Is being a lawyer overrated...?

[@ShaneHummus]

🔴 LIVE KZbin TRAINING TUESDAY: 👉 go.thecontentgrowthengine.com/live-09-17-2020 ✅ FREE KZbin Course: 👉 www.thecontentgrowthengine.com/ultimateyoutubemasterclass 🚀 Apply For 1:1 KZbin Coaching: 👉 go.thecontentgrowthengine.com/coaching-09-17-2020 👔 Free 6 Step Guide To Choosing Your Dream Career: shanehummus.com 👤 Connect With Me On Other Platforms: Twitter: twitter.com/ShaneHummus Instagram: instagram.com/shanehummus/ Facebook: facebook.com/Hummus.Shane LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/shane-hummus-6bb475165/ 🎬 Join A Community Of Aspiring KZbinrs: facebook.com/groups/contentgrowthengine/

[@doglover8178]

I'm sure it will

[@ShaneHummus]

😁

[@TheOneAndOnlyMrB]

@@ShaneHummus Shane, I've got a question I've been thinking about for a while: in your videos when you compare degrees etc., you often take into consideration the student debt that one has to go into in order to study. I live in Europe, where education is almost with no costs. Does that change the whole reasoning? I mean, if you don't have to go into debt, is it still a bad option to go, for example, after an Anthropology degree?

[@howaadbozil9343]

What about real estate attorney

[@markwalter4881]

@@howaadbozil9343 The biggest problem with real estate law is the malpractice insurance $ is just too high!

[@addosolar537]

I can confidently say that being a lawyer is great. The key is that you must have your own practice and develop your following. The people who are miserable are working at firms where they are being controlled by people who have some power and control issues. My advice to all is to aim to be your own boss.

[@ShaneHummus]

Thanks for your input Addo

[@kevintorres6656]

What is your specialty? And what was your path like to becoming an attorney?

[@addosolar537]

@@kevintorres6656 80% of my cases are immigration cases. To me, law school was not hard. What was tough is the beginning of the career. In the first three to five years you will have some ups and downs. This is because you are likely working for someone who dumps garbage cases on you and in reality you are not getting paid what you really deserve.

[@kevintorres6656]

@@addosolar537 How did you manage to start your own practice? And what made law school easy despite all these redditers saying to avoid it at all costs?

[@addosolar537]

@@kevintorres6656 While I was working for solos I did a good job and saved some horrible cases that were dumped on me. This led to me developing a following. Law School is really very theoretical and not practical. I see it as a form of applied liberal arts. The real challenge is the bar exam and the beginning of your career. I think that if you graduated from college and did enough reading and writing you can get through law school without much stress. In fact, now that the internet is so comprehensive you can likely get outlines and essays with a few search terms. People try to create the stress. The reality is that people need get some type of internship during school where they really learn how to practically handle situations. That way, when you finish law school you have confidence that there is some type of case you can do.

[@CJCVictoriaDC]

10 years practicing law, and it's great! But the first 5-6 years were challenging, working at firms and paying back 145k (principal plus accrued interest of debt). That amount was fully paid 5 years ago. Now I'm in-house counsel for a large tech company, work approximately 10-15 hours a week, and make around $220K. Not bad at all.

[@mleekahh]

Can you explain what you studied to get there?

[@CJCVictoriaDC]

Undergrad in accounting and finance, MBA in finance, JD. LLM also, but that was sponsored by the company I work for (and roughly 10 years post JD).

[@noodle_boy]

How did you get to the point where you only have to work 15 hours a week?

[@CJCVictoriaDC]

My role is heavy on decision making. There is some heavy lifting involved, but mainly, it is about feeling comfortable making decisions with imperfect information. Plus, given I'm in the field of Mergers and Acquisitions, pre-pandemic there was a large international travel component to my job. Flying to Europe takes 20-25 hours round trip. Singapore takes 35 hours roundtrip. So a lot of time around my schedule was solely devoted to traveling (not much of we are doing nowadays). We will see if that reverts in the next year or so.

[@capalotyy8949]

@@CJCVictoriaDC how old were you when u stated getting 220k?

[@estherl5548]

I love the song " Dont be a lawyer" honestly its super accurate

[@ShaneHummus]

😂

[@ThatGuy-ns8de]

I’ve listened to that song so many times lol

[@theodorekrause9058]

2nd year associate attorney - I’m an estate planning attorney. Very different than what laypeople imagine what a lawyer does. I deal in death and taxes which secures my career forever. Additionally my job is super easy. And I don’t have to take any work home with me. No court. No random hours.

[@yenwuraaku8562]

how's the salary?

[@SheraPhillips]

Do you have to work crazy hours?

[@iamkevinkouassi]

I have a few questions. How can I contact you? Or perhaps you don’t mind answering here. What was your major in college, and how did you get to estate planning? Is there a specific path? Thanks

[@aswinprasad1011]

"Become a lawyer, get the respect you deserve!" Side affects may include: half a million in debt, stress, anxiety, depression, zero social life, working 365 days a year, no guarantee you will even get a job

[@ShaneHummus]

Right

[@cautarepvp2079]

but if you get one you will get milion dollar

[@powersale5898]

cautare pvp not always did you even watch the video?

[@eggman6888]

Half a million in debt probably depends on the country. Here it doesn’t cost that much at all

[@lbottap90]

@@eggman6888 What country do you live in?

[@prestonbell7314]

I know people with law degrees. They either left law immediately after paying their debt or sleep at the office every other night so that they can get up in the morning and start working asap.

[@ShaneHummus]

Right

[@FloRiva2]

Parents always push the doctor, lawyer, and engineer careers on their children as if there aren't any other options out there. A lot of people fall into traps when it comes to being a lawyer because they think that their paychecks at these mid-large sized firms will bring them happiness when in reality it doesn't. One of the major reasons why working for a law firm in the private sector pays so well is because law firms know that law grads will be attracted to the money due to their debt being six figures. An associate attorney can't even enjoy that money because they can barely go on vacation and take time off. And let's not forget that you have to sell your soul if you represent criminal defendants that you know are guilty or even if you're prosecuting a defendant you know is innocent (especially in states with the death penalty) these types of things mess with your mental health. These are just some of the reasons why lawyers are so unhappy and have such low job satisfaction. Good on you for keeping it real Shane.

[@ShaneHummus]

Thanks for sharing that. Good luck Rico

[@ThuyLe-jy2me]

Yeah I totally agree parents should stop brainwashing their children to pursue ‘prestigious’ careers and instead should give kids exposure to a lot of different things and let them decide for themselves.

[@cinderea]

Thuy Le Deciding for yourself is why people have so many useless degrees 😂😂😂

[@divinetruths345]

@@cinderea no. There's no such thing as " useless" degree. Sure you have the exceptions but you'd be suprised how many people work in a field completely unrelated to thier degree.

[@ThuyLe-jy2me]

W.Cinderea Well not listening to yourself is why so many people regret later on ;)

[@picklepanther8357]

I feel like this video was pretty focused on what being a lawyer is like at a big firm. If you work at a small firm you can work much better hours and have a more personal experience while also making like 200k or more as a partner after about 7-10 years. Not to mention starting your own firm is very nice because it lets you be entrepreneurial, make your own hours, do the cases you want, and potentially make massive amounts of money! But I do agree working at a big firm sucks and that’s why most people leave after a few years

[@markwalter4881]

The legal jargon for small 2-3 person Law Firms is "Shitlaw." The legal jargon for Vault 100 firms, think TV Show Law Firms, is "Biglaw." Most lawyers work in Shitlaw firms. These firms received these monikers for a reason.

[@kymaeryk]

How long have you been a lawyer ?

[@kymaeryk]

​@@markwalter4881 how often have you worked at shit law places vs big law places ?

[@joeyramirez5001]

I am really passionate about being a lawyer after watching all these videos of how bad being a lawyer is all its done is just inform me of what challenges i’m about to overcome

[@mickellapierre8023]

I really like what you said, just as any other career, everything have its challenges. It's up to us as an individual how bad we want something, we have the capacity to go after our dreams. Passion & determination. Time is going to pass regardless, don't allow other people's experience deter you from achieving your dreams. Yours will be different.

[@DaBeezKneez]

you're delusional

[@yourfavoritepessimisticexi8041]

Same

[@user-eh6nz3vm7d]

I love this attitude, gave me some motivation!

[@TheMorhaGroup]

A big tip, most people graduate with mondain 2nd class degrees with nothing to show for their time but that, if you work for that 1st while also publishing works, attending related events to rub shoulders and work on your charisma, basically don't sit in class and expect to get everything you need from there, the tools to be with the flock and the tools to stand out from the flock are ALL in your hands. Let passion drive you to your goal.💪🏿🔥🔥🔥

[@Ali-mb5ns]

I just switched my Major from Law to Nursing. I’m so glad I did!

[@lashondamiller2982]

look into travel nursing if you are interested in doing something like that, you could easily make +100K a year, it's what I would've chosen if I wanted to go into the health industry.

[@eman6651]

Lashonda Miller Indeed. My grandmother who’s very ill and dependent on her daughters (can’t speak English) needs a travel nurse and for the first time I’m seeing how lucrative of a career it is. It’s in great demand and will continue that way for a very long time

[@lashondamiller2982]

@@eman6651 Oh yeah, you can even start with like only an associates degree as an RN if that's what you want to do, but it's high in demand and it pays so well

[@Ali-mb5ns]

Does travel nursing mean traveling with someone to help them?

[@lashondamiller2982]

@@Ali-mb5ns No like you join an agency after you do some research on different agencies for travel nurses, once you choose one, you'll talk with your assigned recruiter and there will be a big list of different areas in the US (I'm not sure if they do out of country stuff for travel nurses, didn't dig into it that far) that's needing that extra support in hospitals or nursing homes. Once you select an area, that agency gives you payments if you want to find an area on your own to stay at in whatever area you've chosen, or you can let the agency find you a place, but when you're working, you're making like $40-60+ an hour depending on what specialty you're in, but you spend around 3-4 months per term for the areas you select, you can choose when you want to work a term, it's pretty flexible

[@starberrysweetee1495]

Loving the hot take lol! Glad someone on here is willing to be honest about a more controversial opinion. My lawyer uncle told me the same thing when I was looking into studying law. "If you can be good at literally anything else, do that!"

[@ShaneHummus]

Yup, we're on the same page

[@robertmarchant8026]

Appreciate all of the good insights. I have friends that are lawyers and all look back onto the real decision which was what school they should have attended because this can be a massive financial hardship in the future for them. At the end of the day, most of them claim that where the degree was accomplished actually means very little to the success of their career later down the road

[@ShaneHummus]

Thanks for sharing your insights Robert

[@cland49lsu1]

That's very true. School will not make you complicit with being miserable for your entire adult life.

[@SamMartinPeakPerformance]

I know so many 'intelligent' people who just fell into law because they didn't know what else to do.... and every single one of them hates it. But they can't leave because they are too wedded to a standard of living they won't compromise on. Becoming a lawyer often seems a sure way to money and misery

[@ShaneHummus]

Agreed Sam!

[@paperthin8794]

law school is a default back plan for a lot of arts and humanities students who think it will make them rich (average salary for law is only 60k bimodal curve!) I guess everyone wants to make big money with easy path to success

[@amazighaichiou4383]

that’s what happened to me. I found out that it is a sterile, soulless field made for cold people with no artistic drive. I’m dropping out and getting into a philosophy program. Id much rather do something I enjoy than something that pays a lot

[@SamMartinPeakPerformance]

@@amazighaichiou4383 love to hear it 🙌

[@Dreabz617]

I work at a top 50 law school and have made many lawyer friends over the years. They all went into public service(immigration, public defense, tribal law) and the common denominator is that they’re all overworked and underpaid. Their debt is also something that weighs on them a lot. So imo, unless you work in the private sector, which is also extremely exhausting, I dont know if it’s worth it salary wise.

[@Kanoog]

Finally somebody with some realistic insight, not people who are at the top posting comments of their glorious life style. It's extremely VALAUBLE for people to get proper insight before they leap into a massive debt.

[@josephsmyth832]

I never imagined or wanted to learn law but I learned the hard way that law governs our lives whether we go to law school or not. I am not going to law school but self education. No matter where we go, the language arts has influence over our behavior. Thanks for the informative video and the honesty

[@ShaneHummus]

You got it Joseph

[@Oliver-b7j]

Language arts?

[@josephsmyth832]

@@Oliver-b7j Yes. Freedom and liberty are related to truth and wisdom. The Trivium and Quadrivium dates back to ancient times. It’s referenced in the bible as it also pertains to numbers

[@noelfrias227]

Shane your content is so underrated this needs to be shared! Let’s defeat the KZbin algorithm!

[@ShaneHummus]

Let's do that Noel haha

[@jesusmora6336]

Working on a case during vacation sounds fun

[@etateurope4602]

The law is diversified, the opportunities will not be the same according to the specialization, the criminal law is overloaded, but this is not the case of administrative law. In Belgium, master's courses in public law are given in classes of 20 students, civil and criminal law courses are given in audiences of 300 students.

[@RobertA-bj7ou]

Never wanted to be a lawyer anyway, thank goodness!

[@ShaneHummus]

Thanks for watching Robert

[@kevinwinstonshen]

These days, being a lawyer can potentially be a good career ONLY if one 1. went to a highly ranked law school nationally or at least, a highly ranked one in one's area that they are practicing in; 2. has many connections in the legal field (either from a lot of serious networking, establishing a very strong reputation, and / or having family / personal connections); 3. has very good "soft skills"; and 4. has unrivaled ambition and an extremely strong work ethic. Those who meet these 4 prerequisites have a shot at and a chance of making a good career out of being a lawyer (though not guaranteed). Those who do not meet these 4 prerequisites are going to have a very hard time making a living out of being a lawyer, let alone, have a successful career in this field. I am not a lawyer myself but I know many close childhood friends who ended up being lawyers. All of my lawyer friends have told me that being a lawyer is very difficult and very competitive.

[@ShaneHummus]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this Kevin

[@hanle8351]

Thank u broski

[@WanderingSoothsayer]

“Im not a lawyer myself” 😭😭

[@laurenhills239]

I’m a nursing major and I have no interest in any other career but I just love your channel and every video you post!

[@RobertA-bj7ou]

Hey, I remember you, you used to be a dental hygienist but left to pursue nursing, and you gave me cons about that profession. I hope all is well!

[@ShaneHummus]

Yay! Thank you!

[@laurenhills239]

Robert A yesss that would be me lol! Good luck to you in your journey!

[@laurenhills239]

anonymous anonymous Well I’ve wanted to do nursing since I was a kid, but I was rejected from the nursing program but accepted into the dental hygienist program and just went with it. I’d say nursing & PA are amazing majors but I don’t think everyone should just major in it. You’ll get burnt out easily if it’s not meant for you. The numbers reflect this too. Nursing is the top 3rd most popular major, yet we have a nursing crisis shortage in the millions and it’s only growing. It’s not a lack of people wanting to major in nursing, but it’s about how many people statistically leave the profession for various reasons.

[@whatisthis1262]

Same. I'm a Software Engineer and have no interest in changing but I find these videos strangely interesting.

[@666yaoz]

basically top 10 or bust. 1 friend went to Yale, earns about 250k/yr while 1 colleague went to a normal state school and barely makes 60k+/year. Also, the fact about old lawyers being too old to retire, lol no. It's b/c they have relationships that can sell law work.

[@ShaneHummus]

Wow

[@666yaoz]

@Subi Both were right out of college. Yale was 24 and the other was 26. Yale one had multiple internships with the same company. It was started by a big name lawyer that won a pretty susbtantial lawsuit against Microsoft. The other person just works as small town lawyer.

[@christian_user23]

What type of law do they specialize in? Criminal defense?

[@lasenyo7705]

​@@666yaoz If you think it is top 10 or bust you need to go back to school yourself. $60k a year is good ass money for a 26 year old. Have you ever heard of the word hard work? Every lawyer I know who makes GREAT money NOW started out around $40-80k. None of them are in litigation law btw. People think you are just handed six figures, do you kids realize how hard it is to make six figures? I think being a lawyer is a overrated profession because it isn't for everybody. Isn't for the weak. It's a hard job especially when you start out, you have to work your ass off. People think oh I finished law school now you make BANK, no. Not too mention the debt you have to go through to get the degree, unless you were smart enough to go to the school that gave you financial aid. You have to be a driven individual.

[@mam162]

I'd hazard a guess that the lack of job satisfaction and misery is largely related to hope vs reality. Most people who go into law school are idealists who have dreams of advocating for a cause they feel strongly about. What actually tends to happen is that most lawyers end up working on cases like Pennzoil vs Texaco, which absolutely nobody outside the oil industry gives a rip about. That can be soul-killing.

[@matthewstubbs4413]

True man , If you going into it just for the money and don't care about actually making something or being a person that actually helps in society as a collective be it service or business,

[@junyah1976]

DUDE LOOK HOW YOU'RE EXPLAINING THIS-NOBODY WOULD WANT TO DO IT

[@goodvlogph5081]

I didn't even know that Lawyers are this overrated since I only see people dreaming to be a Doctor lol.

[@brody7314]

Law is a much better career choice in Canada. Our Law School Tuition is around $10 000 annually compared to the US Laws schools where it is around $60 000. We also don't have an oversaturation of the legal profession here; almost every law graduate can get a fairly good job and won't have to worry about being unemployed.

[@ShaneHummus]

Thanks for sharing that

[@MegaMusicMuse]

Legal jobs are also under big competition

[@MegaMusicMuse]

@@ShaneHummus What he said isn’t true. Canadian law school is 25k per year min.

[@brody7314]

​@@MegaMusicMuse Law School has risen a little over 10k annually for the average Canadian Law school so I was wrong about that but not by much. Every Law school other than Toronto is still under 20k. Sask Law: 15k, Alberta Law: 10k, Calgary Law: 15k, British Columbia: 11k, Victoria: 11k, Winnipeg, 12k, Mcgill 5k, Dalhousie 14k. Windsor 16k, Western 18k, etc. The only Law school that goes over 25k is Toronto. Also, the job market for lawyers in Canada is good, almost 100% of all Law students get articling positions, and while there is still competition for some of the larger firms, there is nowhere near as much as in the US. Lastly, your right that there are not as many super-rich Canadian Lawyers compared to the US, but on average Canadian Lawyers still make more money.

[@MegaMusicMuse]

@@brody7314 I have no clue where you are looking. 2020-2021 at U of T in Toronto is 34k for one year. With books etc, 3 years of JD are 100k +. I’m literally looking at their website right now. I have applied to law school so your info is wrong; sorry to break it to you

[@charile2988]

I have been an attorney for 30’yrs and you nailed it in this video . I now have 3 daughters who are in college and I begged them to promise me ..do not be a lawyers!!? easily half my graduating class Never worked as an attorney … they ended up in business roles .. where they didn’t need law degrees .. there are just so many better degrees out there ..

[@kymaeryk]

Hello Mr.Charlie, I am not certain if you check your youtube but I was wondering if I might be able to speak with you about becoming a lawyer?

[@benemmich8660]

It would be very interesting to see you compare the professorial market by field. Looking at how Med/Law vs. Business/Econ vs. STEM vs. Arts/Humanities in terms of salary and hiring market.

[@ShaneHummus]

I'll keep that in mind Ben

[@kachufalav]

I think one of the biggest issues Is standing out from the crowd. I'm a lawyer from Mexico, and the profession is indeed saturated, but if you keep studying (Law is a bachelor's degree and school is not that expensive), you can make it. Going for a Master's degree in criminal law was one of the best decissions in my life, and i'm also contemplating going for the doctoral degree.

[@SoySantiagoCastillo]

¡Hola! Soy estudiante de 1er semestre y me interesa estudiar derecho pero no estoy 100% seguro. Escuchado todo acerca de la sobresaturación de abogados. Quisiera saber donde estudiaste, como te va, cuánto ganas y que consejos me podrías dar. Que podría hacer yo para destacar de los demás, soy el primer hijo que decidió optar por abogacía. Te lo agradecería muchísimo, gracias.

[@Jimothy-723]

you can not practice law in the United States of America under any circumstance without first obtaining a Juris Doctor Degree, AND a liscence from your state, AND certification from the BAR.

[@Jimothy-723]

@@SoySantiagoCastilloif your degree is not from the United States, its not acceptable anywhere except your home country.

[@kimjong-un8543]

@@Jimothy-723 In Australia, law programs are offered as both llbs and jds, and they are both equivalent, and can be used in other countries in the commonwealth

[@NoAutoJeb]

The lawyer discussion always confuses me. I hear all the time that becoming a lawyer actually sucks and stuff like that, but my parents are friends with a lot of lawyers and they seem to all be doing very well 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@ShaneHummus]

Plan it out. This is just a mere reminder and it's still up to you 😊

[@matthewportermdfaafp1209]

Got to remember here that: 1) the lawyer friends already have those jobs that are hard to get, 2) the job outlook when they got the job might have been easier than it now is..

[@maonyksmohc9574]

only losers say being a lawyer sucks, or are you hearing lawyers complaining?

[@Lucelife]

There is a flaw in your argument! You assume that just because the are “doing well” that they don’t believe that being a lawyer sucks. Lol

[@moldenm5239]

@@maonyksmohc9574 The question is if you can end up in top 1/3 of class. Also, a lot of smart people go into law so it is very competitive. If you end up in bottom 1/3, it is not wroth it to go. If you could end up in top 1/3 of class, then other fields for similar effort might get more success. It is a good career especially for immigrants since it is measurable quantitatively with bar, degrees, etc vs something subjective like marketing often based on how well you are connected/liked.

[@MrPipe007]

Shane is destroying everyone's ambitions and I love it lol. You should make a video on judging what you like versus what career you should go into.

[@ShaneHummus]

Haha I'll keep that in mind

[@donnelly5757]

People would always tell me follow your passion and what you like and the success and money would follow. I do not think that is completely true. Maybe for some it is. I have a passion for fitness and training, but do not possess the personality nor the salesman skills needed to succeed in that career field. I think it's more important to focus on what is in demand and then find what you are most interested within the jobs that are in demand.

[@itzelmontalvo6645]

@@donnelly5757 So what job are you getting to pursue your goal?

[@Lazymath007_]

@@donnelly5757 well that's only in the USA. In other countries it's the total opposite. You are meant to work where the money is, then think about your passion later 😂😂😂

[@wenky_facewenky6257]

@@Lazymath007_ in fact that's normal everywhere besides the US people just work to get the bills payed

[@moustafaaymanx]

I hope you will do "Most jobs in the Automation risk"

[@ShaneHummus]

Noted. That's a good topic

[@moustafaaymanx]

@@ShaneHummus Yes Go ahead

[@mysterytoe1452]

Maybe a focus on most degrees that can be automated would be cool too, because most repetitive tasks, in general, can be automated.

[@jakubswiercz8288]

Here you go: drivers, McDonald's worker's, cashiers, accountants, some programmers, physical worker's. Any job that is very easy to be replaced by a robot.

[@moustafaaymanx]

@@mysterytoe1452 +1

[@1986LuisK]

Im a lawyer and all this is true. However personally I like being a lawyer. Thanks for the video.

[@tonyalevin5273]

You really deserve wayy more subscribers, your videos have a lot of valuable information and are my favorite to watch . Its great you really listen to your subscribers

[@ShaneHummus]

I appreciate that! Keep those suggestions coming

[@Whistlerius]

I can clearly see myself in this video... I graduated 2018, went to work for a big law firm and those were the 3 worst months of my life... Every day on my way to work I just thought ''Maybe stepping in front of a train wouldn't be such a bad idea :D Left the job and went into sales, where I've been way happier and getting another degree atm, but the thought of my law degree not being free, but saddling me with half a million of debt, is insane... Thank god for free education or my life would've been ruined...

[@believe7754]

what about your experience in college, was it satisfying or just hell?

[@Whistlerius]

@@believe7754 It was actually much better than the real job. At law school I got to learn quite interesting subjects, especially criminal law and in the clinic we got to help people with simple legal problems that can really improve their lives. But in the real law world I faced a giant shock - 99 % of work was either drafting monotonous legal documents according to previously created form or performing legal analysis that was way too complicated, since most businesses turn to lawyers only after their legal department couldn't come up with a solution. So it was a perfect combination of long segments of absolute boredom intertwined with highly stressful and frustrating situations. I've thought about going into criminal law, since I enjoyed it so much at UNI, but then I made a quick research of job market in my country and realized that criminal lawyers in most cases earn less money than the average salary and also boast very high levels of stress and responsibility, so I was like Fuck it, I'm gonna go and do something that doesn't require me to sell my soul for subpar wage...

[@Iheartdog666]

I’m a truck driver and make about 60k a year. I don’t want to do this for the rest of my life. It’s been my dream to be a lawyer and my ability to analyze arguments has always been impeccable. I’ve also always enjoyed bookwork and learning, especially about something so crucial in the daily lives of every single citizen of this country. I know I’m on my way to being under some pretty serious debt. But as I’m working 66 hours already, I’m doing ultimately mindless work that is under appreciated and that I am in no way passionate about. So, I find myself asking “is the 100k+ in debt worth having a job I’m passionate about?” Absolutely. Also, at this rate, the only income growth I can attain would require me to become “OTR”, which means I’m driving around the country for months at a time without being home, seeing my friends, or seeing my family. I’ve watched a ton of videos giving the objective realities of the profession and I’m still not deterred. I think I can make it.

[@rosskeeling4459]

Consider more affordable law schools. Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, and Arkansas all have very reasonable tuition, for residents. There are others. I was a carpenter with a college degree for decades, and I went to law school when I was 46. I went to North Dakota because that's where I could get in, and I've had a pretty good career experience. I'm getting rich, but tuition was low my debt was very manageable. You probably shouldn't wait that long if you're going to go. Remember that it's always better to spend savings than borrow money, So start saving early.

[@kimjong-un8543]

hows it going?

[@theguy7380]

The issue is people getting degrees and never networking. Why spend years in college without applying for internships and fellowships? I don’t care what your major is if you waste your summers and don’t gain any experience... you are wasting your time

[@adacathy3018]

…at people studying in college during COVID 💀💀

[@JTDyer21]

I've noticed the common theme in the college experience that tends to ruin the diploma. It's debt. Student loan debt seems to bring a curse on most students. Rarely if ever do I see or hear of anyone who prospers with student loans.

[@ShaneHummus]

Good observation John

[@jonahgerald385]

Shane your the best man. You deserve way more subscribers and views. You've grown so much man keep up the great work

[@ShaneHummus]

I appreciate that Jonah. Thanks!

[@jonahgerald385]

@@ShaneHummus No problem man and btw thats a sick beard

[@DareToWonder]

Get a JD in a common law country. Cheaper. Takes 4 years and lets you work in the USA as a lawyer.

[@shanicegrande8631]

i was determined to become a lawyer for 3 years now, i’m actually a prelaw student! Now i’m considering becoming a paralegal instead

[@shanicegrande8631]

nvm i’m back to be sticking to lawyer

[@finngeometry7570]

A good alternative in the legal field is being a paralegal. While that job has challenges too, compared to being a lawyer, it’s far less expensive/time consuming to get the qualifications, a handful less stressful, and doesn’t demand your every waking hour. I’m not sure about other countries, but here in New Zealand you can study for a year and get the certification without paying an arm and a leg. The pay is also quite decent. While lower than a lawyers, experienced paralegals will earn a good and comfortable living. (This is just what I’ve heard from talking to some paralegals, so it might not be universal.)

[@rosskeeling4459]

Nice video, but you've got a few near misses you might want to note and reconsider. Personally, I enjoy practicing law, but there's a lot of people who don't. Apparently that number is high enough to establish a record that shows being a lawyer is difficult and unsatisfying. Well, anything worth doing can be difficult, but difficult things can be pretty satisfying. Any survey about job satisfaction might be skewed if the only people that respond are those who are dissatisfied. Second, it may not be the best advice to tell everyone to go to a top law school and then go work for a top law firm. This is too much for most people. A better strategy might be to just get a JD at a more affordable law school in the Midwest, and then work up from there. There's a lot to be said for keeping expenses low, and what you mentioned about the job being overrated applies it all levels. The reality of being a top earning lawyer may not justify the expense of getting there, overall, either financially or emotionally. A lot of good lawyers went to school in Kansas, Arkansas, and North Dakota, for example, and didn't pay for a top tier law school experience. These people got an ABA accredited education anyway at the lower rate. And if your student loan payments are manageable it's doesn't hurt you to work at the lumber yard for a while until you can get a law job, or until you can build up your law practice. There are just a lot of angles that you didn't cover, and you can't be expected to know what they are, but looking at the statistics doesn't always tell the whole story. And last, it's important to remember that you can do very well for yourself, and have a very satisfying career, without ever becoming a millionaire.

[@nikolozmosidze4195]

If you are from eastern europe - DO NOT chose law as major (unless you are rich), IT SUCKS, monthly wages are extremely low and workload is heavy, you face heavy nepotism and 500$ monthly salary on average for 50 hours per week job... NO NOT MAKE THIS MISTAKE!

[@nikolozmosidze4195]

@CherryDollish Where are you from? in central Europe situation is slightly better they are in EU after all, but eastern you go harsher the life gets for young graduates of damn law degree.

[@rafaelpaulinoferreira8591]

I'm from Portugal and we have the same issues as in the US except for students loans. The market is saturated because law schools are pumping out lawyers like crazy.

[@ShaneHummus]

And hows the pay?

[@rafaelpaulinoferreira8591]

@@ShaneHummus not so good. Lot of them give up cuz they cant get a job and the law firms pays peanuts to the new grads. Btw great video. 👍 Greetings from Portugal! 🇵🇹

[@esakkiraj128]

Shane talk about Aerospace Engineer, (my friend thinks he want to become Aerospace Engineer but he was bad at physics and maths, so I just want to know)

[@ShaneHummus]

Top 10 Engineering Degrees (Engineering Majors Ranked) kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGmpiKeNd82lp7M

[@esakkiraj128]

@@ShaneHummus 👍

[@Lazymath007_]

Engineering is literally maths and physics 💀💀💀

[@SayedI313]

You could still be an Aerospace Engineer. I've yet to meet an engineer who is "born good" at Math and Physics in my 20+ years as an Engineer. Math is something you learn, so just go learn it, it's not complicated. Get a Math and/or a Physics tutor if need be. And yes I struggled in Math as well but I got through and got my degree. Another thing, once you are an Engineer it doesn't matter what your grades are in Trig, Physics Calc, as long as you pass and complete it. It's not like you're gonna need a high Engineering GPA in undergrad to get a high paying job. The only time that would come into play is if you are trying to get into med school or law school. Most engineers don't get a post bachelor degree because they don't NEED it. Though it is recommended, most good Engineering Schools will put more weight on your work experience than your grades in Math and Physics AKA your GPA

[@leighanneaquino2878]

Do NOT let the cost of law school deter you from being a lawyer. Numerous jobs will PAY your loans in FULL, especially in the City, State, and Federal spaces. In addition, many schools provide financial assistance that significantly lowers the cost even if you're in the average or medium stats of students/peers.

[@yenwuraaku8562]

No way. Never heard of employers paying loans.

[@samanthalouisecastro4650]

Hey Shane! Watching this with my cousins. We're a big fan. Keep it up!

[@ShaneHummus]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@qbumf]

I watched better call saul and now I need to become a lawyer

[@dloh3880]

you have an error in your title - is being a lawyer is overrated?

[@ShaneHummus]

Thanks Daniel

[@jellowm.]

There's a huge difference between a lawyer and a attorney tho a lawyer can give advise but can't bring you in court and a attorney is the one who is a lawyer passed the bar exam and can bring you to court.

[@ShaneHummus]

Thanks for sharing that Marie

[@Raw-Truth-Now]

not true

[@danieljohnson2876]

Here in NZ you do law as a undergrad degree and its treated as more of a general purpose degree

[@ShaneHummus]

Thanks for your input Daniel

[@billybutcher6504]

Im preparing for law school admission test, but after watching this video im quite baffled and also scared that im perusing right field or not. I was hell-bent before watching this video in regard with being lawyer, but now im ambivalent and frightened. Anyways, lets see could I able to crack my exam or not.☹️😐 U made me shit my pants after making this video, but even though I appreciate for making this video coz u propounded factual stuff.

[@richardschulman8821]

Be own boss, own firm? That takes real money (possibly family money). I wish the internet and this advice was available 37 years ago. My first job after graduating an ABA accredited law school-' homeless. If u don't have connections, supportive family, you'd better graduate top 10%, tier one school, and have CPA or engineering background. GET STEM EDUCATION--Be an engineer. Not a prima donna. My eyes kept me out of the military.

[@balkanbaroque]

What if I’m not good at math or physics

[@bellam7546]

I think at the end of the day everything has it's people. That's what my mom has always told me. So when it comes to choosing a career, get to know your potential, your strengths and weaknesses. Do thorough research on a field you're interested in and choose a good investment (qualification). I wish I had known this 8 years ago, now I'm a nurse major after dropping out of biochemistry and chemistry.

[@aalegalfocus]

Nursing is actually a great career. You could even make more than lawyers, especially if you become a nurse practitioner.

[@ShaneHummus]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts

[@shawonabdulla9115]

Do you enjoy it or regret it now?

[@brentjansen166]

I made the right decision. I'm glad I went with my gut and trusted the data and avoided law school. Quick question: I work in insurance and I want to advance my career. What do you think about these designations? CPCU ( Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter), CIC (Certified Insurance Counselor), CRM ( Certified Risk Manager), ARM (Associate in Risk Management), AINS (Associate in General Insurance) If you need a donation to do a video on these let me know.

[@ShaneHummus]

Best of luck Antonio! Cheers!

[@xmx30]

I read almost every comment in this comment section and I do think that there are a lot of negative ones. Of course they can say that this is the reality but let’s stop for a second and think: in a world without lawyers how will the problems be gone? Yes of course there are difficulties but every carrier does. And all the people that say go to a prestigious law school, isn’t it more important to be a good lawyer rather than having a “prestigious degree” instead? Yeah a lot of misunderstandings in here. Anyway thank you Shane for the video.😊

[@Jack-iu7pw]

I'm going to throw a spanner in the works as a lawyer. Admittedly, I do work in the UK, so things may be different across the pond, but over here law is almost perfect. You do an undergraduate in law (3 years) and then a training contract for 2 years and then you are a fully qualified lawyer. If you get into a good University (Oxford, Cambridge, London unis) you have a great chance of training at a top law firm and you'll be on £125K (about $160K I believe) by the time you're 24. Yes, it is quite selective in that you have to go to a good uni, but even if you don't make it into a prestigious uni and do a law degree anyway, many other jobs love people with law degrees because of the problem solving, research and argument side of things. Pay is good, work/life balance is actually fine (9-7 most days) as long as you're not at a US firm, and lawyers are much more respected in the UK than in the US, it seems. Your debt won't be huge - probably around £30-40K depending on where you go to uni. If you think you want to become a lawyer, and you're in the UK, definitely go for it. If you're unsure, pick something else because you can always convert to law through the GDL which is 1 year long and puts you in the same boat as law grads. In the US things must be different, but the job will probably be similar, and to be honest, I really enjoy it, couldn't see myself doing anything else :) (btw Shane if you're reading this you put up the median pay for lawyers as $122K. Median means the middle, therefore it's not affected by huge discrepancies in pay, but rather it takes what the middle person would earn)

[@evanau-yong4909]

Now waiting for the new Business Degree video! Looking forward to hear if it's a overrated or worth it!

[@ShaneHummus]

Which Business degree video? I have made a few already

[@MDrishad-td9xj]

omg that song i laughed out so hard🤣🤣 im in lawschool rn, you really gave a good reality check for me thanks

[@orlando7436]

Lawyer in Mexico: high debt is clearly a US problem, but practice sounds pretty much the same. Not many job opportunities, struggle at the beginning, horrible bosses in big firms, low income or high income and high expense. Thing is, there is work for most lawyers if you look behind the big firm and in-house lawyer curtain. I would say that an excess of chefs is a problem, but lawyers? There is use for us. Don't get me wrong, there are lots of lawyers driving cabs in Mexico City, but your own practice and hard work can solve that (once you have the degree). Competing against some of the smartest most energetic people "all the time" should not be listed as a problem, it could mean that YOU are one of those "smartest most energetic people".

[@robbiem4624]

although it does depend on the school and the state and yours goals. If you go to public state school and want to move to a small to medium size town and work with a older lawyer who is getting ready to retire you would be fine.

[@ponchomom]

Happy lawyer here! Still wouldn’t recommend it because it was a long path for me to get to a good place. I missed out on a lot and I’m trying to make up for it now.

[@shaynelhta]

"Whatever you do, don't become a lawyer!" Sounds like a challenge to me...

[@brotherantoinemoore7390]

Cudoes to all the lawyers out there. And the future lawyer good luck in you legal career.

[@harshvardhan958]

I just had my first law class today. :) RIP

[@ShaneHummus]

Good luck!

[@Bigstickpolicy]

Hope you like it. It's not too late to say adios if you're seriously contemplating it

[@fauzianezam246]

Zero Or L good luck boo. Which school do you go to

[@robertmarks6525]

Bro are you crazy stay and finish and live the loft argumentative life and full of adrenalin .😂😂😂

[@dmxmf8201]

Is it as bad as people are painting it to be? How is it?

[@cland49lsu1]

Most attorneys who like their job is simply because they don't do the attorney job you imagine. If you want to be a trial attorney, make your own firm and EVENTUALLY make more money than a trad job, plan on that happening in your 40s. As a trial attorney, with no family firm or connections, I have wasted the entirety of my 20s and 30s under heavy stress. As an associate in a firm, you will be overworked by people who just want to take the money and go on vacation. You will be thrust into heavy matters on day one, you will be underwater most of your life with stress and work and you will get paid similar to a plummer or electrician. Everyone you know will make more money than you and stress less, all for a pipe dream that you can oneday abuse an associate and receive mailbox money. It's not realistic. If you're planning on going to law school, go talk to an associate. Most partners I deal with face a massive midlife crisis.

[@khethu_nduli]

I just literally came across this vid it got me thinking about the decision I made. Initially, I wanted to do a straightforward degree but then I thought about the consequences of doing that so I went and did a commerce degree with a law major, I now major in Accounting, Law, and Econ with sub majors in finance .have never been happier.

[@elli1080]

Do you have a job now? what job did you get with that degree and those majors?

[@khethu_nduli]

@@elli1080 I am still a student.

[@jimgood1949]

Where do you work? That makes a huge difference.

[@janellemcleod]

I had always planned to seriously start my own law practice

[@kaitai5900]

Mechanical Engineering degree brother got bored with the geeks in his profession. Went to a top 20 law school to pursue patent law, which requires at STEM degree. He also speaks Japanese well. Well, he utterly has been cleaning up since pretty much day 1. Works at his own pace for select big name clients on West Coast, Japan, and Taiwan. He has to be pulling in close to $800,000 annually. Chose the specialty well, and it will pay. The standard Polisci or English literature chump will usually end up giving up his/her bar license in time, because it just doesn’t pay.

[@professorhamester]

How about Intellectual Property lawyers? I heard that their job prospects are better than other lawyers. Many IP lawyers already have a graduate degree in a technical area (e.g., biology, EE) and related R&D experience before they pursue a JD.

[@eman6651]

It’s a good option because you have a good fallback degree. IP law is sort of like the new buzzword, and while it is lucrative, it’s still very competitive and typically requires attendance of the T14 law schools. So just in case you don’t enter IP law, something like an engineering or science degree will still keep you employed

[@ShaneHummus]

I might discuss that in detail. Stay tuned

[@aalegalfocus]

IP is getting saturated. The business has moved overseas.

[@sharonjanethague7181]

I am a lawyer. What you said is true. However, I am happy with a work life balance, family and friends. All of that MUST be factored into your life, whatever career you choose.

[@ShaneHummus]

💯

[@gerathy7292]

I wish being a lawyer was a 9 to 5 it's interesting to learn but actually being one is a whole different story. How did you achieve work-life balance in it?

[@paperthin8794]

One plus about being a lawyer is telling other people that "you're a lawyer" lol

[@Brar0905]

Your videos are very informative, would you mind making a video on Medical and healthcare lawyers? I am an undergrad with crim and polsci major. I am preparing for LSAT, for being a medical lawyer, as the google search says you don’t have to work in courts, lawsuit or anything. Its just a 8 to 5 job with millions of dollars per year. I have many health issues, I can’t work for 18-18 hours so I don’t want to waste my parents’ money and my time for a work that I will not be able to do. Please make a video on that issue too.

[@aalegalfocus]

Your google search information is totally wrong, unfortunately. Medical law either means working in the medical malpractice field or as in-house counsel to large medical companies/institutions. If you have health problems, you may have difficulty working those long hours.

[@ShaneHummus]

Thanks for your feedback, Noted your request

[@Brar0905]

Shane Hummus - The Success GPS thank you so much 😊

[@Brar0905]

asianamericanfocus thank you so much for the information, I appreciate your help.

[@ACMR6297]

Hi Shane I watched this video just before I entered law school or perhaps just after I started it. One thing you should consider if you ever come back to this topic is the socialising aspect of a lawyer, as in the social interactions between lawyers. From personal experience, the lawyer community can be cliquey and you get the feeling many are the type that wont want to waste their breath on you unless you have something to offer. Some people are cool though but they are in the tiny minority and far and few in between.

[@divinetruths345]

Haha funny reminds me of what my friends cousin said, the only good thing about being a lawyer is telling people I'm a lawyer.

[@ShaneHummus]

Haha I couldn't help but agree 😂

[@benrawarg]

I was obsessed with bein a lawyer for 2 years and thank god I watched this.

[@lavaboy1565]

Yeah me too. I still don’t know if I should do it. I really love the idea of doing negotiations and being shrewd

[@benrawarg]

@@lavaboy1565 yea ikr, I feel like if you were exceptional at school, and are just sharp in general with a decent control over your work ethic, law is great cause your likley to reach the high end schools, otherwise it seems like pure pain with low reward.

[@MrSterlingAce]

Having worked in the legal industry and around lawyers, I have some thoughts. This video is a generalization that is different for each of law. Civil law is likely decent, Criminal Law is horrid (and for a lot of reasons), Family law is also horrid. Being a Patent attorney is a whole different ballgame. People who think they want to be an attorney should try being a paralegal and put their toe in the water. You can likely be a paralegal for all aspects of law. Three years of law school which is expensive is really not the right way to learn if you want to be a lawyer.

[@aalegalfocus]

Yes. Totally. It is nothing as depicted in movies and tv shows. I say this as a Georgetown law school graduate who is now a solo practitioner.

[@ShaneHummus]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. Glad to know we're on the same page.

[@aalegalfocus]

@@ShaneHummus great channel! I just started making some legal-themed videos, & a few are about how bad the job market is. Please check it out if you have time. :)

[@davidchavez4464]

Just got my law degree from a t25 now watching this video. Only 150k debt for undergrad + grad. Edit: I got a job above the average median starting for my school.

[@deemahamed5202]

This video is too entertaining! Thank God I woke up and I am NOT a lawyer 🤣🤣 . It’s how I feel about going to medical school too. Glad I never went. Time to enjoy God’s gift! Omg that song! Your going to give them views now! I COULD NEVER BE A LAWYER! Don’t forget all they do is READ READ AND READ CASES LOL ! You are the best Shane!

[@ShaneHummus]

Thanks for watching and leaving a feedback Deema

[@TooHonest4_You]

I'm using my GI Bill for Law School... no loss for me lol

[@ShaneHummus]

Nice

[@aalegalfocus]

Great, so it should be worth it for you!

[@flanagamer]

I’m hoping to use Voc rehab 🤞🏼

[@richardasease5985]

Keep up the good work man! I’m glad you’re getting the word out on grad-plus loans. Most private/out-of-state dental schools are charging over half a mil now.

[@cloudfg5251]

It depends on what law school you go to. The market is competitive but if you go to harvard law school, Yale, Duke, Columbia etc,.. you will do great. In France its the same ( except that the éducation is free). If you graduate from top law school you can start your career making 80 000$ a year ( which is more than 95% of the french population). After ten years of expérience you can easily make around 200 000-300 000$ a year. So go to a very good law school and choose the right specialities ( corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, tax law, international arbitration law,..)

[@pranavpillai7981]

Hi Shane, I don't think I wholly agree with your statement about having to go to a T-14 school. Yes, top law schools do have their ups, but that is not all. You can be successful going to a non-top university as well. It depends on your goals as an attorney. The only caveat is that you need to choose a school with good employment opportunities. The bar association regularly releases data on different schools and their outcomes on how they place attorneys. Often employment depends on regional factors. Bigger cities have a higher demand for legal services than smaller towns.

[@lila8688]

Im not sure what to do! My dream job is to be a lawyer but people in the comments are making it seem like such a bad job. I honestly don't know what to do anymore :/

[@asmijain2695]

Lmaoo same. Basically just go to a top school or don’t bother haha.

[@haileyfierce9540]

Ugh I really wanted to be a lawyer but I want to have a life and I want to know for a fact that I would have a job 😭

[@Hopping102]

I already pursuing an accounting degree but my parents are really trying to push me to do law even thought I realllly don't have any passion for it.

[@ShaneHummus]

Good luck Ashley

[@asmijain2695]

Don’t do it then!! Please don’t spoil your life over somebody else’s expectations. Accounting pays well too.

[@shawnsenese1760]

I'm a cpa and am making 92k annualy (not including bonuses) in a an area with a pretty low cost of living. I would get cpa certified if you go the accounting route.

[@mrmartywaring]

I'll pass on it. While I like learning about law, I don't want to sit for the bar

[@ShaneHummus]

haha right

[@chariden9587]

Lool any argument I was ready to hear but a song😂😂😂

[@ShaneHummus]

😂😂😂

[@starz2020]

Those who studied law mostly work as a corporate lawyer

[@amycampbell2007]

Thanks Shane for taking the time and effort to create these very helpful videos ☺️

[@ShaneHummus]

My pleasure!

[@erfannarimani4038]

I was thinking about switching from Camputer programming to my childhood dream (being a lawyer) I never thought my dream is Actually a nightmare

[@DeltaAirlines737]

My friend's dad graduated law school, but I don't think he even had a job as a lawyer or in law. Still no clue how he paid off his loans though.

[@ShaneHummus]

Thanks for sharing that

[@rocknation7065]

Could you make a video on, what can you do with a law degree ?

[@shreykhurana3493]

I just need to talk to this guy for 5 minutes, he could save my life.

[@owenvadala7882]

Hey Shane! I have been struggling with the question of whether or not to get a JD later in my life. I want to pursue both an M.Ed in Higher Education Administration and an MBA within the next 3 to 4 years after I graduate which I believe will provide me career mobility and a stable income. But I know I have an argumentative/political side to me where I like to debate on contentious issues. I'm so concerned about the financial side of law school though so I appreciate this informative video! Keep up the good content!

[@ShaneHummus]

Hey Owen.. I wish you the best.. Plan it well.. Good luck!

[@666yaoz]

Please do not do a MS in education unless you have a contact in the industry. It is very difficult to get a job, since my mom got a similar degree. The pay is low (50k/year) and you take on a lot of debt. MBA would be best for the select state (best school in the state of the company you apply to) or top 10 works out fine.

[@DareToWonder]

A lot of lawyers are Jewish and we are pessemestic by nature so keep that in mind.

[@literarythrills806]

Sooo what do you do when you’re halfway through your degree and want to go on an entirely different path?

[@ShaneHummus]

You have to plan it out well. Know what you really want

[@Lazymath007_]

Just say GG and drop out

[@ricky6608]

Work as General Counsel then go into management

[@azizboutayeb4611]

Very formative content. İ hit the like bottom before watching the video. Keep up the good work

[@backedup39]

I wamted to be a lawyer once. But i developed a conscience.