6 Reasons Why You Should Study Law

As a law student, one must remember that it takes a lot of time, commitment and self-belief, but on the flipside there are numerous reasons why you should become a lawyer.

Consider this: on average, the salary for a lawyer is $104,546 per year – and the Australian legal market saw a 7.8% growth in 2018. As such, it is pretty clear that that there is an increasing demand for lawyers, especially in industries like finance, insurance, consulting, healthcare, etc.

Whether you’re about to leave school and are still wondering what career suits you best or want a different career altogether, pursuing law just might be the right decision for you – but the most important thing is to be clear on why you want to step into the field.

Here are the top six reasons you should study law:

1.     The Chance To Make An Impact

If you’re looking for a chance to impact the world or your surroundings for the better, then becoming a lawyer can help you with that.

Many lawyers also offer to fight for the poor or those in need on a pro-bono basis; this means that they take on the responsibility to fight for people who can’t afford to do so otherwise.

You may have wondered how people with low-income afford going to courts or taking up the battle against the rich or the government, despite them being right. The answer are lawyers who take up the fight, help impact lives and seek justice – much like Atticus Finch in the timeless classic ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ who inspired numerous people to step into this field and represent their client’s interests with candour, integrity and conviction.

2.     A Great Amount Of Flexibility

Once you’ve become a lawyer and established yourself, the amount of flexibility you can have is unmatched by almost all other professions.

For starters, many lawyers have the option of setting up their own fees, choosing their own hours and even selecting who they want to work with. In addition to all this, this profession has numerous fields that you could specialise in as per your own liking; you have the freedom to pick an area of specialisation or even switch/change fields.

In the legal profession, you can set the course of your law career at your own will and select a path for it accordingly. For instance, you can start by working as a public defender and later switch to your own practice. Similarly, you could join a legal firm or even work at a multinational organisation as legal counsel.

Either way, it’s clear that there are many options and fields for you to choose from; you can become a criminal lawyer, a corporate lawyer, a family lawyer, tax lawyer – the list goes on.

3.     The Amount Of Money You Can Earn

It’s true; the best lawyers certainly live a lavish lifestyle.

The legal fraternity has, for a very long time, been one of the best paid around the world. Most lawyers earn a salary much higher than the national average in most countries. In fact, top lawyers earn millions of dollars, allowing them to retire at an early age or just sign themselves up for advisory roles.

According to a survey, four legal fields – construction, corporate, commercial and tax lawyers – were amongst the highest paying jobs in Australia in 2018.

If making money is an important consideration, then becoming a lawyer is an ideal opportunity for you. With the right amount of hard work and determination, you can make a decent amount of money in no time. Remember, the progression rate in the field of law is much higher than most of the other industries due to high demand and minimal supply.

4.     It Will Challenge You Intellectually

If you wish to challenge yourself intellectually on a daily basis, then you should really consider joining the legal fraternity.

You can develop the ability to understand the very fabric of our society in a way that is even more effective than political science, especially since law directly reaches and impacts every part of our lives. This includes social, political, economic and even our personal relationships through the use of rules – both written and unwritten.

Regardless of when they have graduated, lawyers need to stay updated on any new laws being passed and must continue to polish their problem-solving, analytical, relationship-building and negotiation skills on the go.

From working on a million-dollar merger between two companies to a top-level secret trade deal patent, lawyers need to constantly challenge themselves and enhance their intellectual skills.

Additionally, good law schools usually ensure that their students have a certain set of skills and competencies such as;

• Critical thinking: The ability to read, analyse, understand and make up your mind about complex concepts
• Writing: Being able to draft clear written statements and arguments
• Research: Conducting research on the relevant case law to support legal arguments
• Presentation: the ability to present your point in a clear and concise manner, etc.

5.     The Public Status You Can Achieve

For centuries, lawyers have stood as the centre of society and helped us achieve the greater good for everyone. A law career puts you in a unique position on how you can affect society; after all, a number of the world’s greatest leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher, Nelson Mandela, and Barack Obama have studied law.

A law career also involves holding key government positions, writing laws that dictate societies and countries, and rule the courts. Lawyers are also in a position to influence top policymakers and leaders of a country.

And with high profile cases, lawyers are almost always in the spotlight; consider the case of O.J. Simpson which held the interest of the entire country. Later on, the case was also adapted as a TV series with the lawyers being the lead.

Another addition to the perks of being a lawyer is being able to travel the country and in some cases, even the world, to attend and participate in trials, arbitrations, depositions and even major business deals. Some lawyers may even have the opportunity to rub shoulders with leaders of the business world, politicians, sports stars and even celebrities.

6.     Combine Law With Other Academic Fields and Careers

If you don’t want to become a lawyer – there are many certifications and degrees that allow students to combine their legal studies with accounting or even business.

But even if you study law, you have a multitude of career options in different fields such as academia, media, social work, commerce, politics, etc. In short, getting a legal degree can take you just about anywhere you could want – and give you the skills to do anything you want.

For instance, law students tend to develop excellent confidence and self-esteem since over the course of the degree, they often work in groups or take an active role in mock courts, moot competitions, discussion forums, debates, etc.

---

Whether it’s the financial opportunities the field offers, the transfer of skills, the impact you can have on the society or even the variety of career opportunities – a law career has a plethora of advantages.

But while many people manage to succeed in this field, you should carefully consider all the pros and cons of study law. Even though “the law is reason free from passion,” it is still an opportunity for you to explore what you are passionate about; while this does not mean that you should be sentimental about your decision, you should at least be clear on why you think this is a suitable profession or area of study.

If you’re convinced that you have the skills, determination and persistence to become a lawyer – regardless of the specific field – then don’t let anything get in your way.