in gaining knowledge of business and management principles?

10. Do you have knowledge of human behavior including differences in personality and in motivation?

11. Can you give your full attention to what others are saying?

12. Are you capable of conveying information effectively?

13. Can you use logic and reasoning to think through problems?

14. Are you capable of complex problem solving?

15. Do you have the ability to understand complex written sentences?

16. Do you have the ability to convey information so others will understand?

17. Can you speak clearly and concisely?

18. Do you have the ability to clearly communicate your ideas in the written word?

19. Can you understand the speech of another person?

20. Can you apply deductive and inductive reasoning?

21. Are you OK with analyzing and evaluating information to solve problems?

22. Do you have the patience to obtain information from all relevant sources?

23. Can you resolve conflicts?

24. Can you communicate effectively with people you do not know?

25. Are you OK analyzing data or information?

26. Are you OK working indoors 100% of the time every day?

27. Are you OK having a telephone conversation several times a day every day?

28. Are you OK drafting letters and preparing legal documents every day?

29. Are you OK having face-to-face discussions daily?

30. Do you have the ability to be exact or accurate in performing your job?

Attorney Snapshot

Estimates show that over 25% of all lawyers are self employed. This figure includes those that work as partners in firms and have their own practice.

Here are further details on attorney careers (statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):

$115,820

is the average earnings for attorneys per year.

6%

increase in employment between 2014 and 2024.

92%

have a Doctoral/Professional degree.

Attorney Education

In order to gain employment as an attorney, individuals must complete a Bachelor’s degree. They must then attend and complete 3-years of law school from an accredited college or university and pass the Bar exam. The requirements of the bar exam vary from state to state.

Attorney Job Duties

Lawyers act as advisors, counseling their clients about legal rights and obligations. They may also act as advocates, representing a party in civil and criminal trials. As an advocate, lawyers often present evidence and argue in defense of their client in courts of law.

Attorney Salaries

The average wage for attorneys is $115,820 per year. Salaries of lawyers vary due to specialty, size, and location of their employer. These salary estimates were obtained by the Occupational Employment Statistics survey program based on May 2015 data.

Attorney Job Outlook

Employment for attorneys is expected to grow due to the increase in the population and business activities. However, the rise in use of paralegals to perform much of the background on legal cases will lower the need for lawyers. Competition between lawyers for job openings is often fierce therefore experience and academic records are important.

Attorney Career

Take a look at some of the expected work activities of attorneys in the table below:

Attorney Skill Set:Required Abilities:Tools Used by Attorneys:
•Active Listening
•Speaking
•Critical Thinking
•Reading Comprehension
•Complex Problem Solving

•Oral Expression
•Oral Comprehension
•Speech Clarity
•Written Comprehension
•Written Expression

•LCD Projector
•Notebook Computers
•PDAs or Organizers
•Photocopiers
•Scanners

Attorney Career Insights

The following attorneys were kind enough to grant us interviews in order to present career insights to you:

Kurt Olson | Attorney & Law Professor at Massachusetts School of Law

Kurt Olson | Attorney & Law Professor at Massachusetts School of Law
Law Professor for 20 years

Why did you get into the legal profession?

I’d been in business for myself for approximately twenty years when I decided it was time for a career change. The law seemed like a good fit because I’d given thought to a career in the law when I was an undergraduate, and it seemed like legal questions were always coming up in my business.

How did you get into the legal profession?

I became a lawyer after attending law school part-time while continuing to work. I attended the Massachusetts School of Law for four years, and I obtained a juris doctor degree. I then took and passed the Massachusetts bar exam, and I took and passed the New Hampshire bar exam the following year.

What do you like best about the legal profession?

I like the challenge presented by different legal issues, I like putting the pieces of the legal research puzzle together, and I like the satisfaction of helping people with their legal problems.

What skills are most important for the legal profession?

The ability to discern the issues presented by a particular client’s factual scenario, and the ability to apply the law to those issues in a comprehensive and understandable way are the two most important skills.

What is the most challenging thing about being in the legal profession?

The most challenging things about the profession are managing time wisely and dealing with the divergent personalities presented by clients, judges, and other lawyers.

Do you have any advice for those attending law school or pursuing a career as an attorney?

Whether you’re a lawyer or a law student, pay attention to the details. The rock band, The Eagles, wrote a famous line which was as true 100 years ago as it is today, “The Lawyers dwell on the small details.” Suffice it to say if you don’t pay attention to those small details, you and your clients will encounter severe difficulties.

Adam Kalish Esq. | Attorney at Kalish Law NYC

Adam Kalish Esq. | Attorney at Kalish Law NYC
Attorney for 5 years

Why did you decide to get into the legal profession?

Since early on, I always enjoyed arguing and fighting for the little guy. With my firm I am able to help fight for small business against city and state regulations.

How did you get into the profession?

To become a lawyer I had a four year bachelor’s degree and three year law degree.

What do you like best about being an attorney?

The profession can provide great personal satisfaction with your work. Going toe to toe against other attorneys and sometimes winning, for those who have a competitive spirit, there is no better feeling than winning.

What skills are most important for being an attorney?

First and foremost you must be a good researcher and good writer. Most cases never get to the point of being before a judge, so in order to win you need to be able to express your point in writing. Then you need to be smart and think on your feet.

What is the most challenging thing about being an attorney?

The legal profession is intensive. you need to be prepared to work hard and more often than not work long hours. It’s not always a profession that is well liked or respected by others.

Do you have any advice for those attending school or pursuing this profession?
If you are in law school, get as much practical experience as possible. Law schools don’t teach enough real world experience. One really needs to intern or work part time in a law firm to really understand what happens in reality.

Asma Warsi Chaudry | Attorney, AsmaChaudry.com

Asma Warsi Chaudry | Attorney, AsmaChaudry.com

Attorney for 13 years

Why did you decide to get into the legal profession?

Initially, I decided to become an attorney based on media portrayals of what attorneys did.  Later, as time passed, I wanted to be an attorney because of what lawyers can do to change the lives of their clients.

How did you get into the legal profession?

BA from Rutgers University
MA from NYU
JD from Rutgers, Newark

What do you like best about being an attorney?

I like helping people.  I like seeing the difference I can make in the life of one person. Maybe I can’t change the world, but I can change one person’s life for the better and that inspires me.

What skills are most important for people who want to become attorneys?

Attorneys need to have strong writing and communication skills.  Also, they need to have strong analytical skills to be able to view situations in the same way as a Judge or an adjudicator might view things.

What is the most challenging thing about being an attorney?

The most difficult part of being an attorney is managing many different types of work. You have to juggle many things, often simultaneously.  The workload is relentless and never stops, since there is always something else that needs to be done.

Do you have any advice for those attending school or pursuing a career as an attorney?

My advice to all potential attorneys is to work on your time management skills.  The difference between a successful attorney and others is not their intelligence, rather it is their ability to use their time and energy in the most effective manner.

Mary Kilpatrick | Law Librarian at the Massachusetts School of Law

Mary Kilpatrick | Law Librarian at the Massachusetts School of Law
Law librarian for 12 years

Why did you decide to get into the legal profession?
During law school, I realized what I really enjoyed was the research process. I attended law school when the internet really started to take off and transform legal research, and I wanted to learn more. I decided to pursue a career as an academic law librarian at that time.

How did you get into the legal profession?
Most academic law library positions require both a law degree and a Master’s degree in library and information science. After I completed law school at N.Y.U., I was awarded a graduate fellowship at the University of Maryland, where I received my M.L.S. It took four and a half years to get both degrees.

What do you like best about being a legal librarian?
I like helping people find what they need. I also enjoy teaching law students about legal research in the internet age. I am fortunate to work at a law school with a diverse student body and it is great to learn from my students as well. One advantage to working in any type of information profession, and I would include lawyers in this category as well, is that you are always learning new things.

What skills are most important for a career as a legal librarian?
Lawyers are professional writers. I’m not sure may people go into law with the understanding of how much writing they will be doing. Law librarians work to support the lawyers’ writing process by helping them to find the materials they need in a cost-effective manner. This requires knowledge of legal resources and search strategies, as well as an ability to communicate with people to understand their information needs.

What is the most challenging thing about being a legal librarian?
I think one of the challenges of being a legal researcher or law librarian these days is managing change. Both the legal and library professions are undergoing transformations due to both rapid changes in technology and to larger economic forces. Lawyers, law firms, and law schools are all looking for ways to manage escalating research costs without compromising quality.

Do you have any advice for those attending school or pursuing this profession?
Anyone considering pursuing a career in a law-related field, whether it’s as a lawyer or a law librarian, should get as much writing experience as they can. Take courses as an undergraduate that allow you to develop your writing skills.

Charles Eric Gordon, Esq. | Attorney

Charles Eric Gordon, Esq. | Attorney

Attorney for over 30 years

Why did you decide to get into the legal profession? 

I was always interested in law but even more interested in investigations.

How did you get into the profession?

I graduated from SUNY Cortland in 1974 as an English major and history minor but had many credits in sociology and geography. I received my Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School in 1979, having concentrated in criminal law, evidence and interning with the Queens County District Attorney.

What do you like best about the legal profession? 

My own niche; tracing hard to locate missing persons and conducting forensic intelligence research enables me to combine my legal education with my experience as an investigator in both the public and private sectors, combined with intuition and fresh insights.

What skills are most important for the profession? 

Keen insight and knowledge of case law, statutes and of people.

What is the most challenging thing about being in the field of law? 

Sometimes, it feels like being “married to the law”. Once you learn to “think like a lawyer” it can be hard to not carry it over into non work hours, not that this is a totally bad thing.

Do you have any advice for those attending school or pursuing a career in law?

Do not expect to necessarily make a lot of money, but if you enjoy intellectual challenges law may be a good fit. If you can be analytical and enjoy interacting with people, investigative work, as a lawyer or in private investigations or law enforcement, may be for you.

Dan Miller | Attorney at LegalDefense.com

Dan Miller | Attorney at LegalDefense.com

Attorney for 15 years

Why did you decide to get into the legal profession?

This was a family trade. Both my father and brother were attorneys. In addition, I graduated with a BA in Philosophy and had limited options for a career path.

How did you get into the profession?

Four years of college – Emory University, two and a half years of law school Thomas Cooley Law School. Passed the bar and went to work for my uncle who had a small but thriving multi area practice in Virginia Beach. After three years I went out on my own.

What do you like best about being an attorney?

I enjoy the comradely and the out of office experience of being a trial attorney.

What skills are most important to become an attorney?

In order to survive one has to be good at marketing. To be successful one has to be a good marketer, a good rain maker and a good attorney.

What is the most challenging thing about being an attorney?

Time. I am in Court in every day from about 8 am to 2 pm and see clients from 2 pm to 5 pm which leaves night time to prepare for cases and manage the firm.

Do you have any advice for those attending school or pursuing this profession?

Don’t do it. Those coming out of law school are finding that it is near impossible to find a job and those that are attempting to hang a shingle are finding that it’s a tough market out there. If you are already in law school find a part time job in a law firm to give you an edge above the rest of the herd. Experience in the field is much more important than the degree.

David T. Pisarra | Attorney at MensFamilyLaw.com

David T. Pisarra | Attorney at MensFamilyLaw.com

Attorney for 15 years

Why did you decide to get into the legal profession?

Family law offers me the opportunity to help people at the worst time in their life. I am a resource for my clients in more ways than being just a legal advisor. I am a psychologist, sex and dating counselor, job coach and parent’s aide. When I represent a client they usually need to know far more than just ‘what will the judge rule’ – I often have to teach them about the psychology of what their ex-spouse is doing, get the client into a Parenting Class, and oftentimes we are the driving force that helps them get sober and enter recovery.

How did you get into the profession?

My undergraduate degree is in Philosophy and Mathematics which set me up for understanding the emotional and the financial side of doing a divorce. Emotions and money are at the core of any divorce and you have to be comfortable with both.

The Child Custody aspect of family law requires additional, ongoing education to learn psychology of family dynamics, personality disorders (which is crucial because so often they play a HUGE role in a divorce and child custody case) and parenting skills.

The Domestic Violence aspect of Family Law requires that one have a solid grounding in trial work and effective advocacy for your client when faced with a Domestic Violence action that will impact their ability to work and provide for the family, impact their child custody and oftentimes has a criminal law element to it as well.

What do you like best about being an attorney?

The clients who are truly grateful, once they have regained their children. Helping fathers regain the love of a child is ultimately rewarding. So often they are disenfranchised men who are being denied their parental rights, and when I can bring a father back to his rightful role, it shows me know why I do this emotionally brutal work.

What skills are most important for being an attorney?

Multi-level thinking, an intuitive understanding of humans, ability to negotiate and a thick skin are all crucial to make it as a family law attorney. Being a divorce lawyer in Los Angeles is a hard task, but the good ones have a skill set that goes far beyond the book learning we are taught in law school.

What is the most challenging thing about being in the profession?

Maintaining a professional distance from a client at the same time as you are passionately advocating for them. Divorce attorneys get intimately involved in their clients lives, and then leave. Cases become consuming and we have to remember to have our own lives and put the work away at night. Professional distance is not always easy to do after you’ve spent 8 or 9 hours with a man who is on the verge of tears when the judge tells him his kids are moving half a continent away and he can see them in the summer.

Do you have any advice for those attending school or pursuing this profession?

Be aggressive about the continuing education for Family Law Attorneys before you take on a case. Start with the money cases first. The cases with no children, where it’s just about property. You have to know how to negotiate, and it’s better to make your early mistakes over money than over peoples children.

Ken Gross | Attorney, Thav Gross and Financial Crisis Talk Center

Ken Gross | Attorney, Thav Gross and Financial Crisis Talk Center

Attorney for 31 years and host of The Financial Crisis Talk Center since 2008

Why did you decide to get into the legal profession?

I always wanted to be a lawyer – from elementary school forward, I was involved in the school issues, etc. Television also dramatized the image of lawyers which had a major impact on my early career visions.

How did you get into the profession

My undergraduate degree was in Accounting (B.S) at Wayne State University, Detroit. I went onto attend law school there, graduating Cum Laude with a J.D.

What do you like best about the legal profession?

Law is diverse. It provides you opportunity only limited by your own perception of your competence and abilty to pursue new areas.

What skills are most important for lawyers?

Writing, organization and an ability to think outside the box.

What is the most challenging thing about being a lawyer?

It is a profession that forces you to allows be running behind and taking the challenge to stay on top of the engagements you are handling.

Do you have any advice for those attending school or pursuing a career in law?

Do not be dissuaded by the tight job market. Instead, you need to differentiate yourself and skillset from your peers and be willing to take on and meet any opportunity. When you graduate law school and pass the bar, you must think of yourself as an equal to any lawyer, in any situation. To many young lawyers are timid and afraid to take on engagements because of their lack of experience. Research, the web and asking friends and collegues for direction is the way to overcome these fears.

Matthew P. Meyers, Esq. | Attorney at Matthew P. Meyers, P.A.

Matthew P. Meyers, Esq. | Attorney at Matthew P. Meyers, P.A.

Attorney since 2007

Why did you decide to get into the legal profession?

I originally sought a law degree to pursue opportunities in business. However, after I interned for a Circuit Court Judge (handling only criminal felony cases), I fell in love with the courtroom and changed my path to becoming a practicing trial attorney. A personal matter where my family was victimized lead my passion into criminal law.

How did you get into the profession?

I received a BA in Political Science from Florida State University and later attended Florida Coastal School of Law (Jacksonville, FL) for law school. I then held several internships while in school. I concentrated my studies on trial practice and procedure, honing my trial advocacy skills. The educational portion including undergraduate took a total of 7 years (4 for bachelors, 3 in law school). I then accepted a position as an Assistant State Attorney in Miami-Dade County where I was given extensive additional training.

It should be noted that being an attorney requires constant continuing education and training. There are requirement for CLE credits (Continuing Legal Education) as mandated by the Bar Association. An attorney must be responsible enough to take it upon his or herself to stay up to date on any changes in the law and recent court opinions. Therefore, your training and education is never completed.

What do you like best about the legal profession?

First and foremost, advocacy has become my passion. I truly enjoy making legal arguments in an open courtroom. Whether it is in front of a judge or jury, the thrill of battling with another educated person really drives me. I have a fierce competitive side, so that is likely what keeps me going every day.

Second, working in criminal law keeps you on your toes. There are so many working parts to the criminal justice system, leaving many cracks in the system for people and cases to fall through. The fact that I always have to be on my “A-game” also keeps me motivated and driven.

Finally, and most importantly, I enjoy helping others. Whether is was working with victims and witnesses as a prosecutor, or now as a criminal defense attorney helping people solve their problems, I truly enjoy being able to lend people a helping hand. The smile and thanks given after a fair and just outcome brings immense joy and reiterates why I do what I do.

What skills are most important for a career in law?

For being a trial attorney, impeccable communication skills are a must. An ability to constantly think on your feet and store immense amounts of information in your head are also very beneficial. Extensive knowledge of procedure, evidence, and facts of the case are what will lead a lawyer to victory. If they lack in any of the above, then it could lead to a severe injustice.

What is the most challenging thing about being a lawyer?

There will be times a lawyer does not get what he or she wants out of a case. This can be challenging and disappointing. However, this is the way the legal system is and all members of it need to accept the realities; that the case is in court for a reason – a dispute – so not everyone will come out of it 100% happy. But because of my passion, drive, and willingness to accept this, I don’t find too many aspects of the job too challenging.

Do you have any advice for those attending school or pursuing a career in law?

Only go to law school if you truly and honestly want to. There is no reason to incur such a debt if it is not going to benefit your future. Many young people are going to law school because they don’t know what else to do with their life, they don’t want to start a career just yet, or its because their parents want them to go (maybe because as a child, this student was particularly good at arguing with his or her parents)….none of these are valid reasons to take on $100k+ in debt for something you might not ever use. Whereas a Juris Doctor is a versatile degree, getting it is very expensive and demanding. The job market is also very saturated; in fact, there are close to 100,000 attorneys in Florida alone. Be wary of why you are going to law school and only do it for the right reasons.

Holly Vietzke | Attorney at Holly Lynch Law & Professor of Law at the Massachusetts School of Law

Holly Vietzke | Attorney at Holly Lynch Law & Professor of Law at the Massachusetts School of Law
Attorney for 7 years

Why did you decide to get into the legal profession?
To make me a better professor.

How did you get into the legal profession?
I went to Massachusetts School of Law part time. It took 3 ½ years.

What do you like best about the legal profession?
The skill sets that you acquire in school and practice.

What skills are most important for the legal profession?
Being able to write clearly and think analytically.

Do you have any advice for those attending school or pursuing a career as an attorney?
Don’t take any short cuts—there is no substitute for reading case law and mastering the written assignments.

Matt Starosciak | Attorney, Proven Law Marketing

Matt Starosciak | Attorney, Proven Law Marketing

Attorney for 15 years

Why did you decide to get into the legal profession?

After graduating with a B.A. in accounting from a good undergraduate school, I was unsure what I wanted to do, but knew I didn’t want to be an accountant. More education sounded like a good way to ensure I had the skills and credentials necessary to be successful in the job hunt and long-term.

How did you get into the profession?

I received my J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center. It was a 3 year, full-time program. During school, I also interned at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, and worked at a small litigation boutique in Houston.

What do you like best about being a lawyer?

The legal industry provides the opportunity to work with some really smart people who have the ability to change the lives of others. Lawyers get a bad rap often times, but the reality is that they do far more good than harm in society.

What skills are most important for lawyers?

Discipline. Whether you draft contracts in an office all day, or do high-profile trial work, lawyering takes a lot of discipline. You have to be able to concentrate for long periods of time, and pay attention to details most professionals don’t need to worry about.

What is the most challenging thing about being a lawyer?

Competition. There are so many practicing attorneys in the U.S., even in smaller towns. It’s very difficult to be successful without a really superior law firm marketing strategy.

Do you have any advice for those attending school or pursuing this profession?

If you really love the law, it’s a very gratifying profession with unlimited potential. However, if you are considering law school for other reasons, such as prestige, money, or a “guarantee” of success, take a step back and really look at the day-to-day work that attorneys do, as well as what they are making in the area where you would want to practice.

Yuri L. Eliezer | Patent Attorney, IP SmartUp

Yuri L. Eliezer | Patent Attorney, IP SmartUp

Attorney for over 10 years

Why did you decide to get into the patent law profession?

Albert Einstein was a clerk in the Swiss Patent Office.. Upon learning this information, I decided that it can’t be a bad idea to give Patent Law a try. Also, the average salary for patent attorneys was very attractive for me.

How did you get into the patent law profession?

I started as an intern at a patent law firm in college. In college, I was studying electrical engineering. Graduating from Georgia Tech, I passed the patent bar and worked as a patent agent full time, while going to law school at night. I passed the GA State Bar and became a Patent Lawer.

What do you like best about patent law?

Being involved in the fore-front of technology, knowing about innovations when they are first developed.

What skills are most important for a career in patent law?

Writing, understanding engineering, understanding law.

What is the most challenging thing about being a patent attorney?

Lots of tedious work.

Do you have any advice for those attending school or pursuing this profession?

Don’t do this if you don’t like science/engineering. Don’t do this if you don’t like law!

Shane McClelland | Attorney, McClelland/Well

Shane McClelland | Attorney, McClelland/Well

Attorney since 2011

Why did you decide to get into the legal profession?

I have always wanted to be a lawyer. I’m honestly not sure why. But looking back, I’ve always enjoyed helping people and fighting for a good cause. It’s a natural disposition for me. Those characteristics are essentially what make up a good lawyer. The vast majority of lawyers are working with clients at one of the worst times in their life – sometimes it will feel like you are their only friend.

How did you get into the profession?

The legal profession is very structured in the path you have to take – very similar to the medical profession.

First you need to obtain an undergraduate degree. For me, I went to Ohio Northern University and studied political science. That’s a very typical degree for going to law school. Other common ones are history, criminal justice, and English. However, you can major in anything and go to law school. I had friends who were engineers, pharmacists, and teachers.

During undergraduate school you need to take the LSAT – the Law School Admissions Test. Once you get that score it’ll give you an idea of the law schools you can apply to.

Once you get into law school, I went to Ohio Northern University for that as well, you then spend three years in law school (some school have 2 and 4 year programs, but 99% are 3 years).

After law school you need to sit for the Bar Exam in whichever state you want to practice. Each state has different requirements for the application process.

Overall, the path to becoming a lawyer will take a little over 7 years for most people.

What do you like best about being a lawyer?

The ability to help people – knowing that people rely on you to help them get out of problems, whether that is criminal, financial, or a bad marriage.

What skills are most important for lawyers?

You need to have an analytical mind. Our job is to be problem solvers for people. You need to be detailed. Also, depending on the type of law you go into, you need to be an excellent public speaker.

Being a great writer is probably the most important though. Everything you do as a lawyer is in writing.

What is the most challenging thing about being a lawyer?

Right now, it’s the overabundance of lawyers. This creates two issues: 1. There aren’t jobs for new lawyers. 2. The cost of legal work has dropped (because of competition) and this means it’s harder to earn a living. Especially if you have student loans to pay back.

Do you have any advice for those attending school or pursuing this profession?

1. Don’t go to law school if you’re doing it to get rich.

2. Network. Everything in the legal profession comes back to who you know – you’ll have questions and need answers, you’ll want people to refer you work, you’ll need to refer others work that you don’t handle, etc.

3. Don’t be afraid to open your own practice. The big firms are appealing because of the paycheck. But your quality of life suffers. You can make a great living working for yourself and also giving your clients better service because you’re happier and also charge them less because your expenses are lower.

4. Find a mentor

Steven A. Jayson, Esq. | Attorney, The Jayson Law Group, LLC

Steven A. Jayson, Esq. | Attorney, The Jayson Law Group, LLC

Attorney since 2010

Why did you decide to get into the legal profession?

When I was in college I was studying to be a High School History teacher. In my junior year I took a Constitutional Law class to fulfill a history requirement. Not only did I really enjoy the class but I did very well in it. My Constitutional Law professor convinced me to participate in a Moot Court competition through the University. My team placed first and I won Best Individual Orator, and while my partner and I did not get along, I really enjoyed the process of researching the issue and writing a legal brief. Due to my enjoyment of the Constitutional Law class and the Moot Court competition, the following semester I took an Introduction to Law class and really enjoyed the class. I always had people tell me I should be an attorney, but enjoying all of these law related things really sold me on it.

How did you get into the profession?

Once I made the decision to become an attorney I took the LSATs, which is the law school entrance exam. I was in Law School for 3 years and I graduated with a Juris Doctor. While in law school I took the core curriculum and other classes to fulfill my graduation requirements, as well as worked for two different professors in areas I enjoyed and an externship with the University’s Real Estate department. The summer after my graduation I studied for, and took, the New Jersey and New York Bar exams.

What do you like best about being a lawyer?

There are two things I like best about my profession. The first thing I like is that the law can always change. This forces me to read and study to be up to date. You do not want to give client bad information because it is no longer good law, but at the same time you need to understand what the changes to the law mean. The second thing I like about being an attorney is that I have the ability to help someone. A person comes to me with a problem, and whatever that particular problem is, they have come to me for help.

What skills are most important for those getting into the legal profession?

Listening and analyzing are very important skills to possess as an attorney. You will have clients call you up giving you a whole story and you need to listen to the relevant parts. Think of it like someone giving you a recipe and they are constantly going on tangents while they are giving you the recipe. You need to parse through the whole story they are telling you for the facts you need to make the recipe. Same thing goes for an attorney.

An attorney needs to be able to listen to someone’s whole story and pull out the relevant facts applicable to the issue at hand. An attorney should also be able to write well. It is said that most Supreme Court cases are won or lost on the legal briefs and very rarely to oral arguments affect the outcome. While most attorneys will never argue before the Supreme Court, the same logic applies to everything an attorney does. A well-crafted complaint, or demand letter, or correspondence can go a long way towards helping your client.

What is the most challenging thing about being a lawyer?

From a career perspective, the fact that the legal market is over-flooded with attorneys is very difficult. Each year more and more people are going to law school but less people are retiring. The client base is becoming more wary of spending money regarding legal issues in this economic environment and are becoming very cost conscious. All of these factors lead to many attorneys without clients or jobs and with a large amount of debt incurred from the cost of law school.

Another challenging aspect of the legal profession is knowing exactly what you want to do out of law school with the wide variety of ways one can serve within the profession, different areas of law, different types of practices, etc. I once had someone say to me when you graduate law school and you get your first legal job, it is not a job it is a career. If your first job out of law school is a Medical Malpractice Defense attorney and five years in you wake up and you hate being a Medical Malpractice Defense attorney, it could be very difficult to find a job as a Securities Fraud Plaintiff’s attorney the next day.

Do you have any advice for those attending school or pursuing this profession?

Before going to law school, really make sure that this is what you to do. Movies and TV glorify what it means to be a lawyer and what a lawyer does. We are not all Henry Drummond or Jack McCoy or Daniel Kaffee. Speak with attorneys you know or contact your local bar association to see if there is someone with whom you may speak. Understand what it means to be a lawyer. Go to the local courthouse and just sit and listen to a judge’s docket one day to get a feel for what goes on in a courtroom. Make sure that this is something you really want to do. While people say a law degree is so versatile you can do anything, and that may be the case, but with law schools running upwards of $40,000 a year do you want to spend more than $120,000 to have a versatile degree?

Kyle T. Lynch | Attorney, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of BaintonLynch, LLP

Kyle T. Lynch | Attorney, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of BaintonLynch, LLP
Attorney for 10 years

Why did you get into the legal profession?
I am passionate about helping businesses and individuals achieve justice. Being a lawyer allows me to devote my career to making things right. Let me give you an example.

While in law school, I learned about a law that required landlords to provide tenants with 10 days notice prior to eviction. However, many of the landlord’s eviction notices were mailed.

Since it can take anywhere from 2 to 5 days for a letter to arrive, that tenant does not have 10 days notice.

I believed this law to be inherently wrong and unjust. What did I do about that? While still in law school, I was granted permission (under the supervision of a law professor) to bring the case before the Second Department Appellate Division in New York State. I participated in writing the appellate brief and I argued before the appellate court.

The case, ATM One v Landaverde, 307 AD2d 922, affirmed, was a precedent setting one (meaning it resulted in a change in law) and one of first impression (meaning it had not been brought before the Appellate court before). The appellate court agreed with my argument and the law in New York State was changed, requiring landlords who mail eviction notices to grant tenants 15 days notice instead of 10. The appellate court described their decision as a “…practical and fair solution…”

Something that was wrong was now right. Something that had been unjust was now just and, I was part of making that happen. That is why I became a lawyer.

How did you get into the legal profession?

I earned a Juris Doctor from Hofstra University School of Law in 2003. Law school lasts for three years. Upon graduation, students are permitted to take the bar exam. In New York, the bar exam is given twice a year, in February and July. The exam lasts two days and law school graduates typically devote two months to full time preparation for the exam. In addition, law students are required to pass an ethics exam. Upon passing the bar exam, one must apply for a license to practice law. I am licensed to practice law in New York and Federal Courts, allowing me to provide legal counsel to clients in any state.

What do you like best about being a lawyer?
Being a lawyer allows me to seek justice for businesses and clients. It allows me to make something that is wrong, right.

I like the judicial system. I believe in it. I do not hesitate to go to trial if that is in the best interest of my client. And, I like that the profession is licensed and regulated. Lawyers are required to adhere to a Code of Ethics. Those who do not, may be sanctioned or lose their license.

What skills are most important for attorneys?

The most important skill for a lawyer is the ability to listen and really “hear” what a client is saying. A good lawyer needs to know the facts of a matter, whether the law supports the client’s position and what outcome will satisfy the client. This requires active listening. A good lawyer must have good judgment, experience and knowledge of how to navigate the legal system.

You will find many law firms touting the number of years they have been in business. That is not the measure of a good lawyer. There can be10 lawyers in a firm, each with 10 years of experience. Cumulatively that firm can say they have “100 years of experience”. That does not mean anything if those lawyers do not listen to what their clients want or they lack good judgment.

What is most challenging thing about being an attorney?

I think the most challenging part of being a lawyer is taking off the blinders to see a situation from 8 different perspectives – the number of jurors you may end up facing. It is often said, there are three sides to every story – yours, theirs and the truth. In law, there are 12 sides to the story – yours, theirs, the judge’s, each of 8 jurors and the truth. That is why our firm’s mission is to “navigate” the legal system. The law may be black and white. The facts may be black and white. But, the perceptions of those who may decide the outcome of the case can vary greatly. This is where good judgment, experience and skill come into play.

Do you have any advice for those attending law school or pursuing for a career as an attorney?
I do. I mentor law students by bringing them into my office and talking to them about the practical aspects of the profession. I advise them to take their blinders off and develop a 360-degree perspective.

The best way to achieve a client’s goals is to know what is important to the other side and how to find common ground. I tell them to find a law firm like BaintonLynch – one that is not driven by the accumulation of billable hours. But, is instead committed to the pursuit of justice for all clients, not just ones who can pay your fee.

Paula Colby-Clements | Law Professor at Massachusetts School of Law

Paula Colby-Clements | Law Professor at Massachusetts School of Law

Assistant Professor of Law for 16 years

Why did you decide to get into the legal profession?
About 5 years out of college and well into establishing a management career in the plastics industry, I realized that my career path was very narrow and limited. While I could have stayed in that position and realized promotions and salary increases for the rest of my career, I knew early on that I wanted more. I wanted to go back to school and get an education that would expand my professional options.

Law was the perfect solution. A law degree is extremely versatile. I could have stayed in the career I was in and used the law degree to expand professional opportunities in Upper Management, HR Management or Legal, or I could use the degree to find other fulfilling professions that challenged me, paid well, and increased my quality of life.

How did you get into the legal profession?
Once I decided to pursue a law degree I looked for evening programs that I could attend so I didn’t have to quit my job. I attended the Massachusetts School of Law, in the evening, while still working. After passing the bar I continued to work in the plastics industry but also started to explore options in teaching (I taught in an MBA program in Boston) and to develop a small practice.

I had been active in the Alumni Association when had decided that I wanted to leave the plastics industry and pursue a career in teaching as well as continuing to develop my practice. That is when the Director of Admission position opened at the Massachusetts School of Law. I spoke to the Dean about the position and everything came together. Now, 15 years later, I love my administrative role with the law school, I love being an Assistant Professor of Law, and the law school allows me to maintain a small practice to keep my skills sharp. In essence, I carved out a career doing everything I love. I get to help people, mentor people, and provide opportunity to others all while being able to balance my family responsibilities. I love what I do and I love the quality of life I enjoy.

What do you like best about the legal profession?
Again, I love the fact that each day provides a new challenge where I can mentor people, advise and help people all while balancing important time with my family. A legal education allows one to explore a wide variety of professional opportunities that truly allow an individual to have a healthy and meaningful career while balancing their personal life. One can choose the path where you work 80 hours a week and strive to make millions of dollars, or you can have a satisfying career that will allow you to make a healthy living and still have the time to balance your personal life. The point is, the education and the profession allows you to carve out a path that is best for you.

What skills are most important for the legal profession?
The ability to write well and think critically. Contrary to what people believe, it’s not the ability to argue well that guarantees success in this profession but, rather, the ability to listen well and be objective and compassionate.

What is the most challenging thing about being in the legal profession?
Every day I am dealing with decisions that impact people’s lives. No matter how small a problem might seem to someone on the outside looking in, that problem for that individual weighs heavily on them. It is a tremendous responsibility but one that is both rewarding and humbling when you know that you are helping people cope with their problems.

Do you have any advice for those attending school or pursuing a career in the legal field?
A legal education and the legal profession is not for everyone. If you choose to pursue this path you first need to be fully committed to putting in the time and effort it will take to be successful in law school. It is a challenging course of study but one that many, many people successfully navigate (even while managing careers and families) if they are organized and put the time in.

Diane M. Sullivan | Assistant Dean and Professor of Law at Massachusetts School of Law

Diane M. Sullivan | Assistant Dean and Professor of Law at Massachusetts School of Law
Attorney for 23 years

Why did you decide to get into the legal profession?
I wanted to be an attorney since I stood knee-high.

How did you get into the legal profession?
I did all my undergraduate coursework at night then went on to law school at night at The Massachusetts School of Law

What do you like best about the legal profession?
The ability to make positive impact on people’s lives and issues I care about.

What skills are most important for the legal profession?
Good communication skills

Pota Kaldis | Law Professor at Massachusetts School of Law

Pota Kaldis | Law Professor at Massachusetts School of Law
Law Professor for 30 years

Why did you decide to get into the legal profession?
Frankly, it was because there were no teaching jobs. I had a degree in English and Secondary education, so my faculty advisor suggested I apply to law school. I was reluctant at first (“but lawyers are so stuffy, they wear suits and carry briefcases” I protested), but going to law school proved to be the best decision I ever made. I now teach and have practiced and teach in the area I was interested in – Children and the Law.

How did you get into the legal profession?
My undergrad training in English proved to be most valuable in law school, as language is the lawyer’s best tool. I went to Lowell State Teachers College (now part of the University of Massachusetts) and New England School of Law.

What do you like best about the legal profession?
Law changes with the times, with social, moral, and historical events. Law is alive and is interesting.

What skills are most important for the legal profession?
Language, oral and written.

What is the most challenging thing about being in the legal profession?
Being true to yourself and your values, not forgetting about humanity, not forgetting that law is above all a helping profession.

Do you have any advice for those attending law school or pursuing a career as an attorney?
Approach law as you should approach life – be real, be human, be passionate, be compassionate.

Deborah S Reisdorph, Esq. | Attorney at LadyLawCA.com

Deborah S Reisdorph, Esq. | Attorney at LadyLawCA.com
Attorney for 21 years

Why did you decide to get into the legal profession?
Since primary school, I stand up for others. And I love to argue! Truthfully, the real reason that I became an attorney was because as a young student I was sexually harassed in the workplace. So becoming a sexual harassment attorney was my sweetest revenge. Now I have helped women and girls understand the laws that protect them, and to stand up for themselves and others.

How did you get into the legal profession?
I have a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Mid America Nazarene University (a four year degree) Five years later, after taking the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), I attended Washburn School of Law for the Juris Doctorate degree (3.5 years) I passed the California State Bar on the first attempt and remained licensed in California at all times during my law practice (21 years). After the first 7 years of practice, I became licensed in District of Columbia, New York (state and federal) and before the US Supreme Court. In 2004, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, presided over the Supreme Court on the day I was sworn in as an attorney licensed to appear before the United States Supreme Court . On that day, it was the second time in history that a woman had presided over the US Supreme Court. I was the only newly admitted attorney on that historic date who was able to get a photograph with Sandra Day O’Connor. The photo and my certificate of admission proudly hang in my office reception area.

What do you like best about being a lawyer?
There is freedom in this profession to be an employee or an entrepreneur. Initially my experience was gained while employed in a small law office where I engaged in many aspects of law from arbitrations, mediations, and trials, but the freedom of owning my own business has given me the greatest pleasure.

What skills are most important for attorneys?
From my perspective, the most important skills for an attorney are writing, research and presenting (speaking).

What is the most challenging thing about being an attorney?
The most challenging aspect of being an attorney is dealing with attorneys who are not ethical, not trustworthy, and fail to follow the honor code. The most rewarding aspect is to engage with honorable attorneys for the benefit of justice for all.

Do you have any advice for those attending law school or pursuing a career as an attorney?
Be sure this is the profession you want to engage in, then plan to give it everything you’ve got. You will have to work hard to be successful, and always remember 3 things.

1) Find your passion and the area of law that energizes you. Being in the field of law is hard work, so be sure that you are willing to put in the hard work by pursuing your passion. The area of Employment law is always in flux and thus the continuing legal education is exciting continually. I chose employment law because I was sexually harassed in the workplace as a student and didn’t know my rights, and didn’t know that I didn’t have to be subjected to the unwelcome conduct. Empowering women to succeed in whatever environment they experience is my inspiration. Welcoming the challenge of the ever changing dynamics of employment law kept me there.

2) Follow a mentor you can trust and learn from. You can learn from experience, but learning from someone who is willing to teach you what to look out for, is more rewarding. I remember my first jury trial. There was so much I didn’t know, and yet, I was given the opportunity to learn, so I took the challenge. Learning from experience can be painful, and I wish my boss had given me more pointers and support as I learned.

3) Always protect your reputation, it is your best asset, and once it is damaged, it is nearly impossible to get it back. The Judges whom you stand before will know your reputation and treat you accordingly. Early in my practice, the other attorney (who didn’t even know me) was complaining to the Judge that he didn’t trust me to write the order in the manner the attorney wanted it, but the Judge instructed him to communicate with me and not the Judge about the order. The Judge specifically stated,” I am confident that Deborah will include the necessary language in this order, and if you have any objections, tell her and I am sure she will let me know of any objections.”. Basically, the Judge was telling him ‘I don’t want to hear from you, follow protocol.’ Apparently the other attorney’s reputation was defective, and mine was fresh. I realized then that I must protect my reputation so that all dealings with a Judge are known to be honorable. You do want to be trusted by the Court when you are making the arguments for your client.

Related Careers

Arbitrators, Mediators & Conciliators

Bachelor’s Degree

Judges & Hearing Officers

Doctorate Degree

What Do Related Careers Pay?