In recent years, demand for lawyers has reached record levels. If you are interested in a legal career, this is a great time to begin your path to a J.D.

Lawyers perform many roles vital to our society. First, they give advice on complicated legal issues to individuals, businesses, organizations, and government. They help investigate violations of law and prosecute persons who are charged with crimes. They write laws, regulations, and explanatory memos. They prepare wills, trusts, settlements, divorces, property transfers, and other legal documents. They appear in court to argue motions and try cases. Many serve in elected offices or the judiciary. It would take far more space than is available on this website to list all the things lawyers do.

Law is also a profession that you can leave and return to. Many parents take leaves of absence or adopt reduced workloads to care for their children. Lawyers might move from a law firm to a business to a government office and back to a law firm. There is great flexibility in the legal profession because many employers allow their legal staff to work from home one or more days a week.

If you are interested in a legal career, you do some research online into the legal profession. (AI can help you with this.) If you know lawyers or law students, speak to them about their experiences. Know that there are a wide variety of types of jobs and work experiences, so you should seek a variety of sources.

Legal employment is tracked by the National Association for Job Placement. For the most recent year surveyed, 92.6% of law school graduates had found a full-time job within 9 months of law school graduation. So-called “big law” jobs accounted for about 22% of the jobs, which paid salaries of approximately $225,000. The average starting salary for recent graduates hired by law firms is $165,000. The average salary for all employment is $90,000. Since this means your income potential may approach $10 million, it makes sense to invest in your future by attending law school if you are willing to commit yourself to success.  

Salaries vary greatly depending on the type of employment. Whether a student should embark upon the path to a J.D. is a decision that must be based on a wide range of factors. Contact one of Touro's pre-law advisors for further information.