Top Challenges Lawyers Face Today
The legal profession is one of the most sought after and indeed it has many rewards if you choose to pursue it. But working as a lawyer has some challenges as well. It is not all thrilling courtroom drama or news conferences.
If you want to pursue a career in law, ask yourself if you have tolerance for these challenges and know how you can handle them. The following are some of the top challenges that lawyers face- be it a criminal lawyers, immigration lawyers, divorce lawyers, property lawyers, etc.
- Long hours
Increasing workloads and fewer staff means more working hours for lawyers. The demands of global law practice also means that some lawyers must be available to clients throughout. In today’s world, medical malpractice lawyers work longer and harder, and it is not uncommon to find a lawyer working for more than 50 hours a week.
- The stress
Deadlines, client demands, billing pressure, changing laws, and long hours make the practice of law one of the most stressful jobs in the world. The stress and demands that come with practicing law have led to high levels of career dissatisfaction among members of the bar. According to a survey done by the American Bar Association, depression and suicide are very common among lawyers.
- Competition
Today’s lawyers face one of the most competitive job markets across the globe. The competition has been brought about by new technologies and the significant number of people who study law these days. This has forced some lawyers to settle for less in terms of remuneration or some of them have changed their careers altogether.
- New technologies
Technology has changed the practice of law, and so lawyers must become proficient in various technology platforms. These include document review, billing software, management tools, and presentation. These lead to more work on the lawyer’s plate. Some of these technologies are also taking jobs away from lawyers because some companies can now use technology to deliver legal services instead of hiring a lawyer from reputable law firms.
- Client’s unwillingness to spend money on legal services
In the past, jobs in the legal field were considered the most lucrative jobs on the market. Though some of the jobs in the legal field still pay well, most lawyers are far from getting huge payment. That’s because most clients are reluctant to spend money on legal services. In fact, some people or businesses don’t prefer to spend any money on legal services. Instead, they prefer to take their chances with new technologies. You find that most of these technologies offer the same value but at a lower rate. And if you find a party that is willing to spend money on legal services, they won’t spend much.
- You will not like all your clients
As a lawyer, you will not be able to pick and choose a client to take on, at least if you want to pay your bills. People who need legal services don’t represent a single demographic. They may be wealthy and classy but very rude. They might be homeless and accused of a crime they have or haven’t committed. You may not like all of them, but you will have to represent them the best way you can.
