Lawyers advise clients on legal matters, represent them in court, and help resolve disputes. The work is intellectually demanding and requires a doctoral degree. You'll spend years in school, but you'll enter a profession with significant earning potential and impact.
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Lawyers interpret laws and regulations, then apply them to real situations. You'll research legal issues, communicate findings to clients and colleagues, and make strategic decisions about how to proceed. Much of your time goes to gathering information, evaluating whether actions comply with the law, and negotiating or mediating between parties. You'll also write legal documents, advise clients on their options, and represent them in court or other proceedings. The work requires you to think critically about complex problems and explain legal concepts clearly to people without legal training.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Lawyers earn a median of $159,670 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is steady. Employment is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as average for all occupations, with about 31,500 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
You'll need a doctoral degree in law. This typically follows a bachelor's degree and involves several years of law school. The path is extensive and preparation is rigorous. During your education, you'll study law and government, develop strong writing and speaking skills, and learn to think through complicated legal scenarios. After law school, you'll need to meet licensing requirements in your state before you can practice. Many lawyers start by working in firms, government agencies, or nonprofits to build experience and develop their expertise.
Law school is a significant commitment, so it helps to understand what lawyers actually do before you apply. Use Pathly can map the lawyer path that fits you to map out the steps ahead, and talk through the decision with your counselor.
You do not need a license to work as a lawyer, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You're drawn to leadership, persuasion, and solving problems through strategy and negotiation. You think analytically and enjoy building a case or argument.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
Your free AI guide weighs this career against your strengths and goals, and surfaces the colleges, trades, and scholarships that match, so you know if it truly fits before you commit.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).