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Introduction
What is Law?
The Lawyer's Role
Choosing a Career
Areas of Law
Lawyer's Job Description
Pre-Law Education
Law Schools and Costs
The Board of Bar Examiners
The Florida Bar
Income Characteristics
Other Law-Related Careers
Conclusion
Introduction
You can do anything you want to do if you think you can and take
action. Today, more than ever before, the legal profession offers a
unique opportunity for the dedicated individual to make a
significant contribution to society. Opportunities exist in the
legal profession for rewarding service to individuals and society.
This pamphlet is intended to help those of you who are considering
law as your career. It should give you a better idea of what to
expect on your educational path and the career opportunities open to
you once your law degree is obtained.
What is Law?
To assign one universally accepted definition of law would be
impossible. Even among experts, the interpretations of law and its
implications are virtually infinite. However, the main functions of
modern law include: maintaining peace; influencing and enforcing
standards of conduct; maintaining the status quo; facilitating
orderly change; providing for maximum individual self-assertion;
promoting justice; and providing solutions to conflicts and
problems.
The Lawyer's Role
Lawyers help people. The lawyer in our society holds a twofold
responsibility, working as both an officer of the court and a public
servant. The lawyer's function is to provide legal assistance in
resolving conflicts and ensuring justice. As an officer of the
court, the lawyer is charged with the responsibility of upholding
and working within the framework of American law, which is based on
the Constitution and written legislation. As a public servant, the
lawyer is a counselor who advises his or her clients to put their
entangled legal affairs into workable order.
Choosing a Career
Choose a career that you are passionate about. A few years after
graduating law school, a good friend got married. At the wedding, we
all sat around the table and discussed how happy we were with being
lawyers. Only two out of ten lawyers were happy. Both of us are
criminal lawyers who started out at the Public Defender's Office in
Palm Beach. The other lawyers started out at big firms making lots
of money. However, they were burnt out and didn't enjoy their work.
Before choosing a career, you should evaluate your abilities, work
inclinations, and personal goals. Prerequisites to a career in law
include the intelligence and diligence to earn a law degree and to
pass the bar exam and then be admitted to the Bar, which allows you
to practice law. You must be inclined to work perhaps 40 hours a
week to complete your law school studies and later, as a lawyer, you
may have to work nights or weekends on cases and function under
extreme pressure. However, if you are passionate about your work,
it's enjoyable. If you don't like it, you will be miserable.
As for personal goals, a law career provides an opportunity to
earn a substantial income and can lead to a position of authority
and influence. However, these personal objectives are often forced
to become secondary since the profession of law is geared toward
serving the public, not perpetuating personal ambitions. In fact,
ethical rules are in place to ensure that lawyers fulfill their
responsibilities to the public. Frequently, a lawyer's greatest
satisfaction comes through the genuine desire to help people in
trouble by giving them assurance that their legal rights will be
protected.
Areas Of Law
More than half of all lawyers go into private practice, setting up a
solo office or joining a law firm of two or more partners. Private
practitioners usually handle a variety of cases, although they often
earn a reputation for concentrating in a particular area. I practice
criminal defense exclusively because I love it and I can stay on top
of all the changes in the law. If you try to practice in every area,
you will commit malpractice for sure. This reputation leads to
client referrals. For example, a lawyer might gain a reputation as a
divorce lawyer, handling enough cases in this area to comprise most
or all of his or her practice.
Many lawyers are employed by departments and agencies of federal,
state, and municipal governments. No matter what area you go into,
you should consider starting at the State Attorney's Office or
Public Defender's Office. You will get trial and courtroom
experience that you can't and won't get anywhere else. Many work for
private businesses, large corporations, or industrial firms. Some
lawyers become judges, politicians, mediators, or teachers. Others
apply their legal education in areas such as banking, insurance, and
real estate, where legal knowledge may be a part of the job
activities. A good friend of mine stopped practicing law and is
happy with a successful moving business.
Because the profession of law is so diverse and complicated, law
school provides a general legal background, after which there are
many options as to the specific area of law or career to be pursued.
Lawyer's Job Description
The lawyer's role most familiar to the public is that of a trial
lawyer. Trials are news items because they involve people in
dramatic and crisis situations. However, many men and women who
practice law seldom appear in the courtroom. Many lawyers never
present before a jury or a presiding judge. A trial is costly and
time-consuming and it usually benefits both parties to settle out of
court. However, for me, that's the best part of the job.
Since most lawyers are not involved with trial practice,
activities of those in the legal profession vary according to the
individual lawyer's personality and area of practice. A lawyer may
spend one day in conference listening to a client's problem. The
next day may be spent in the library or at a computer terminal doing
research to find prevailing laws and decisions affecting that
problem. A lawyer may spend the morning in court and the afternoon
visiting the scene of a client's accident. But almost every lawyer
spends hours researching and writing legal pleadings, reports, or
documents.
Pre-Law Education
You should be able to read, write and speak publicly. You need a
bachelor's degree to get into law school. Also, you need to do good
on the LSAT. It is of utmost importance that you take the high
school courses required for admission to the college you wish to
attend. See your school counselor to make sure you are maximizing
your high school education potential. Courses which develop your
ability to read and write more precisely are important.
No law school requires a formal pre-law course of study for
admission. While no specific courses are required, it is agreed that
a strong liberal arts background is beneficial. Specific useful
subjects include English, political science, economics, philosophy,
logic, business management and other courses that enhance your
reading, reasoning and writing abilities. Language is the tool of
the lawyer, whether it is oral argument in court, letters, legal
briefs, or drafting pleadings. Therefore, any course that develops
this skill is valuable.
Law Schools and Costs
Law school costs vary greatly, from the modest tuition of
state-supported schools to the much higher tuition of the private
law schools. On top of tuition costs, you must add the cost of
books, room and board. Many law schools and other legal
organizations provide scholarships for outstanding students and also
sponsor student loan programs. Many students also help finance their
legal education by part-time employment. Information as to specific
programs should be obtained from the law school you wish to attend.
There are 196 American Bar Association-accredited law schools in
the United States, 9 of them in Florida. Florida's law schools
include: Barry University, Orlando; Florida Coastal School of Law,
Jacksonville; Florida State University College of Law, Tallahassee;
Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad law Center, Ft.
Lauderdale; St. Thomas University School of Law, Miami; Stetson
University College of Law, St. Petersburg; University of Florida
Levin College of Law, Gainesville; University of Miami School of
Law, Coral Gables.
The Board of Bar Examiners
The Florida Board of Bar Examiners is an administrative agency of
the Supreme Court of Florida. The Board consists of 12 members of
The Florida Bar and three non-lawyer members of the general public.
In making a determination as to your character and fitness to be an
attorney, the Board conducts a thorough background investigation
regarding your honesty, fairness and respect for the rights of
others and for the laws of this country.
The Board also administers the Florida Bar Examination which is
given twice a year. All law school graduates must pass this
examination to obtain a license to practice law in Florida and be a
member of The Florida Bar. Once you pass the bar examination and
meet the character and fitness requirements established by the
Supreme Court of Florida, you will be admitted to the practice of
law in this state.
The Board recommends that you file a registration application
within the first 180 days of commencing law school. By registering
with the Board as a law student, you will pay a lower fee and you
can obtain a preliminary decision from the Board as to your
character and fitness.
Induction ceremonies for new lawyers are held twice annually,
usually in May and October. Other requirements for admission
to The Florida Bar are:
- An undergraduate college degree from an accredited school;
- A degree from an American Bar Association-accredited law
school (or if the degree is from a non-accredited law school,
the applicant must have ten years of practice in another state
before being considered for admission).
For information or an application packet, write:
Florida Board of Bar Examiners, 1891 Eider Court, Tallahassee,
Florida 32308.
The Florida Bar
The Florida Bar is the third largest unified Bar, meaning that all
lawyers who practice in the state must be members of the Bar. There
are more than 80,000 members of The Florida Bar.
As a member of the Bar, each lawyer is expected to devote some
time to the improvement of the profession. Lawyers participate in
the work of the Bar and uphold the established ethical standards and
discipline procedures. The Bar helps protect the public from harm
that could result in unqualified persons permitted to practice law.
Bar members are also encouraged to support the public interest by
providing free or low-cost services to individuals or charitable
organizations in need and by working with and financially supporting
organizations which provide legal services to those in need.
Income Characteristics
According to The Florida Bar's 2006 Economics and Law Office
Management Survey, the median salary for a starting attorney is
$55,000 depending on his or her internship/clerkship experience.
Salaries for starting attorneys with no prior clerking experience
vary between the three regions of Florida. In the North Region,
which includes Jacksonville, Tallahassee and Pensacola, the median
salary for a beginning attorney is $52,000. The Central-Southwest
Region, which includes the Orlando and Tampa areas, has a median
salary of $55,000 for a beginning attorney. In the Southeast Region,
which includes Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami, the median
salary for a beginning attorney is $65,000.
As with all compensation, there is a strong correlation between
years of experience and salary. The median salary in the State of
Florida is $75,000 for three to five years of prior experience,
$90,000 for six to eight years of experience, and $145,000 as a
partner in a firm. Larger firms generally offer greater initial
salaries and more employee benefits than smaller firms. Salary
amounts vary according to years of experience, age, type of
practice, and firm size. Don't worry about making gobs of money
right out of law school. Start at the State Attorney's Office or
Public Defender's Office for the trial experience. You can defer
your loans for a couple of years.
Other Law-Related Careers
Much interest has been generated recently in legal assistant careers
(also known as paralegal careers). A legal assistant is someone who
works under the direct supervision of an attorney. The functions of
a legal assistant vary considerably, but may include interviewing
clients, conducting legal research projects, and preparing legal
documents.
The median starting salary for a beginning legal assistant is
approximately $30,000. Salaries for legal assistants increase with
experience. A legal assistant with four years of experience might
expect a salary of about $35,000 and a legal assistant with five to
10 years of experience might expect a salary of approximately
$42,000. Salaries for legal assistants vary across the three regions
of the state.
For those who have an interest in the law, but aren't necessarily
looking for a career as a lawyer or legal assistant, there are
several other types of professional positions available in law
firms. Job titles for such careers include director of
administration, administrative manager, controller, office manager,
personnel director, support services supervisor, accountant,
bookkeeper, librarian, law school recruiting specialist, legal
assistant coordinator, mediator and data processing supervisor.
Conclusion
As you pursue your course in the study of law, remember that the
road is a long and rough one. Money is always a consideration but
should not be your primary goal. A lawyer's job is to provide a
much-needed service in the community today. The legal profession is
exciting and challenging, as it deals with the vital areas of our
lives.
There's always room for top lawyers. As one judge put it,
"although more and more people are coming into the profession, we
always have room for more good lawyers." Being a lawyer is far from
easy, but for the right people it can be one of the most rewarding
professional experiences.
The material in this pamphlet represents general information.
Because the law is continually changing, some provisions in this
pamphlet may be out of date. It is always best to consult an
attorney about your legal rights and responsibilities regarding your
particular case.
(Reprinted and adapted from
www.floridabar.org consumer pamphlet)
Contact Grey Tesh
Florida Criminal Lawyer
Federal Defense Attorney
As a board certified criminal lawyer, I represents clients charged
with serious federal and state criminal offenses, like felonies and
DUI, before federal criminal courts and state criminal courts in
West Palm Beach, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Jupiter, Boca
Raton, Wellington, Palm Beach Gardens, Stuart, Martin County, Fort
Pierce, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando,
Tallahassee, Key Largo, Key West, and all state criminal courts in
Florida and all federal criminal courts throughout the United States
of America.
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federal appeals. If convicted, you have only ten (10) days in Federal Court,
as opposed to thirty (30) days in Florida, to file a notice of appeal. If
you want to appeal a conviction, you must contact
a board certified criminal trial lawyer who does criminal appeals
immediately as time is of the essence.
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