This summary talks about what it’s like to be a lawyer in Canada mainly in a private company. Whether you’re thinking about going to law school, in law school right now, or knowing someone who is in law school, you can learn many things. I am going to inform you about what it’s like to be a lawyer, what do they do, what a lawyer does on a typical day, where they work, how to become one, the salary, the additional training, and the age of retirement.
Being a lawyer can be very stressful and demanding. A lot of lawyers need to stay at work outside office hours because of the many obligations they must fulfill. It is simply much more than just showing up in court and defend their clients. Lawyers are hardworking because they know that their work affects other people’s lives. That motivates them to work harder and at times, longer than others.
The role of lawyers is to guide their clients through the judicial system. The mandate of lawyers is to represent your interest or those of a group in a situation or even in court. They also have a preventive role and help you in the best way to resolve a situation. This can be by providing legal advice, information of your right, explaining or negotiate terms, prosecuting or defending their clients in court.
The way lawyers start their day depend mainly of their the specialization. Usually, lawyers show up really early to work when no one is in the office because they feel more productive, and they are more alert to do tasks that need concentration. They respond to emails or other correspondence. They will also use this time to review their cases and get ready for a trial if they have one. During business hours, lawyers will have meetings, will make phone calls, will be talking to their clients, or will also discuss cases with fellow lawyers. Sometimes, they are outside of the office, doing their research as part of their cases. After being out of the office for a part of the day, they might need to finish other tasks after business hours. This can include answering their emails or doing the necessary paperwork. Because of deadlines, they might not be able to put it off the next day as they will need to submit them on time.
Lawyers can work in a law firm, private company, for the government, for the prosecution and even teach in class. Most lawyers work between 50 and 60 hour-per weeks, including weekend.
In Quebec, to become a lawyer you need to obtain a bachelor’s degree in law which. This degree is given in six universities in Quebec like at the University of Sherbrooke or University Laval, and it takes three years of theoretical training. After that, you have between four and eight months of professional and practical training at the Bar School. Once you pass your Bar exam, you do a six-month internship under the supervision and responsibility of a supervisor. Once you finish your internship, you need to take an oath to be eligible to practice legally and have professional insurance.
In Quebec, the median annual salary is $98 000 not including bonus, benefit information and other factors that impact base pay. However, the salary may vary depending on the industry, the company size, the location, the years of experience and level of education.
Lawyers need to take continuous training to maintain, update and improve professional and ethical skills. All lawyers must complete at least 30 hours of eligible training during a two-year reference period from a list of activities offered by the Bar of Quebec.
Lawyers are at risk of depressions and other mental health issues due to the stress and pressure of this job.
Lawyers can retire around the age of 65, but most lawyers retire later. This is mostly because lawyers are afraid of losing their identity, and they are afraid of feeling useful if they are not working anymore.
Presently, I am doing my last year of college in Social Science. Soon, I will apply in law at the University of Sherbrooke and the University Laval. Hopefully, I will become a lawyer specialize in family law.
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Rationale: to inform or educate
Authority: recognized author
Date: recently published
Accuracy: probably true
Relevance: relevant for this document
Sources: cites sources