Occupation Details
Lawyers
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.
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Interests
Investigative
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Enterprising
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Work Values
Achievement
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Recognition
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$95,340.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$170,280.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$231,570.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
86,680
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
102,090
+1,541 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
5,905
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.2%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
More School - Graduate or advanced degree
Experience Requirements
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Education Requirements
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Training Details
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, physician assistants, and veterinarians.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
New York State requires workers in this occupation to hold a license or certification.
Lawyer
Learn MoreSkills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Persuasion
Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Law and Government
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Personnel and Human Resources
Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Analytical Thinking
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Compact disk CD recorders
- Computer data input scanners
- Desktop computers
- Digital photocopiers
- Digital video disk DVD recorders
- Laptop computers
- Liquid crystal display LCD projectors
- Optical character readers
- Overhead projectors
- Personal computers
- Personal digital assistants PDA
Technology
- Abacus Data Systems AbacusLaw
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- AdvantageLaw WinVantage
- Anacomp CaseLogistix
- Argosy Legal Systems Power Closer
- BQE Software BillQuick
- Best Case Solutions Best Case Bankruptcy
- Bridgeway eCounsel
- CT hCue
- Canyon Solutions Jcats
- Catalyst Repository Systems CatalystCR
- Catalyst Repository Systems CatalystXE
- Cobblestone Systems Contract Insight
- Compugov DocketView
- Computer Sciences Corporation Legal Solutions Suite
- Constellation Justice Systems CourtView
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- teach college level courses
- direct serving of legal documents
- direct collection, preparation, or handling of evidence
- file documents in court
- organize legal information or records
- write legal documents
- draft laws or legislation
- draw up agreements in accordance with laws
- analyze data to discover facts in case
- analyze legal questions
- analyze existing evidence or facts
- communicate technical information
- write legal correspondence
- make presentations
- confer with prosecuting attorney
- compile information for court cases
- conduct legal research
- identify laws or court decisions relevant to pending cases
- compile evidence for court actions
- use administrative law
- use case logic or precedent
- follow confidentiality procedures
- follow contract, property, or insurance laws
- follow copyright laws
- apply court rules or strategy
- use interviewing procedures
- use knowledge of judicial system
- use knowledge of relevant laws
- follow professional ethics principles in law practice
- use research methodology procedures in legal cases or issues
- follow rules of evidence procedures in legal setting
- follow tax laws or regulations
- use knowledge of legal procedural rules
- use conflict resolution techniques
- use public speaking techniques
- use knowledge of investigation techniques
- use knowledge of environmental laws and regulations
- use library or online Internet research techniques
- apply legal concepts to medical reports or documents
- understand legal terminology
- interpret laws or legislation
- explain government laws or regulations
- advise clients or customers
- conduct legal hearings
- participate in appeals hearings
- examine evidence to determine if it will support charges
- examine data against legal precedents
- determine if evidence is sufficient to recommend prosecution
- decide causes of legal action
- search legal records
- obtain information from witnesses, attorneys, or litigants
- review civil rights laws
- interview crime witnesses or victims to obtain descriptive information
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
- Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
- Select jurors, argue motions, meet with judges, and question witnesses during the course of a trial.
- Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
- Present evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in criminal or civil litigation.
- Represent clients in court or before government agencies.
- Work in environmental law, representing public interest groups, waste disposal companies, or construction firms in their dealings with state and federal agencies.
- Present and summarize cases to judges and juries.
- Study Constitution, statutes, decisions, regulations, and ordinances of quasi-judicial bodies to determine ramifications for cases.
- Negotiate settlements of civil disputes.
- Prepare, draft, and review legal documents, such as wills, deeds, patent applications, mortgages, leases, and contracts.
- Supervise legal assistants.
- Examine legal data to determine advisability of defending or prosecuting lawsuit.
- Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases.
- 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.
- Probate wills and represent and advise executors and administrators of estates.
- Prepare legal briefs and opinions, and file appeals in state and federal courts of appeal.
- Search for and examine public and other legal records to write opinions or establish ownership.
- Act as agent, trustee, guardian, or executor for businesses or individuals.
- Confer with colleagues with specialties in appropriate areas of legal issue to establish and verify bases for legal proceedings.
- Perform administrative and management functions related to the practice of law.
- Help develop federal and state programs, draft and interpret laws and legislation, and establish enforcement procedures.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Lawyers
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn More