Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Lawyer
What lawyers actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a lawyer?
Review a contract. From there, the day usually includes advise clients, research the law, and draft contracts and documents. Full time, often long hours, especially at large firms.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a lawyer working full time.
- Review a contract.
- Attend a court hearing.
- Meet a client.
- Research case law.
- Draft a motion.
- Negotiate a settlement.
- Track billable hours.
Where lawyers work
Lawyers work in offices, courtrooms and client sites.
Hours and schedule
Full time, often long hours, especially at large firms.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Advise clients
- Research the law
- Draft contracts and documents
- Negotiate deals and settlements
- Represent clients in court
- File legal documents
- Manage cases
Tools you’ll use every day
- Westlaw or Lexis
- Document management systems
- Practice management software
- E-filing systems
- E-discovery tools
- Microsoft Word
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- High pay potential
- Intellectual work
- Many specialties
- Help clients with big problems
What’s hard
- Long hours
- Expensive education
- Bar exam
- Stress
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I like debate
- I read closely
- I write well
- I can handle pressure
- I want to help clients
- I’m willing to do law school
Not sure? Take the free Lawyer fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Protect client confidentiality
- Avoid conflicts of interest
- Follow professional conduct rules
- Manage stress and burnout