Profession is not just for bread and butter. One must choose that profession which one is comfortable at. If you are interested in literature, you possibly cannot go a long way working in a laboratory because you would not enjoy it. Thus before choosing what you want to take up as your career it is important that you know every side of the story. When it comes to taking up law as your profession, first get to know what law is all about and whether you have the potentiality to become one. For example you must be good at playing with words, you must have a bent towards critical thinking and debating, keep yourself updated, have confidence to face oppositions etc. Then ask yourself “Why be a lawyer?”

In the initial stages you will find yourself with answers like “because it gives a good pay end of the day” or “it is an honorable profession” or “I want to help”. But the fact is ‘are lawyers called only when there is a deprived person’ or ‘when something goes wrong?’ Well definitely not. Lawyers are needed even when a company is formed, when two companies join or simply while buying an asset like a house. It is not a profession which has glamour attached. One has to be hard working and be prepared to face any kind of situation.

Before deciding, be clear on why be a lawyer, why not anything else. If you find it worth dealing with significant issues affecting other’s lives and you are confident that your guidance would change their lives, then you can give it a thought. A lawyer cannot only get involved with the paper works but also empathize with the client. Along with the emotional support you should be able to provide with organized plans and steps to through your analytical skills. You can also be a lawyer if you have the urge to be famous. Lawyers also get a good amount of media coverage if you are fighting for a cause that comes to the limelight for example, environment. But for that you must be strong enough. Many lawyers tend to work for protection of intellectual property.  Lawyers work for government, profit as well as non profit organizations. One can be also become self employed or a salaried person. In the initial stages most begin by working under a senior lawyer to gain practical insight. So whether it is Civil or criminal law, the answer to the question ‘why be a lawyer?’ must be clear to you, if you are hard working, patient, committed, honest and have a passion towards law.