Self-employment is an option for many graduating lawyers, giving them greater freedom and flexibility. As of 2008, approximately 27% of lawyers are self-employed, which means they run their own law offices or work as hired guns for private corporations and financial institutions. Most lawyers in private practice work in civil or criminal law.
Earning a Juris Doctor offers versatility that most other professions can't match. Many degree-holders choose not to work as attorneys; some instead work as educators at the post-secondary and collegiate levels. Many are advisers for corporations and financial institutions, as well. Another popular field for those who have obtained their law degree is government and politics. A law degree is often a requirement for running a congressional or senatorial campaign, working in politics at the presidential level, or for holding any top-level position on Capitol Hill.
A law degree allows you to work in particular fields of interest. This lets a lawyer to work specifically on cases that interest him. Those who enjoy corporate finance or banking can work solely in this field, while those who enjoy person to person contact and helping families work in the areas of adoption or family law. Your studies in law school will help you uncover which fields of law interest you the most so that you can pursue that specialized field of interest.
Being a lawyer can bring great satisfaction for those who work in the areas of social justice and for legal aid societies (not-for-profit groups who help counsel lower income families). Using your knowledge and specialized skills to help disadvantaged men and women attain a higher quality of life can be immensely rewarding.
In 2006, the average annual salary for a lawyer was $105,000 (ranging from $75,000 for government and state agencies to $128,000 for corporations and corporate enterprises). This is a significantly higher salary than compared to that of graduate students earning their Master's Degree (with an annual average salary of around $65,000).