Career Clinic: Do lawyers truly enjoy their work?

As with any job, there are of course good and bad moments. Also I suspect that those who are suited to it (have the attributes to do well at it) tend to have more good moments than those who are in law for the wrong reasons. Since those who manage to get interviewed tend to be relatively good lawyers, I wouldn't be surprised that they genuinely enjoy law. Most other lawyers may have a different view...

Anonymous -25 May 2009 | 16:12

The work isn't necessarily enjoyable in the sense that it's fun but it can be quite rewarding and is much more 'enjoyable' than a non-legal career. It depends on your firm too - my firm is basically a cat-house full of women obsessed with pregnancy/marriage/house ownership at the age of twenty-two so it gets quite boring having to listen to such nonsense.

Bap -26 May 2009 | 14:28

If you work for a legal directory, I'm surprised that you actually ever talk to lawyers. Most of the top 50 and US firms (which seem to be the only ones you are ever interested in) field their marketing departments (non-lawyers) to deal with you and butter you up in the hope that you give them full marks. Otherwise I suppose you might be dealing with managing or senior partners, who probably haven't done any lawyering in years.

Catalogue Man -26 May 2009 | 15:12

Of course lawyers love their work - what they dislike is oppressive office politics, management jargon-speak, admin, time recording, billing pressures, having to type their own work because of lack of support staff, sort out accounting problems, chase aged debts etc., compliance, money laundering regs etc etc etc. I expect most lawyers would say that if they were left to do the job they have been hired to do, they would be in seventh heaven.

Percy -26 May 2009 | 16:57

Yes, absolutely. One harbours vague longings to work outdoors or make the sort of money bankers used to make, but fundamentally it is interesting work which brings one into contact with interesting people. It may differ across disciplines and firms, of course.

Construction partner -26 May 2009 | 16:58

Percy - absolutely spot on. Couldn't have put it better myself.

Associate, national firm -26 May 2009 | 17:00

"but it can be quite rewarding and is much more 'enjoyable' than a non-legal career" - what a sweeping generalisation. I love my job, but I'll bet there are quite a few jobs that can be classed as more 'enjoyable'. Speaker of the House of Commons, for instance.

Special Egg, City Firm associate -26 May 2009 | 17:13

It's dull, tedious and stressful. Plus law firms don't give two pins about the personal or professional development of their fee earners. I'd rather do anything but be a lawyer.

I'm a lawyer get me out of here -26 May 2009 | 22:58

It would help if legal directories would accurately profile - I was sacked for pointing out a substantial inconsistency equivalent of misrepresentation. You cannot be a "leading individual and thorough" if you have no clients.

ANON -27 May 2009 | 00:38

I'm a mid-level lawyer and love my job, but I'm a bit twisted....

Anon -27 May 2009 | 01:41

I'm a corporate partner and, as I have had greater autonomy and learned to create a practice, have grown to love my job. Getting a buzz out of doing deals helps but there is a perverse satisfaction in working to fashion a solution to a client's needs within a tight timetable and a set of laws/rules which often seem more of a hindrance than anything else. The bits I hate are making people redundant or having to let them go at the end of their training contracts, encouraging people to focus on the future health of the business and those moments in the middle of the night where I fret about how to make budget for the year.

City Woman -27 May 2009 | 11:40

ANON- if you were pointing out that a lawyer at a different firm was overranked, why would you be sacked? If you were pointing out that a lawyer from your own firm was overranked, then you would be naive not to expect a penalty from your employers for disloyalty.

Original poster -27 May 2009 | 12:24

It amazes me how many friends have qualified and wish they never did law. As with any job, it depends where you work and the team you're in. The pros (gathered from me and friends) - working for a top global organisation, using your brain cells, developing legal & business know-how, working with top professionals, earning a very good salary. And the cons (gathered from me and friends) - the backstabbing, the snobbery, the arrogance, the huge admin, the lack of doing legal work so a waste of studying, the long hours, lack of appreciation.

Metallica -27 May 2009 | 12:49

"having to type their own work because of lack of support staff" - there's also the even worse situation of having admin staff who are only a hindrance. I know of one office junior who somehow has yet to get the sack despite their only job being to fold envelopes and not even doing that right as post ends up being hidden all over the office then eventually lost.

SillyJuice -27 May 2009 | 15:13

I hope they do - I'm a 4th seat trainee and pretty disillusioned by it all so far...

Anonymous -27 May 2009 | 20:27

All I can say is that I left the law a few years ago and have never ever regretted it. I now do something I enjoy. And I can't say I miss working crazy hours in a law firm helping the partners get richer - and getting no thanks or support in return. Is it a wonder that so many lawyers end up leaving the law? Of all the lawyers I've ever met (from law school in the 4 firms I worked in) I've only come across 2 who really enjoyed it.

Anonymous -27 May 2009 | 21:44

The worst aspects of working in a law firm: the stifling atmosphere of oppression. The tedium punctuated by eccentric time wasters' malevolence.

Ex -28 May 2009 | 10:04

To "I'm a lawyer get me out of here": that sounds like a great idea for a reality game show! A sort of credit-crunch version of The Apprentice where disillusioned lawyers compete with one another for voluntary redundancy and a large pay-off. One of the rounds could include having to eat disgusting creatures found around the office - rats, mice, cockroaches etc.

Anonymous -28 May 2009 | 17:26

Typically silly question and responses: "much more 'enjoyable' than a non-legal career" - I'm sure Ronaldo regrets merely being a footballer and longs for the bright lights of the city.

Big Shot -28 May 2009 | 22:38

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the REAL answer: that while studying the law is very interesting, in most cases, actually practising law is not.

mindful -02 Jun 2009 | 12:52

I'm a barrister and I really really love my job. I wouldn't do anything else. And most of the barristers I know are the same, give or take the odd moan.

Barrister -02 Jun 2009 | 12:26

Right Big Shot. So Ronaldo would rather be proofreading and drafting mind-numbingly tedious documents until 2am, rather than partying with models? Not sure about that.

Anonymous -02 Jun 2009 | 12:55

I forgot to mention filling in management databases. Associate, National Firm, I wonder if we are colleagues.....

Percy -02 Jun 2009 | 12:55

Solicitors are basically glorified administrators that are well paid. Those who are successful and enjoy it are the nerds at university who were always in the library and had no life. These people often go on to become partners. I imagine the work of a barrister is a lot more interesting, but depending on the practice area, less safe in terms of a regular income.

Anon -02 Jun 2009 | 14:54

"Right Big Shot. So Ronaldo would rather be proofreading and drafting mind-numbingly tedious documents until 2am, rather than partying with models? Not sure about that." As you can see, while as a lawyer your other senses are heightened, your sense of irony is inversely dulled... If you're a lawyer, you should really brush up on your proof-reading skills.

Kate -02 Jun 2009 | 14:27

Are you asking because you are also a wannabe, perhaps thinking of qualifying and then joining a good firm? It's like any other job, it has its good and rewarding moments, and there are the tedious and boring bits too. It kind of depends on which area of law, but broadly speaking, I would say that most of us lawyers are happy doing our job, and are not considering retraining into another career. Don't be misled by those whom you interview or the sort of lawyers who post questions on this site: they tend to be the unhappy and disgruntled; lawyers who are happy in their jobs do not write in here

May -02 Jun 2009 | 14:56

"Lawyers who are happy in their jobs do not write in here". Somewhat sweeping statement to describe all contributors except you (of course)?

Steve -02 Jun 2009 | 14:28

Good comment Steve. I failed to add sweeping generalisations to my earlier comments. Either all lawyers enjoy their jobs or no lawyers enjoy their jobs. It's inconceivable that there may be some lawyers (or people for that matter) that do enjoy their jobs and some that don't. There can be no grey.

Big Shot -04 Jun 2009 | 15:09

Can someone do me a venn diagram, to include: lawyers who enjoy their jobs; lawyers who don't enjoy their jobs; lawyers who post on Career Clinic? Just so I can get it clear in my mind. Thank you.

Anonymous -04 Jun 2009 | 15:02

I enjoy mine on the whole; not sure if I would have become a solicitor if they had told me how much real law you do in practice (which is not much in my experience).
I have only ever done property work and I think it's fascinating. Really important for the economy and the market is up and down like a yo-yo according to the fortunes of UK plc and availability of finance.
I just wish it were recognised for its true importance and that property specialists could get paid more, but there it is.
It's too easy to whinge and believe that others have more interesting jobs than you do. The reality is that all jobs have some element of tedium in them; the trick is to find the one that suits you best.

high street solicitor -09 Jun 2009 | 13:25

If you like law, then you most likely will enjoy working as a lawyer. If you, like me, are stupid enough to become a lawyer despite the fact that you find law dull and boring you will probably never be happy. Working as a lawyer can be very stimulating and interesting. However, without a genuine passion for law itself you will end up feeling like a fake and doing a mediocre job.

Scandinavian ex lawyer -17 Aug 2009 | 16:56