Is becoming a lawyer worth it?

Jul 11, 2022

Written By Robert Greene

If you have stumbled across this article, you may be hitting an existential crisis or potentially just exploring your career options. In this article, we look at some of the factors you may want to consider when deciding whether to pursue a career as a lawyer.

Money, money, money

"It's not about the money, money, money,” according to Jessie J. And yet, whenever anyone talks about pursuing a career in law, talk inevitably turns to salary. And that’s no surprise when you consider the mind-boggling fees students pay before they even get their foot in the door.

So how much do lawyers earn? Stories of soaring salaries at leading law firms often make the headlines, with some US law firms offering in excess of £150,000 per year to newly qualified solicitors. However, it is worth stressing that these salaries are the exception, rather than the norm. Indeed, according to The Law Society, the average salary for solicitors working full-time in private practice was £62,000 in 2018. The average salary was higher in London (at £88,000) and lowest in the North of England (at £44,000). These are still very handsome salaries, and undoubtedly one of the major pull factors for someone thinking about a career in law. But whilst ABBA may claim “it’s always sunny in a rich man’s world”, there are many other factors that are likely to play a role in determining whether becoming a lawyer is worth it.

Job satisfaction

According to the CIPD Good Work Index, scientists experience the highest job satisfaction in the UK. By contrast, a separate study by CV-Library found that half of people in the legal sector said they “dislike their current job”. The most commonly cited reasons were “feeling undervalued” (61.2%), “not being in the role they want” (60%) and “being bored” (41.3%). Of course, this is by no means illustrative of how you may find a career in law, but it does underline the importance of job satisfaction to overall enjoyment of your job (and, by extension, whether you think becoming a lawyer is worth it).

There are likely to be many factors which influence whether or not you find a job satisfying: from opportunities to take on new challenges and responsibilities, through to opportunities to learn new skills and develop your interests outside of work. And what makes one person tick may not necessarily be the same as another. Understanding what it is that drives you and gives you satisfaction may help you determine whether becoming a lawyer is worth it.

Work/life balance

A joint study by Intapp and YouGov found that 60% of UK lawyers think they have a good work/life balance, with 42% of them going as far as to say that their work/life balance is “very good”. These are positive results for a sector that often gets a bad rep for long hours. Indeed, it is not uncommon to hear of junior lawyers working 12-hour days in leading commercial law firms.

With the onset of COVID-19, the lines between work and home are increasingly blurred making it difficult to switch off at the end of the day. It is important for anyone considering a career in law (or any career for that matter) to try to get a realistic picture of the work/life balance. This could be through networking with individuals at the firm or doing internships or vacation schemes at the firm.

Career progression

One factor which may determine whether becoming a lawyer is worthwhile for you is career progression. Traditionally, a career in law has offered a linear and predictable career trajectory; you start off as a trainee and work your way up the ranks from newly qualified to (potentially) partner.

However, the career path for a lawyer is becoming increasingly non-linear; lawyers may go in-house or do consultancy work, for example. In fact, The Law Society reported that in-house practice is the fastest growing sector in the legal sector. There were an estimated 31,000 registered in-house solicitors in 2019, almost triple the number of in-house lawyers 20 years ago.

Career progression

Culture

Wherever you eventually end up working, you want to be able to be yourself. Traditionally, the legal sector has been perceived as a conservative sector that lacks diversity.

According to the latest statistics from the SRA, the sector shows a slow but steady increase in diversity among lawyers. The sector is still predominantly white (79%). In terms of seniority, only 16% of partners are Black, Asian and minority ethnic lawyers. As for gender, whilst women make up the majority of solicitors (61%), only 35% of partners are women.The percentage of disabled lawyers is also very low at just 5%, compared to 14% of the UK workforce.

The best way to get a feeling for a firm’s culture is to speak to people in the firm. Many firms run open days for students, which are great opportunities to speak to trainees about their experiences of the firm’s diversity and inclusion policies and practices (beyond the glossy brochures).

Opportunities to travel

Another factor that may influence your decision to pursue a career in law is the opportunity (or lack thereof) to travel. With the rise of global firms, the opportunities to travel as an English-qualified lawyer are expanding.

In addition, the UK has been establishing systems for recognition of professional qualifications (including legal qualifications) with several countries, including Australia, Ireland and New Zealand.

Is becoming a lawyer worth it?

Whether becoming a lawyer is worth it will depend on what you want from your career. Money is an important consideration, but there are many other factors which you should consider, such as job satisfaction, work/life balance, career progression, and culture.

Even if you do pursue a career as a lawyer and later decide it’s not for you, there is nothing stopping you from changing track: the skills you developed as a lawyer will stand you in good stead.

Becoming a Lawyer