Pros and Cons of Being a Lawyer - Honest Opinions from Two Corporate Lawyers

Wondering what the upsides and downsides of being a lawyer are? In this video, we're sharing our honest thoughts on what we personally like AND dislike about being lawyers after working as lawyers for almost 10 years collectively.
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Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
1:04 What We Like #1
3:25 What We Dislike #1
5:30 What We Like #2
7:22 What We Dislike #2
9:15 Sign Off

[@mahkeducation1583]

Thank you for revealing the genuine side of the industry. It helps a lot in debunking the so-called occupational prestige.

[@pinetworkminer8377]

Have you decided not to pursue a career in law?

[@alm5851]

Thanks for sharing! You guys are informative and to the point.

[@cee6408]

I am active in lawyering, and this clip reveals both pros and cons of being in the legal industry accurately. Epic!

[@christielee9899]

I’m on the other end of the spectrum - training in criminal and family law - and I can say, these views are equally applicable haha. Great video!

[@EmandLloyd]

For sure! Different practices and specializations in law all definitely have their own upsides and downsides. Thank you for watching and commenting, Christie!! :) and hope work is off to a good start in 2022 ✨

[@smartfreelancer-dp2qd]

​@@EmandLloydcan u make a video about upsides and downsides of being a patent/ ip lawyer? Or can you introduce me someone whom I can ask this? Pls❤ and thx for the content it is really enlighting

[@nickpolar5782]

Really helpful video from a student deciding whether they should, or shouldn't, pursue law school :)

[@boomboom1258]

I personally recommend any law grads to try being a paralegal after graduating from law school as usually paralegals are tasked with somewhat similar job scopes as a lawyer (assisting in research, drafting submissions, preparing bundles for court, online case management etc), although you don't have the right of audience and practice license just yet. I was a paralegal while taking my local bar exam 3 years ago, and I quickly realised that, as much as the prestige and "respect" I get from belonging to the legal fraternity is truly ego boosting, like what Em said, the lifestyle within the industry isn't for me and it will severely affect my anxiety. Honestly, I do miss working in legal practice, and watching videos from this channel brought me back to the good old days in law, but I have to respect my inner voice and not continue qualifying as a lawyer. I'd probably be "more financially secure" and not feel so out of whack, lost in direction etc if I continue my legal profession path, but I promise you it's better to not betray yourself for the sake of prestige and being comfortable while you're miserable on the inside. I hope this helps someone. :)

[@smartfreelancer-dp2qd]

Reading your comment I felt like this is me talking..to care about intuition and anxiety level above prestige.... wow....may I ask what is your job right now? And are you happy with it?

[@karenchan9517]

Thank you for sharing!!!

[@ajonjk_99396]

Great insight into the realm of corporate law! Just finished corporate law final...and don't want to remember those stuff again...😂

[@wondersoulz]

great tibits of knowledge here!

[@EmandLloyd]

Thank you for watching! 🥰

[@AirborneSapper82]

Good Video. Thanks.

[@warrenviegas2300]

I've considered going to law school and I'm currently working in public accounting. Law is a second entry program here in North America but by this video it sounds very very similar To an accounting firm

[@EmandLloyd]

Based on what we understand from friends working in other industries like accounting and consulting, a lot of professional client services jobs can be quite similar - the main difference being the types of transactions which one advises on

[@warrenviegas2300]

@@EmandLloyd Yes I have seen that too. Either my time in accounting will prepare me well for the Culture of a law firm or completely put me off going through the training grind again. I go back-and-forth

[@dakshitgirdhar760]

Hi I am a accounting student in Canada and I am in a dilemma to pursue CPA or Juris Doctor ( Bachelors of Law) post graduation. My main reason for inclination towards law is the salary of lawyers which is relatively higher than CPA's. I genuinely like accounting. Can you please tell is it better to pursue CPA designation than going through the law school and investing huge amount of time and money. I have seen a lot of lawyer telling that the work is very grueling and there is no work life balance throughout the year and that's why they quit their jobs.

[@kwok3222]

Thank you for the fabulous vid!!! Is it generally easier for a transaction solicitor to look for jobs in other jurisdictions than its litigation counterpart?

[@EmandLloyd]

Generally speaking, yes - I (Lloyd) did a rotation through my firm's banking team, and my colleagues there were from all around the world. Transactions are a bit less jurisdiction-specific than something like litigation, so there's definitely more international mobility. That said, I know people who have gone to different jurisdictions to work in litigation, but in my experience they tend to get qualified in that jurisdiction and/or move to jurisdictions with very similar legal systems to maximize potential overlap.

[@kwok3222]

@@EmandLloyd Thank you very much!

[@syedshabazs1036]

Ive actually seen a client get slapped in an open court...lol

[@stevefortney6669]

Hi Em and Lloyd, I look Great in black but will stick to robbing liquor stores for now. (Better hours.) Em, I'm always looking for a driver... LOL Great video guys, most of the people I knew in San Diego were lawyers. Be ready to put in the hours for sure. Godspeed.

[@arad922]

What happens if you don’t take that “important call”? Alternatively, are you able to set a specific schedule with your firm/client about when they can and can’t call or is that asking for too much?

[@EmandLloyd]

Usually when a client matter becomes very urgent, it's a "drop everything and facilitate" kind of approach to scheduling. There's a bit more flexibility re: scheduling when things aren't as urgent, but the lack of ability to plan one's schedule when things do start moving was definitely a scenario we both found ourselves in many times (as with many other people in professional client services)

[@thu9312]

Hi, I just want to ask, is the environment of Law in general toxic? Like between friends, colleagues, employers and employees....? I am studying Economics Law, and I have to say that the class I'm in is filled with toxic people. It makes me so scared and suffocated.

[@aciuschristophores7789]

Would criminal and family law, and general civil (land) law allow for a more meaningful existence dealing with common peoples' problems? I feel Corporate Law deals with only the 'problems' of the top 1% CEOs of society. Making their contracts, helping them save on tax etc led to a very empty experience. I'm thinking of switching to the former.

[@JCB576]

Well I can try to give you an answer: It depends on how you look at it. With criminal/family law you have a much greater impact on the outcome (but also carry more risks) and work on a micro scale. Meanwhile with corporate law etc. you tend to work on a macro scale. Meaning you often work in teams and yoi have less of an "impact" (and thus also less, but still high responsibility). The difference is that you indirectly impact more people. Meaning that if you do your job well, you can for example create hundreds of new jobs.

[@whimsy099]

This is probably a stupid question, but in regards to the part where you have to take on urgent jobs one after another, isn't it possible to simply reject it?

[@mdmd6388]

No because he is working for a law firm, which means the firm is his employer. He is an employee so he cannot just reject a client unless he wants to be fired.

[@Antoinetteelean]

Do real estate lawyers work billable hours or a normal work week hour schedule?

[@whattheword5846]

I'm new to all of this as well. I would imagine you can find both, billable would be more self employed. normal work week would be from a giant real estate company. this is all a theory if mine though.

[@shariecebrewster5962]

I am there's

[@chinyeoh9535]

DISTANT SECOND.

[@EmandLloyd]

We appreciate second just as much as first! 🙏

[@leonfong4456]

I don't seriously like to sue anyone lol 😂

[@EmandLloyd]

Haha, each to their own!

[@takakohiruma5214]

Close THIRD

[@EmandLloyd]

Third beats second in our books (don't tell Chin) 😂

[@leonfong4456]

My question now is: what is EM now doing?

[@EmandLloyd]

I (Em) have moved into content creation!

[@leonfong4456]

@@EmandLloyd great I guess u should also consider selling beef brisket

[@FreedomBreeze24]

@@leonfong4456 wtf

[@jonathanwieler8863]

2:45… uggg what a terrible example of a chess match… I know it is stock footage… but what a 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@WillinovaTV]

Em is hot! 😍

[@leonfong4456]

What's the salary range???

[@EmandLloyd]

The range is actually huge - it depends on a lot of factors such as your practice area, the firm you're at, your seniority, etc.

[@tropicalbeach9225]

hey thanks for your input. Yeah, I've heard that law was a pretty cut-throat, immoral, and racist profession. I remember back in the days of highschool; I was always warned that if you were Black, Mexican, Asian, Mixed race ( meaning any race that is not White) go into the medical field rather than the law field because law was overwhelming majority White and heavily racist. I'm not saying whether this information is fact or fiction; just what I was informed back in school and am half Asian by the way.

[@LolDude179]

I also heard this, but I am far into the medical field and it is somewhat similar.

[@pep590]

I remember back in the days of high school; I was always warned that if you were White, Mexican, Asian, Mixed race ( meaning any race that is not Black) go into the medical field rather than the law field because law was overwhelming majority Black and heavily racist. Law School classes are overwhelming loaded with anti-white racist teachings and students.

[@pep590]

@@LolDude179 I remember back in the days of high school; I was always warned that if you were White, Mexican, Asian, Mixed race ( meaning any race that is not Black) go into the medical field rather than the law field because law was overwhelming majority Black and heavily racist. Law School classes are overwhelming loaded with anti-white racist teachings and students.

[@toyoptoo4999]

Whats a lawyer?

[@joliepantryroom9197]

呵呵呵

[@tomsun4951]

FIRST

[@EmandLloyd]

9/5/1! soundly in the lead

[@terryandrews3186]

Your English is good. I thought you were Americans!

[@EmandLloyd]

I (Em) grew up in the US, and Lloyd grew up partially in Canada!

[@terryandrews3186]

@@EmandLloyd I was thinking wow these two Hong Kongers have really good English ! Lol ! 😌

[@stephaniesham12]

Why have you decided to pursue the career in hk ? Will that choice be different if one graduates in these couple of years?

[@Gen3ralGrimReaper]

Stop with the pros and cons of a career. All jobs will have its ups and downs