If you want peace, work for justice. The practice of law is a great way to work for justice.

Sure, a legal career can lead to a lucrative salary and luxurious lifestyle. However, the most rewarding fields of practice sometimes draw the smallest salaries. After several false starts in the profession, I've determined that the best way to have an immediate, visible effect on people's lives is to concentrate in the area of family law.

It's a wonderful thing to guide a client through the technical preparation and legal procedure which enables them to have their day in court. You are required to know your case well, study the rules of evidence, and remember the relevant case law governing your position. You should be quick to recall details, and able to keep a poker face when your case starts to fall apart. Most importantly, you can never lose your sense of decorum and self control in a courtroom. You must also figure out what your client's strong points are, and which theory and presentation of witnesses will carry the day. It's is a tremendous burden sometimes, a fact which accounts for the high burn out rate in this profession.

Satisfaction comes when you can assure a spouse receives fair compensation after the dissolution of a marriage. Assisting clients to reach an amicable solution in custody cases will produce a more harmonious home life for the kids. That, as they say, is priceless! Not everyone is inclined to spend the long years preparing for such a profession. To anyone considering a career in the law, I can wholeheartly say that I have always found it to be "worth it".

Learn more about this author, Christine Costlow.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Is being a lawyer worth it??
We want to hear your view. Write now!