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Lawyers

  • Bright Outlook
  • Rapid Growth

Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.

What you’d do

  • Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
  • Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
  • Gather evidence to formulate defense or to initiate legal actions by such means as interviewing clients and witnesses to ascertain the facts of a case.
  • Represent clients in court or before government agencies.
  • Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases.
  • Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
  • Examine legal data to determine advisability of defending or prosecuting lawsuit.
  • Prepare, draft, and review legal documents, such as wills, deeds, patent applications, mortgages, leases, and contracts.

Skills that matter

  • Speaking
  • Active Listening
  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Writing
  • Complex Problem Solving

How to get there

Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher

Also called

  • Attorney
  • Attorney General
  • Counsel
  • Lawyer
  • Attorney at Law
  • County Attorney

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