If I want to become a lawyer, what type of lawyer is the best to become?

You should become a real estate lawyer. The hours are great and you're always getting invited to galas and golf tournaments.

Hi Katherine,

I agree with the above assessments, being a lawyer is a very big field and each type of law is very different. If you end up going to law school, the career counselors there can be very helpful with describing the different types of practices.

One aspect that I think is often overlooked in law schools though is the type of work life balance that various fields provide. If you are not willing to put the long hours into working for a law firm, for example, then you should focus on government work or non-profits (although you give up the difference in salaries). Even within a firm different practice areas have different demands on your life.

So in short, look at the different subjects that you are interested in and also speak with as many lawyers as you can to discuss what they do and what their work life balance is like.

Hope this helps and good luck!

There are so many different areas of law! Each one carries its own nuance, and once you start practicing in one area, it's very easy to get pigeonholed in that field, so your question is a great one!
I enrolled in law school certain of the area I wanted to practice in. Most of my classmates were the same. By the time we graduated, I believe 9/10 of my classmates were in a totally different field! Barring a situation where you know the exact community you're looking to serve, I'd advise going into law school with an open mind.
The first year of law school usually introduces you to the main areas of law in the form of required classes. My advice would be to start off strong your first year, taking careful assessment of the classes to help you figure out the ones you really enjoy. Start exploring the classes that fall under the areas of law that speak to you. If you like property law, consider taking Trusts and Estates. If you like Family Law, look into a class on Adoption Law. Make an appointment with your career services office, and check in with your academic advisor! You'll be busy with classwork, but they'll be able to offer guidance that'll pay off in the long run.
Finally, I'd advise you to think long and hard about what law school will do for you in the long run. Back in the early aughts, a lot of people took refuge in law school to figure out what they wanted to do long term. Law school is really expensive, though, so before you enroll, do some research. The are so many paths to take as you start your career, so make sure you're walking the one that's right for you; you'll be walking it for a long time!

Hi Katherine,

Thanks for the question. It is admittedly difficult to say what the "best" law field may be because the word "best" is very subjective. Education is my area of expertise so if I were going to law school and I'd want to focus on education law, but someone else may think that's boring and to do something they feel is more interesting such as criminal law.

The Law School Admissions Council has great resources for prospective/future law school students: http://www.lsac.org/jd/thinking-about-law-school/fields-of-law.

This link will take you to the fields of law they list, but if you look at the links on the left side you will find a lot of information to help you decided if A) Law school is right for you and B) If so, tips to help you select a school, application tips, etc.

We can't say what "the best" type of lawyer is. That is a very personal question. It's like asking someone the best flavor of ice cream. The best type of lawyer is whatever best meets your personal goals for your career. Do you place more emphasis on the area of law that interests you most (i.e. are you more interested in criminal law or wills and trusts)? Do you place more emphasis on who your clients are (corporations, high income individuals, low income individuals, criminal defendants)? Do you look for a high paying position or low? One with a company or where you can be your own boss? One that addresses people's personal life problems (like DUIs for example) or advocates for broad policy changes (like working for the ACLU)? There are so many considerations but ultimately, you need to think about what is meaningful to you and use that information to choose your career path.

Agree with the above. Law school is very expensive, and a law degree is only good for if you want to be a lawyer. Law school is also three years of your life that you could spend working in a job and earning money. So make sure first that you want to go! See if you can find a lawyer to talk to so you can get an idea what lawyers do. Many lawyers ends up with hundreds of thousands of dollars in loans, so make sure it's worth it.

Assuming that you decide that you want to go, don't forget that once you graduate you will need a job so that you can pay off your loans and also pay for rent, food, etc. So a good type of lawyer is one that can find a job! Career services can help, and you can look at what the job market is like where you live, or where you want to live. For example, in Washington, D.C. there is always a need for lawyers that can work in government contracts. Immigration law is popular in cities with a lot of immigration issues (San Diego, Washington DC, etc.). I knew some people from law school that wanted to work in an area of law like environmental law that can be hard to find job in, and some of them still don't have jobs. You can try taking classes and finding an internship in those areas of law that are popular and where you can find a job, to help you pick if that is a good fit for you.