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Patent Attorney
Significant Points
Competition for job openings should be keen because of the large number of students graduating from law school each year.
Formal requirements to become a lawyer generally include a 4-year college degree, 3 years of law school, and passing a written bar examination; however, some requirements may vary by State.
Competition for admission to most law schools is intense.
About 3 out of 4 lawyers practiced privately, either as partners in law firms or in solo practices.
Nature of the Work
The legal system affects nearly every aspect of our society, from buying a home to crossing the street. Lawyers form the backbone of this vital system, linking it to society in numerous ways. For that reason, they hold positions of great responsibility and are obligated to adhere to a strict code of ethics.
Lawyers, also called attorneys, act as both advocates and advisors in our society. As advocates, they represent one of the parties in criminal and civil trials by presenting evidence and arguing in court to support their client. As advisors, lawyers counsel their clients concerning their legal rights and obligations and suggest particular courses of action in business and personal matters. Whether acting as an advocate or an advisor, all attorneys research the intent of laws and judicial decisions and apply the law to the specific circumstances faced by their client.
The more detailed aspects of a lawyer’s job depend upon his or her field of specialization and position. Although all lawyers are licensed to represent parties in court, some appear in court more frequently than others. Trial lawyers, who specialize in trial work, must be able to think quickly and speak with ease and authority. In addition, familiarity with courtroom rules and strategy is particularly important in trial work. Still, trial lawyers spend the majority of their time outside the courtroom, conducting research, interviewing clients and witnesses, and handling other details in preparation for a trial.
Lawyers may specialize in a number of areas, such as bankruptcy, probate, international, or elder law. Those specializing in environmental law, for example, may represent interest groups, waste disposal companies, or construction firms in their dealings with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other Federal and State agencies. These lawyers help clients prepare and file for licenses and applications for approval before certain activities may occur. In addition, they represent clients’ interests in administrative adjudications.
Some lawyers specialize in the growing field of intellectual property, helping to protect clients’ claims to copyrights, artwork under contract, product designs, and computer programs. Still other lawyers advise insurance companies about the legality of insurance transactions, guiding the company in writing insurance policies to conform with the law and to protect the companies from unwarranted claims. When claims are filed against insurance companies, these attorneys review the claims and represent the companies in court.
Most lawyers are in private practice, concentrating on criminal or civil law. In criminal law, lawyers represent individuals who have been charged with crimes and argue their cases in courts of law. Attorneys dealing with civil law assist clients with litigation, wills, trusts, contracts, mortgages, titles, and leases. Other lawyers handle only public-interest cases—civil or criminal—which may have an impact extending well beyond the individual client.
Lawyers are sometimes employed full time by a single client. If the client is a corporation, the lawyer is known as “house counsel” and usually advises the company concerning legal issues related to its business activities. These issues might involve patents, government regulations, contracts with other companies, property interests, or collective bargaining agreements with unions.
A significant number of attorneys are employed at the various levels of government. Lawyers who work for State attorneys general, prosecutors, public defenders, and courts play a key role in the criminal justice system. At the Federal level, attorneys investigate cases for the U.S. Department of Justice and other agencies. Government lawyers also help develop programs, draft and interpret laws and legislation, establish enforcement procedures, and argue civil and criminal cases on behalf of the government.
Other lawyers work for legal aid societies—private, nonprofit organizations established to serve disadvantaged people. These lawyers generally handle civil, rather than criminal, cases. A relatively small number of trained attorneys work in law schools. Most are faculty members who specialize in one or more subjects; however, some serve as administrators. Others work full time in nonacademic settings and teach part time.
Lawyers are increasingly using various forms of technology to perform their varied tasks more efficiently. Although all lawyers continue to use law libraries to prepare cases, some supplement conventional printed sources with computer sources, such as the Internet and legal databases. Software is used to search this legal literature automatically and to identify legal texts relevant to a specific case. In litigation involving many supporting documents, lawyers may use computers to organize and index material. Lawyers also utilize electronic filing, videoconferencing, and voice-recognition technology to share information more effectively with other parties involved in a case.
Working Conditions
Management analysts usually divide their time between their offices and the client’s site. In either situation, much of an analyst’s time is spent indoors in clean, well-lit offices. Because they must spend a significant portion of their time with clients, analysts travel frequently.
Analysts and consultants generally work at least 40 hours a week. Uncompensated overtime is common, especially when project deadlines are approaching. Analysts may experience a great deal of stress as a result of trying to meet a client’s demands, often on a tight schedule.
Self-employed consultants can set their workload and hours and work at home. On the other hand, their livelihood depends on their ability to maintain and expand their client base. Salaried consultants also must impress potential clients to get and keep clients for their company.
Employment
Lawyers held about 735,000 jobs in 2004. Approximately 3 out of 4 lawyers practiced privately, either as partners in law firms or in solo practices. Most salaried lawyers held positions in government or with corporations or nonprofit organizations. The greatest number of lawyers working in government were employed at the local level. In the Federal Government, lawyers work for many different agencies, but are concentrated in the Departments of Justice, Treasury, and Defense. Many salaried lawyers working outside of government are employed as house counsel by public utilities, banks, insurance companies, real estate agencies, manufacturing firms, and other business firms and nonprofit organizations. Some also have part-time independent practices, while others work part time as lawyers and full time in another occupation.
Training
To practice law in the courts of any State or other jurisdiction, a person must be licensed, or admitted to its bar, under rules established by the jurisdiction’s highest court. All States require that applicants for admission to the bar pass a written bar examination; most States also require applicants to pass a separate written ethics examination. Lawyers who have been admitted to the bar in one State occasionally may be admitted to the bar in another without taking an examination if they meet the latter jurisdiction’s standards of good moral character and a specified period of legal experience. In most cases, however, lawyers must pass the bar examination in each State in which they plan to practice. Federal courts and agencies set their own qualifications for those practicing before or in them.
To qualify for the bar examination in most States, an applicant usually must earn a college degree and graduate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) or the proper State authorities. ABA accreditation signifies that the law school—particularly its library and faculty—meets certain standards developed to promote quality legal education. As of 2005, there were 191 ABA-accredited law schools; others were approved by State authorities only. With certain exceptions, graduates of schools not approved by the ABA are restricted to taking the bar examination and practicing in the State or other jurisdiction in which the school is located; most of these schools are in California. In 2005, seven States—California, Maine, New York, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming—accepted the study of law in a law office as qualification for taking the bar examination; three jurisdictions—California, the District of Columbia, and New Mexico—now accept the study of law by correspondence. Several States require registration and approval of students by the State Board of Law Examiners, either before the students enter law school or during their early years of legal study.
Although there is no nationwide bar examination, 48 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands require the 6-hour Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) as part of the overall bar examination; the MBE is not required in Louisiana or Washington. The MBE covers a broad range of issues, and sometimes a locally prepared State bar examination is given in addition to it. The 3-hour Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) is used as part of the bar examination in several States. States vary in their use of MBE and MEE scores.
Many States also require Multistate Performance Testing (MPT) to test the practical skills of beginning lawyers. Requirements vary by State, although the test usually is taken at the same time as the bar exam and is a one-time requirement.
The required college and law school education usually takes 7 years of full-time study after high school—4 years of undergraduate study, followed by 3 years of law school. Law school applicants must have a bachelor’s degree to qualify for admission. To meet the needs of students who can attend only part time, a number of law schools have night or part-time divisions, which usually require 4 years of study; about 1 in 10 graduates from ABA-approved schools attended part time.
Although there is no recommended “prelaw” major, prospective lawyers should develop proficiency in writing and speaking, reading, researching, analyzing, and thinking logically—skills needed to succeed both in law school and in the profession. Regardless of major, a multidisciplinary background is recommended. Courses in English, foreign languages, public speaking, government, philosophy, history, economics, mathematics, and computer science, among others, are useful. Students interested in a particular aspect of law may find related courses helpful. For example, prospective patent lawyers need a strong background in engineering or science, and future tax lawyers must have extensive knowledge of accounting.
Other Qualifications
Advancement
Job Outlook
Employment of lawyers is expected to grow about as fast as average for all occupations through 2014, primarily as a result of growth in the population and in the general level of business activities. Job growth among lawyers also will result from increasing demand for legal services in such areas as health care, intellectual property, venture capital, energy, elder, antitrust, and environmental law. In addition, the wider availability and affordability of legal clinics should result in increased use of legal services by middle-income people. However, growth in demand for lawyers will be limited as businesses, in an effort to reduce costs, increasingly use large accounting firms and paralegals to perform some of the same functions that lawyers do. For example, accounting firms may provide employee-benefit counseling, process documents, or handle various other services previously performed by a law firm. Also, mediation and dispute resolution increasingly are being used as alternatives to litigation.
Competition for job openings should continue to be keen because of the large number of students graduating from law school each year. Graduates with superior academic records from highly regarded law schools will have the best job opportunities. Perhaps as a result of competition for attorney positions, lawyers are increasingly finding work in nontraditional areas for which legal training is an asset, but not normally a requirement—for example, administrative, managerial, and business positions in banks, insurance firms, real estate companies, government agencies, and other organizations. Employment opportunities are expected to continue to arise in these organizations at a growing rate.
As in the past, some graduates may have to accept positions in areas outside of their field of interest or for which they feel overqualified. Some recent law school graduates who have been unable to find permanent positions are turning to the growing number of temporary staffing firms that place attorneys in short-term jobs until they are able to secure full-time positions. This service allows companies to hire lawyers on an “as-needed” basis and permits beginning lawyers to develop practical skills while looking for permanent positions.
Because of the keen competition for jobs, a law graduate’s geographic mobility and work experience assume greater importance. The willingness to relocate may be an advantage in getting a job, but to be licensed in another State, a lawyer may have to take an additional State bar examination. In addition, employers are increasingly seeking graduates who have advanced law degrees and experience in a specialty, such as tax, patent, or admiralty law.
Employment growth for lawyers will continue to be concentrated in salaried jobs, as businesses and all levels of government employ a growing number of staff attorneys and as employment in the legal services industry grows. Most salaried positions are in urban areas where government agencies, law firms, and big corporations are concentrated. The number of self-employed lawyers is expected to decrease slowly, reflecting the difficulty of establishing a profitable new practice in the face of competition from larger, established law firms. Moreover, the growing complexity of law, which encourages specialization, along with the cost of maintaining up-to-date legal research materials, favors larger firms.
For lawyers who wish to work independently, establishing a new practice will probably be easiest in small towns and expanding suburban areas. In such communities, competition from larger, established law firms is likely to be less keen than in big cities, and new lawyers may find it easier to become known to potential clients.
Some lawyers are adversely affected by cyclical swings in the economy. During recessions, demand declines for some discretionary legal services, such as planning estates, drafting wills, and handling real estate transactions. Also, corporations are less likely to litigate cases when declining sales and profits result in budgetary restrictions. Some corporations and law firms will not hire new attorneys until business improves, and these establishments may even cut staff to contain costs. Several factors, however, mitigate the overall impact of recessions on lawyers; during recessions, for example, individuals and corporations face other legal problems, such as bankruptcies, foreclosures, and divorces requiring legal action.
Earnings
In May 2004, the median annual earnings of all lawyers were $94,930. The middle half of the occupation earned between $64,620 and $143,620. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of lawyers in May 2004 were as follows:
Management of companies and enterprises $126,250
Federal Government 108,090
Legal services 99,580
Local government 73,410
State government 70,280
Median salaries of lawyers 9 months after graduation from law school in 2004 varied by type of work, as indicated in Table 1.
Salaries of experienced attorneys vary widely according to the type, size, and location of their employer. Lawyers who own their own practices usually earn less than those who are partners in law firms. Lawyers starting their own practice may need to work part time in other occupations to supplement their income until their practice is well established.
Most salaried lawyers are provided health and life insurance, and contributions are made to retirement plans on their behalf. Lawyers who practice independently are covered only if they arrange and pay for such benefits themselves.
Related Occupations
Legal training is necessary in many other occupations, including paralegals and legal assistants; law clerks; title examiners, abstractors, and searchers; and judges, magistrates, and other judicial workers.
Sources of Additional Information
Information on law schools and a career in law may be obtained from the following organizations:
* American Bar Association, 321 North Clark St., Chicago, IL 60610. Internet: http://www.abanet.org
* National Association for Law Placement, 1025 Connecticut Ave. NW., Suite 1110, Washington, DC 20036. Internet: http://www.nalp.org
Information on the LSAT, the Law School Data Assembly Service, the law school application process, and financial aid available to law students may be obtained from:
* Law School Admission Council, P.O. Box 40, Newtown, PA 18940. Internet: http://www.lsac.org
Information on obtaining positions as occupational health and safety specialists and technicians with the Federal Government is available from the Office of Personnel Management through USAJOBS, the Federal Government’s official employment information system. This resource for locating and applying for job opportunities can be accessed through the Internet at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov or through an interactive voice response telephone system at (703) 724-1850 or TDD (978) 461-8404. These numbers are not tollfree, and charges may result.
The requirements for admission to the bar in a particular State or other jurisdiction also may be obtained at the State capital, from the clerk of the Supreme Court, or from the administrator of the State Board of Bar Examiners.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Lawyers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos053.htm (visited July 24, 2006)
Significant Points
Competition for job openings should be keen because of the large number of students graduating from law school each year.
Formal requirements to become a lawyer generally include a 4-year college degree, 3 years of law school, and passing a written bar examination; however, some requirements may vary by State.
Competition for admission to most law schools is intense.
About 3 out of 4 lawyers practiced privately, either as partners in law firms or in solo practices.
Nature of the Work
The legal system affects nearly every aspect of our society, from buying a home to crossing the street. Lawyers form the backbone of this vital system, linking it to society in numerous ways. For that reason, they hold positions of great responsibility and are obligated to adhere to a strict code of ethics.
Lawyers, also called attorneys, act as both advocates and advisors in our society. As advocates, they represent one of the parties in criminal and civil trials by presenting evidence and arguing in court to support their client. As advisors, lawyers counsel their clients concerning their legal rights and obligations and suggest particular courses of action in business and personal matters. Whether acting as an advocate or an advisor, all attorneys research the intent of laws and judicial decisions and apply the law to the specific circumstances faced by their client.
The more detailed aspects of a lawyer’s job depend upon his or her field of specialization and position. Although all lawyers are licensed to represent parties in court, some appear in court more frequently than others. Trial lawyers, who specialize in trial work, must be able to think quickly and speak with ease and authority. In addition, familiarity with courtroom rules and strategy is particularly important in trial work. Still, trial lawyers spend the majority of their time outside the courtroom, conducting research, interviewing clients and witnesses, and handling other details in preparation for a trial.
Lawyers may specialize in a number of areas, such as bankruptcy, probate, international, or elder law. Those specializing in environmental law, for example, may represent interest groups, waste disposal companies, or construction firms in their dealings with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other Federal and State agencies. These lawyers help clients prepare and file for licenses and applications for approval before certain activities may occur. In addition, they represent clients’ interests in administrative adjudications.
Some lawyers specialize in the growing field of intellectual property, helping to protect clients’ claims to copyrights, artwork under contract, product designs, and computer programs. Still other lawyers advise insurance companies about the legality of insurance transactions, guiding the company in writing insurance policies to conform with the law and to protect the companies from unwarranted claims. When claims are filed against insurance companies, these attorneys review the claims and represent the companies in court.
Most lawyers are in private practice, concentrating on criminal or civil law. In criminal law, lawyers represent individuals who have been charged with crimes and argue their cases in courts of law. Attorneys dealing with civil law assist clients with litigation, wills, trusts, contracts, mortgages, titles, and leases. Other lawyers handle only public-interest cases—civil or criminal—which may have an impact extending well beyond the individual client.
Lawyers are sometimes employed full time by a single client. If the client is a corporation, the lawyer is known as “house counsel” and usually advises the company concerning legal issues related to its business activities. These issues might involve patents, government regulations, contracts with other companies, property interests, or collective bargaining agreements with unions.
A significant number of attorneys are employed at the various levels of government. Lawyers who work for State attorneys general, prosecutors, public defenders, and courts play a key role in the criminal justice system. At the Federal level, attorneys investigate cases for the U.S. Department of Justice and other agencies. Government lawyers also help develop programs, draft and interpret laws and legislation, establish enforcement procedures, and argue civil and criminal cases on behalf of the government.
Other lawyers work for legal aid societies—private, nonprofit organizations established to serve disadvantaged people. These lawyers generally handle civil, rather than criminal, cases. A relatively small number of trained attorneys work in law schools. Most are faculty members who specialize in one or more subjects; however, some serve as administrators. Others work full time in nonacademic settings and teach part time.
Lawyers are increasingly using various forms of technology to perform their varied tasks more efficiently. Although all lawyers continue to use law libraries to prepare cases, some supplement conventional printed sources with computer sources, such as the Internet and legal databases. Software is used to search this legal literature automatically and to identify legal texts relevant to a specific case. In litigation involving many supporting documents, lawyers may use computers to organize and index material. Lawyers also utilize electronic filing, videoconferencing, and voice-recognition technology to share information more effectively with other parties involved in a case.
Working Conditions
Management analysts usually divide their time between their offices and the client’s site. In either situation, much of an analyst’s time is spent indoors in clean, well-lit offices. Because they must spend a significant portion of their time with clients, analysts travel frequently.
Analysts and consultants generally work at least 40 hours a week. Uncompensated overtime is common, especially when project deadlines are approaching. Analysts may experience a great deal of stress as a result of trying to meet a client’s demands, often on a tight schedule.
Self-employed consultants can set their workload and hours and work at home. On the other hand, their livelihood depends on their ability to maintain and expand their client base. Salaried consultants also must impress potential clients to get and keep clients for their company.
Employment
Lawyers held about 735,000 jobs in 2004. Approximately 3 out of 4 lawyers practiced privately, either as partners in law firms or in solo practices. Most salaried lawyers held positions in government or with corporations or nonprofit organizations. The greatest number of lawyers working in government were employed at the local level. In the Federal Government, lawyers work for many different agencies, but are concentrated in the Departments of Justice, Treasury, and Defense. Many salaried lawyers working outside of government are employed as house counsel by public utilities, banks, insurance companies, real estate agencies, manufacturing firms, and other business firms and nonprofit organizations. Some also have part-time independent practices, while others work part time as lawyers and full time in another occupation.
Training
To practice law in the courts of any State or other jurisdiction, a person must be licensed, or admitted to its bar, under rules established by the jurisdiction’s highest court. All States require that applicants for admission to the bar pass a written bar examination; most States also require applicants to pass a separate written ethics examination. Lawyers who have been admitted to the bar in one State occasionally may be admitted to the bar in another without taking an examination if they meet the latter jurisdiction’s standards of good moral character and a specified period of legal experience. In most cases, however, lawyers must pass the bar examination in each State in which they plan to practice. Federal courts and agencies set their own qualifications for those practicing before or in them.
To qualify for the bar examination in most States, an applicant usually must earn a college degree and graduate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) or the proper State authorities. ABA accreditation signifies that the law school—particularly its library and faculty—meets certain standards developed to promote quality legal education. As of 2005, there were 191 ABA-accredited law schools; others were approved by State authorities only. With certain exceptions, graduates of schools not approved by the ABA are restricted to taking the bar examination and practicing in the State or other jurisdiction in which the school is located; most of these schools are in California. In 2005, seven States—California, Maine, New York, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming—accepted the study of law in a law office as qualification for taking the bar examination; three jurisdictions—California, the District of Columbia, and New Mexico—now accept the study of law by correspondence. Several States require registration and approval of students by the State Board of Law Examiners, either before the students enter law school or during their early years of legal study.
Although there is no nationwide bar examination, 48 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands require the 6-hour Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) as part of the overall bar examination; the MBE is not required in Louisiana or Washington. The MBE covers a broad range of issues, and sometimes a locally prepared State bar examination is given in addition to it. The 3-hour Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) is used as part of the bar examination in several States. States vary in their use of MBE and MEE scores.
Many States also require Multistate Performance Testing (MPT) to test the practical skills of beginning lawyers. Requirements vary by State, although the test usually is taken at the same time as the bar exam and is a one-time requirement.
The required college and law school education usually takes 7 years of full-time study after high school—4 years of undergraduate study, followed by 3 years of law school. Law school applicants must have a bachelor’s degree to qualify for admission. To meet the needs of students who can attend only part time, a number of law schools have night or part-time divisions, which usually require 4 years of study; about 1 in 10 graduates from ABA-approved schools attended part time.
Although there is no recommended “prelaw” major, prospective lawyers should develop proficiency in writing and speaking, reading, researching, analyzing, and thinking logically—skills needed to succeed both in law school and in the profession. Regardless of major, a multidisciplinary background is recommended. Courses in English, foreign languages, public speaking, government, philosophy, history, economics, mathematics, and computer science, among others, are useful. Students interested in a particular aspect of law may find related courses helpful. For example, prospective patent lawyers need a strong background in engineering or science, and future tax lawyers must have extensive knowledge of accounting.
Other Qualifications
Advancement
Job Outlook
Employment of lawyers is expected to grow about as fast as average for all occupations through 2014, primarily as a result of growth in the population and in the general level of business activities. Job growth among lawyers also will result from increasing demand for legal services in such areas as health care, intellectual property, venture capital, energy, elder, antitrust, and environmental law. In addition, the wider availability and affordability of legal clinics should result in increased use of legal services by middle-income people. However, growth in demand for lawyers will be limited as businesses, in an effort to reduce costs, increasingly use large accounting firms and paralegals to perform some of the same functions that lawyers do. For example, accounting firms may provide employee-benefit counseling, process documents, or handle various other services previously performed by a law firm. Also, mediation and dispute resolution increasingly are being used as alternatives to litigation.
Competition for job openings should continue to be keen because of the large number of students graduating from law school each year. Graduates with superior academic records from highly regarded law schools will have the best job opportunities. Perhaps as a result of competition for attorney positions, lawyers are increasingly finding work in nontraditional areas for which legal training is an asset, but not normally a requirement—for example, administrative, managerial, and business positions in banks, insurance firms, real estate companies, government agencies, and other organizations. Employment opportunities are expected to continue to arise in these organizations at a growing rate.
As in the past, some graduates may have to accept positions in areas outside of their field of interest or for which they feel overqualified. Some recent law school graduates who have been unable to find permanent positions are turning to the growing number of temporary staffing firms that place attorneys in short-term jobs until they are able to secure full-time positions. This service allows companies to hire lawyers on an “as-needed” basis and permits beginning lawyers to develop practical skills while looking for permanent positions.
Because of the keen competition for jobs, a law graduate’s geographic mobility and work experience assume greater importance. The willingness to relocate may be an advantage in getting a job, but to be licensed in another State, a lawyer may have to take an additional State bar examination. In addition, employers are increasingly seeking graduates who have advanced law degrees and experience in a specialty, such as tax, patent, or admiralty law.
Employment growth for lawyers will continue to be concentrated in salaried jobs, as businesses and all levels of government employ a growing number of staff attorneys and as employment in the legal services industry grows. Most salaried positions are in urban areas where government agencies, law firms, and big corporations are concentrated. The number of self-employed lawyers is expected to decrease slowly, reflecting the difficulty of establishing a profitable new practice in the face of competition from larger, established law firms. Moreover, the growing complexity of law, which encourages specialization, along with the cost of maintaining up-to-date legal research materials, favors larger firms.
For lawyers who wish to work independently, establishing a new practice will probably be easiest in small towns and expanding suburban areas. In such communities, competition from larger, established law firms is likely to be less keen than in big cities, and new lawyers may find it easier to become known to potential clients.
Some lawyers are adversely affected by cyclical swings in the economy. During recessions, demand declines for some discretionary legal services, such as planning estates, drafting wills, and handling real estate transactions. Also, corporations are less likely to litigate cases when declining sales and profits result in budgetary restrictions. Some corporations and law firms will not hire new attorneys until business improves, and these establishments may even cut staff to contain costs. Several factors, however, mitigate the overall impact of recessions on lawyers; during recessions, for example, individuals and corporations face other legal problems, such as bankruptcies, foreclosures, and divorces requiring legal action.
Earnings
In May 2004, the median annual earnings of all lawyers were $94,930. The middle half of the occupation earned between $64,620 and $143,620. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of lawyers in May 2004 were as follows:
Management of companies and enterprises $126,250
Federal Government 108,090
Legal services 99,580
Local government 73,410
State government 70,280
Median salaries of lawyers 9 months after graduation from law school in 2004 varied by type of work, as indicated in Table 1.
Salaries of experienced attorneys vary widely according to the type, size, and location of their employer. Lawyers who own their own practices usually earn less than those who are partners in law firms. Lawyers starting their own practice may need to work part time in other occupations to supplement their income until their practice is well established.
Most salaried lawyers are provided health and life insurance, and contributions are made to retirement plans on their behalf. Lawyers who practice independently are covered only if they arrange and pay for such benefits themselves.
Related Occupations
Legal training is necessary in many other occupations, including paralegals and legal assistants; law clerks; title examiners, abstractors, and searchers; and judges, magistrates, and other judicial workers.
Sources of Additional Information
Information on law schools and a career in law may be obtained from the following organizations:
* American Bar Association, 321 North Clark St., Chicago, IL 60610. Internet: http://www.abanet.org
* National Association for Law Placement, 1025 Connecticut Ave. NW., Suite 1110, Washington, DC 20036. Internet: http://www.nalp.org
Information on the LSAT, the Law School Data Assembly Service, the law school application process, and financial aid available to law students may be obtained from:
* Law School Admission Council, P.O. Box 40, Newtown, PA 18940. Internet: http://www.lsac.org
Information on obtaining positions as occupational health and safety specialists and technicians with the Federal Government is available from the Office of Personnel Management through USAJOBS, the Federal Government’s official employment information system. This resource for locating and applying for job opportunities can be accessed through the Internet at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov or through an interactive voice response telephone system at (703) 724-1850 or TDD (978) 461-8404. These numbers are not tollfree, and charges may result.
The requirements for admission to the bar in a particular State or other jurisdiction also may be obtained at the State capital, from the clerk of the Supreme Court, or from the administrator of the State Board of Bar Examiners.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Lawyers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos053.htm (visited July 24, 2006)
对不起LZ ! 借此宝地一用.
呼叫BEIJING2008 !!!
我拜读过您的帖子,
麻烦你给我修改一下,十万火急,先拜谢了!
请象批改小学生作业一样, 有错您别生气.
My IELTS result 6656 tested on Mar.10th shocked me today, it is not as good as it should be and it will be sent directly to you soon by IELTS center . I registed immediately for the IELTS test on June 16th in Qingdao which is the earliest available date in Qingdao. Now I am writing for asking an opportunity to submit my new IELTS result in June .
The reason is that I had been very busy on my work and took the test without any reviewing and just after a long business trip . It effected IELTS result .
My family have been keeping the strong feeling to get a chance to Canada . Kindly pls give us a chance to provide a new language test result instead of refusing my application .
I am very confident on my work skills and my language abilities , and I can be sure that I will get new better scores .
Your reply will be high appreciated !
Yours sincerely
呼叫BEIJING2008 !!!
我拜读过您的帖子,
麻烦你给我修改一下,十万火急,先拜谢了!
请象批改小学生作业一样, 有错您别生气.
My IELTS result 6656 tested on Mar.10th shocked me today, it is not as good as it should be and it will be sent directly to you soon by IELTS center . I registed immediately for the IELTS test on June 16th in Qingdao which is the earliest available date in Qingdao. Now I am writing for asking an opportunity to submit my new IELTS result in June .
The reason is that I had been very busy on my work and took the test without any reviewing and just after a long business trip . It effected IELTS result .
My family have been keeping the strong feeling to get a chance to Canada . Kindly pls give us a chance to provide a new language test result instead of refusing my application .
I am very confident on my work skills and my language abilities , and I can be sure that I will get new better scores .
Your reply will be high appreciated !
Yours sincerely
谢谢北京2008！
谢谢2008提供资料！
其实楼主好像已经查了不少资料有一定的了解了，我确实差很多，到目前为止都还没定下目标，所以只是纸上谈兵，没怎么查资料，而且确实英语也不是很好，更喜欢看中文论坛上的资料。
本来以为过了司法考试就不用再费力气学习了，没想到决定移民，又要从新开始，觉得很累，本来就不是个爱学习的人。
昨天见了一个从温哥华回来的老移民朋友，说她的一个朋友在做律师助理，很辛苦，而且除了问题律师也都怪在他头上，压力很大的。
另外我一个同学毕业后就去美国读书，因为直接申请学法律很难，所以转读了新闻的硕士学位，然后又读了法学硕士和博士，靠过了纽约州的律考，现在已经是律师了，在一个中国人的律所里做非诉，具体哪方面我记不清了。
她当年在学校学习就很厉害，而且这些年学下来真得很辛苦，我现在这个年龄在走这条路好像有点晚了，刚毕业的同学们可以参考。但是美国和加拿大还是差别比较大的。
谢谢2008提供资料！
其实楼主好像已经查了不少资料有一定的了解了，我确实差很多，到目前为止都还没定下目标，所以只是纸上谈兵，没怎么查资料，而且确实英语也不是很好，更喜欢看中文论坛上的资料。
本来以为过了司法考试就不用再费力气学习了，没想到决定移民，又要从新开始，觉得很累，本来就不是个爱学习的人。
昨天见了一个从温哥华回来的老移民朋友，说她的一个朋友在做律师助理，很辛苦，而且除了问题律师也都怪在他头上，压力很大的。
另外我一个同学毕业后就去美国读书，因为直接申请学法律很难，所以转读了新闻的硕士学位，然后又读了法学硕士和博士，靠过了纽约州的律考，现在已经是律师了，在一个中国人的律所里做非诉，具体哪方面我记不清了。
她当年在学校学习就很厉害，而且这些年学下来真得很辛苦，我现在这个年龄在走这条路好像有点晚了，刚毕业的同学们可以参考。但是美国和加拿大还是差别比较大的。
在美国或加拿大读一年的法律根本没有用，只能回国骗骗人，在这里必须要从本科上或者读到法学博士才有可能找到好工作．
回复: 国内读法律的想到加国继续深造的进来聊聊吧
我拿到了多伦多大学和美国top 20的法学院LLM的offer（决无炫耀之意）。由于枫叶卡的原因，正在艰难的抉择中。如果没有这个卡，我会选择美国。关于读法学院和就业，可以提供一点信息供大家参考。
在美国，有5-6个州（包括纽约州）允许外国学生在美国律师协会认可的法学院读完LLM后参加律师考试，通过后可以拿到执照，开始执业。虽然学费比加拿大贵很多（前20名的法学院学费基本上在3.5万美元左右，纽约大学更是3.9万美元/年），但是读完一年书可以马上考照，并且纽约州的总体通过率在60%左右，所以大多数中国人选择读LLM，然后考照，然后回国发展。国内的大多数海龟都是这种情形。毕竟3年JD的高昂费用不是每个人都承担得起，或者愿意承担的，尤其是对于在国内已经事业有成的人士，机会成本太高。镀镀金，拿个美国执照，已经不错了。
当然也有朋友去读JD，我以前的同事，今年毕业，念二年级的时候就被美国最大的律所录取了，现在很开心。如果是美国前20名法学院的JD毕业生（如果成绩属于中上等），在美国找工作不是很困难的事情。我知道的事实，认识的人都证明了这一点。那种认为中国人英文比美国人差，无法在律所立足的说法缺乏事实依据。但也必须承认，中国人在诉讼领域是处劣势，但在非诉领域还是有得一拼的。LLM，即使拿到执照，在美国执业确实是非常困难，好像这个比例在1%的样子（可能不权威）。
在加拿大，大家就没这么幸运了，想只读一年书就考照？答案是－－此门目前没开，并且肯定在未来5－10年也不会开（本人已经与加拿大权威部门函证）。不幸的是，加拿大不允许外国人只读LLM就参加律师考试，必须读LLB/JD，或者读完LLM后，通过NCA （National Comittee of Accreditation，类似于认定学生是否有资格参加律考的机构)认证，开出需要额外学习的课程（差不多还要最少再读2年）。因为LLM的一些（如果不是全部！）学分不能被认可（有些LLM的课程是LLB不认可的），所以NCA的建议是老老实实读LLB来得快，折腾也少。如果打算读三年，那也要做好心理准备，就连头衔都比美国差。美国读三年后叫JD，法律博士；加拿大绝大多数学校仍然叫LLB，法学学士（虽然实质上确实是学士）。给外行的人看看，会觉得加拿大的是矮一大截，人家是博士，你们到加拿大才混个学士，是不是类似于国内的双学位？当然，有的学校改了称呼，也叫JD，比如多伦多大学，但多数没有改，继续保留悠久的良好传统－坚持叫LLB（Bachelor)，不像美国人，太好面子（呵呵）。如果你幸运的读完LLB（每门课70分以上），或者修完NCA指定的课程，然后参加差不多为期一年的实习，再参加律考。过了，就恭喜你了，终于功德圆满，成为加拿大律师了！
补充一句：实习期间是有工资的，差不多是律师工资的70%。我认识的一个加拿大律师朋友是这么告诉我的。
我在挣扎中，到底走哪条路？美国还是加拿大？读LLM再申请认证，补修课程还是转JD？确实是很难的决定。希望有同行过来人指点一二。谢谢！
以上有不对的地方，欢迎指正，大家一起交流。
我拿到了多伦多大学和美国top 20的法学院LLM的offer（决无炫耀之意）。由于枫叶卡的原因，正在艰难的抉择中。如果没有这个卡，我会选择美国。关于读法学院和就业，可以提供一点信息供大家参考。
在美国，有5-6个州（包括纽约州）允许外国学生在美国律师协会认可的法学院读完LLM后参加律师考试，通过后可以拿到执照，开始执业。虽然学费比加拿大贵很多（前20名的法学院学费基本上在3.5万美元左右，纽约大学更是3.9万美元/年），但是读完一年书可以马上考照，并且纽约州的总体通过率在60%左右，所以大多数中国人选择读LLM，然后考照，然后回国发展。国内的大多数海龟都是这种情形。毕竟3年JD的高昂费用不是每个人都承担得起，或者愿意承担的，尤其是对于在国内已经事业有成的人士，机会成本太高。镀镀金，拿个美国执照，已经不错了。
当然也有朋友去读JD，我以前的同事，今年毕业，念二年级的时候就被美国最大的律所录取了，现在很开心。如果是美国前20名法学院的JD毕业生（如果成绩属于中上等），在美国找工作不是很困难的事情。我知道的事实，认识的人都证明了这一点。那种认为中国人英文比美国人差，无法在律所立足的说法缺乏事实依据。但也必须承认，中国人在诉讼领域是处劣势，但在非诉领域还是有得一拼的。LLM，即使拿到执照，在美国执业确实是非常困难，好像这个比例在1%的样子（可能不权威）。
在加拿大，大家就没这么幸运了，想只读一年书就考照？答案是－－此门目前没开，并且肯定在未来5－10年也不会开（本人已经与加拿大权威部门函证）。不幸的是，加拿大不允许外国人只读LLM就参加律师考试，必须读LLB/JD，或者读完LLM后，通过NCA （National Comittee of Accreditation，类似于认定学生是否有资格参加律考的机构)认证，开出需要额外学习的课程（差不多还要最少再读2年）。因为LLM的一些（如果不是全部！）学分不能被认可（有些LLM的课程是LLB不认可的），所以NCA的建议是老老实实读LLB来得快，折腾也少。如果打算读三年，那也要做好心理准备，就连头衔都比美国差。美国读三年后叫JD，法律博士；加拿大绝大多数学校仍然叫LLB，法学学士（虽然实质上确实是学士）。给外行的人看看，会觉得加拿大的是矮一大截，人家是博士，你们到加拿大才混个学士，是不是类似于国内的双学位？当然，有的学校改了称呼，也叫JD，比如多伦多大学，但多数没有改，继续保留悠久的良好传统－坚持叫LLB（Bachelor)，不像美国人，太好面子（呵呵）。如果你幸运的读完LLB（每门课70分以上），或者修完NCA指定的课程，然后参加差不多为期一年的实习，再参加律考。过了，就恭喜你了，终于功德圆满，成为加拿大律师了！
补充一句：实习期间是有工资的，差不多是律师工资的70%。我认识的一个加拿大律师朋友是这么告诉我的。
我在挣扎中，到底走哪条路？美国还是加拿大？读LLM再申请认证，补修课程还是转JD？确实是很难的决定。希望有同行过来人指点一二。谢谢！
以上有不对的地方，欢迎指正，大家一起交流。
最后编辑: 2007-04-11
回复: 国内读法律的想到加国继续深造的进来聊聊吧
我拿到了多伦多大学和美国top 20的法学院LLM的offer（决无炫耀之意）。由于枫叶卡的原因，正在艰难的抉择中。如果没有这个卡，我会选择美国。关于读法学院和就业，可以提供一点信息供大家参考。
再问一下,我听说加拿大的LLB在美国只有三个州的律考可参加:MA, CA, NY (见于Law school, U of Toronto). 但是你知道加拿大的law students考过BAR后在美国是否好找工作?
谢谢!
我也不知道你该如何选择. U of T 的law school 是top1的.但是美国top20也很难得.
我一个朋友在一个美国top20念JD.她说她有两个学期的成绩不很好,再加上还没考过BAR,又是外国人,所以工作不是很好找.
回复: 国内读法律的想到加国继续深造的进来聊聊吧
我在Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admissions in the USA中只看到MA的：我拿到了多伦多大学和美国top 20的法学院LLM的offer（决无炫耀之意）。由于枫叶卡的原因，正在艰难的抉择中。如果没有这个卡，我会选择美国。关于读法学院和就业，可以提供一点信息供大家参考。
再问一下,我听说加拿大的LLB在美国只有三个州的律考可参加:MA, CA, NY (见于Law school, U of Toronto). 但是你知道加拿大的law students考过BAR后在美国是否好找工作?
谢谢!
我也不知道你该如何选择. U of T 的law school 是top1的.但是美国top20也很难得.
我一个朋友在一个美国top20念JD.她说她有两个学期的成绩不很好,再加上还没考过BAR,又是外国人,所以工作不是很好找.
Does your jurisdiction recognize with regularity the
sufficiency of a legal education received at any particular
foreign law school?
Massachusetts Canadian Law Schools: University of
Alberta; University of British Columbia; University
of Calgary; Dalhousie University; University of
Manitoba; McGill University; University of New
Brunswick; University of Ottawa; Queen’s University;
University of Toronto; University of Victoria;
University of Western Ontario; University of
Windsor; York University (Osgood Hall Law School);
University of Saskatchewan.
纽约和加州没有看到。能不能给个出处？官方链接最好。
回复: 国内读法律的想到加国继续深造的进来聊聊吧
To: Laowang
我听一个在加拿大的朋友说加拿大的LLB在美国可以考NY bar，至于CA bar，是个人就能考，它不要求美国law school的credit，but那个考试很难，通过率较低。NY bar通过率高也只是表面现象，有很多是美国人，外国人的通过率据我所知也就20%左右。
我跟你一样不想考LSAT所以选择了先在美国读LLM。如果在美国读一年不会影响你的加拿大移民状态，当然是选美国top20 LLM，再考NY bar，然后去加拿大找工作。这样既拿到了美国的bar，又可以保住移民身份。如果时间上已经不允许你再在美国呆一年，那么只好在加拿大念，如果是我的话我就会念LLB，没必要花钱花时间念加拿大的LLM。从声望上来讲，加拿大的法学院和美国first tier的没法比，即便是多大。
BTW，我的学校也是top20，在DC，不会是同一家吧;-)
To: Laowang
我听一个在加拿大的朋友说加拿大的LLB在美国可以考NY bar，至于CA bar，是个人就能考，它不要求美国law school的credit，but那个考试很难，通过率较低。NY bar通过率高也只是表面现象，有很多是美国人，外国人的通过率据我所知也就20%左右。
我跟你一样不想考LSAT所以选择了先在美国读LLM。如果在美国读一年不会影响你的加拿大移民状态，当然是选美国top20 LLM，再考NY bar，然后去加拿大找工作。这样既拿到了美国的bar，又可以保住移民身份。如果时间上已经不允许你再在美国呆一年，那么只好在加拿大念，如果是我的话我就会念LLB，没必要花钱花时间念加拿大的LLM。从声望上来讲，加拿大的法学院和美国first tier的没法比，即便是多大。
BTW，我的学校也是top20，在DC，不会是同一家吧;-)
回复: 国内读法律的想到加国继续深造的进来聊聊吧
关于加拿大的学校和美国的学校比较，我也问过很多人，确实是个仁者见仁的问题。可能国内主流的海龟是美国毕业的，所以多数人还是认为美国学校比加拿大的好。我有打算去多大读LLM，同时申请JD，然后转，这样一来可以拿JD（JD比LLM强得多），还可以申请入籍，还可以考两边的执照。
顺便问一句，你打算考7月份的美国bar吗？
加拿大的国籍重要吗？
谢谢啊！我是06年短登的。我的学校不在DC，应该不是同一所。
关于加拿大的学校和美国的学校比较，我也问过很多人，确实是个仁者见仁的问题。可能国内主流的海龟是美国毕业的，所以多数人还是认为美国学校比加拿大的好。我有打算去多大读LLM，同时申请JD，然后转，这样一来可以拿JD（JD比LLM强得多），还可以申请入籍，还可以考两边的执照。
顺便问一句，你打算考7月份的美国bar吗？
加拿大的国籍重要吗？
最后编辑: 2007-04-22
回复: 国内读法律的想到加国继续深造的进来聊聊吧
这确实是一个很难的选择。就像很多在美国读了JD的人说，美国的LLM什么都不是，只是混混而已，十个月的学习而已，对美国法律和实践知之甚少，只是满足急功近利的需求。他们对我读LLM不屑一顾。事实也是，回到中国的LLM基本上都不是在practice American law，只是凭借美国执照在国内practice PRC law能争取到不错的职位和薪水。如果希望在中国之外继续从事法律工作，估计JD是一个必经的选择。
这确实是一个很难的选择。就像很多在美国读了JD的人说，美国的LLM什么都不是，只是混混而已，十个月的学习而已，对美国法律和实践知之甚少，只是满足急功近利的需求。他们对我读LLM不屑一顾。事实也是，回到中国的LLM基本上都不是在practice American law，只是凭借美国执照在国内practice PRC law能争取到不错的职位和薪水。如果希望在中国之外继续从事法律工作，估计JD是一个必经的选择。
