The Thing About Lawyers that I Still Don't Know ...

[kwd0808]

I'm a student considering law school (save the comments about lawyers being evil hacks who couldn't amount to anything else and are mindless, mosquito-like drones) but I'm having trouble reconciling a few things about what lawyers actually do. In particular:

What does the average Intellectual Property lawyer do, since his job seems to have the most arcane undertakings of any lawyer? What does his typical day look like?​

W

And corporate lawyers. They can't all be at board room meetings on Wall St.? Unless they all are ... what do they do?​

This may be too silly of a post to get any responses, but this seems to be a place to get some thoughtful answers on even something as boring as ... lawyers.

//Thanks.
//Kyle

 

[Antilogic]

Well, when you get hired by a law firm, you will most likely be assigned to do research for a more important person, often this involves reading several judicial decisions and writing case briefs (1-2 page summaries with specific information that is relevant to the case). For the most part, cases don't go to court but are handled via settlements or summary judgments in favor of one side on civil matters, on criminal matters its more mixed but plea bargains, etc. are also quite common. So basically, you are going to have to be a nerdy negotiator.

It's not like TV at all.

 

[illram]

Find some law firms in your area and ask for an informational interview with one of the attorneys. Say you are interested in going to law school to practice _____ law. (Fill in the blank.)

Someone is bound to let you speak with them and they will probably be very helpful. This will also give you your first networking opportunity as a baby law student and perhaps offer you insight into whether the law is something you want to pursue.

Both IP and Corporate law are way too diverse a field to nail down to a distinct set of tasks for the day to day. Talk to people in places you think you might actually want to work in. Consider doing paralegal work or interning as an office minion in a law firm, even.

 

[JollyRoger]

IP and Corporate lawyers spend their days screwing up just enough to create future work for litigators.

 

[Quackers]

You want to become a lawyer? Put your head underwater for 2+ minutes, that'll cure you of your ambitions

 

[peter grimes]

Anecdote:
My brother was intending on going into Federal law enforcement, so he pursued a law degree. Met a girl, plans changed. Switched his focus to IP, couldn't find work after graduating. Luckily he had a solid background in Trusts & Estates so he landed at a small partnership. But didn't do Trusts & Estates. Was constantly assigned to personal injury negotiation. He hated it.

after about 10 years at a couple different firms he left law altogether.

I'm not trying to dissuade you, rather pointing out that you should keep your options open. You may think that IP is interesting and shoot for it, but remain versatile. Versatility will pay off in any situation.

I think Illram gave you some pretty sound advice.

Oh, and I know that the plural of anecdote is not data. But of all the guys I knew from his law school class, the employed rate is currently 25%. 6 of the guys I knew are no longer practicing 12 years out. And the debt.