The practice of law holds a special distinction in our collective consciousness. Along with medicine, law is both a highly popular career path and a constant subject of film and TV adaptation. From legal dramas, courtroom thrillers, and real-life court cases that take the nation by storm, almost everyone has an idea of what a lawyer does and, more crucially, what a lawyer is. But these ideas are often built upon misconceptions that are propagated as tropes in media.

Whether you’re thinking of a career in the legal industry or you’re an attorney who’s tired of explaining to people what it is you actually do, this blog post is for you.

Misconception: Movies and TV Shows Accurately Represent the Legal Profession

Most fictional lawyers tend to be loud, boisterous individuals who shout at the judge, witnesses, and jury. That famous scene from “A Few Good Men” comes to mind. Although these depictions make for great entertainment, they often stray far from the truth. In fact, it is rare for depictions of lawyers in media to be realistic.

Most big- and small-screen attorneys are dramatized to the point of being over-the-top. TV shows like Better Call Saul, The Lincoln Lawyer, Boston Legal, Matlock, and, most famously, Suits continue to be popular, introducing many generations to a depiction of what a law career might look like. Suits may be entertaining, with high-stakes cases and interpersonal conflicts week after week, but this depiction is simply untrue. Sure, lawyers who work in Big Law are often required to wear tailored suits to keep up appearances, but this is where the similarities end.

While it would be incredibly fun to be an attorney like the Lincoln Lawyer, or as articulate a litigator as James Spader in Boston Legal, the reality is not nearly as exciting. One thing to keep in mind is that these shows are, first and foremost, entertainment. They are not true depictions of the practice of law.

Texas Bar Books publications attorney Nicholas Goddard says the following: “We attorneys are people just like our clients, despite us wishing it otherwise. We make mistakes; we don’t always have the sharpest witty one-liners that win any argument. We don’t all have the custom suits to wear or work for altruistic law firms, or an unexplainable amount of money and time to dedicate solely to one case as you see in movies or television. The truth is that real-life attorneys can only be as dedicated to a case as their client is.”

Caveat: Some Fictional Lawyers Stand Out

This isn’t to say that there are no accurate depictions of lawyers in the media; Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird is often seen as the archetypal lawyer. Other examples, such as the 1959 film Anatomy of a Murder, depict a more restrained, realistic look at a trial. In fact, one of the closest depictions of an actual lawyer in a movie may be, surprisingly, Joe Pesci from My Cousin Vinny. What it took for Vinny to win his cousin’s freedom was researching, reading, and understanding rules of procedure and evidence.

Misconception: You Have to Be Loud, Outgoing, Extroverted, Etc.

One of the most common misconceptions about the practice of law is the idea that to succeed as a lawyer, you need to have a loud, extroverted, boisterous personality. This idea is often proliferated by famous fictional attorneys who create big, memorable scenes in the courtroom where they shout about wanting the truth, etc.

Lawyers, like most other professionals, are not a monolith; there are quiet lawyers as well as outgoing lawyers. The practice of law is actually a great choice for introverts. Many lawyers spend their time doing research, drafting, and reviewing documents, all on their own. Even trial attorneys who have to defend their clients in front of a judge or jury can have introverted tendencies. In fact, there are many law careers that are perfectly suited for introverts with some having little to no client interaction.

Misconception: You Have to Love Arguing

A love for arguing or always being right is often attributed to lawyers. Children who are argumentative or assertive are seen as “future lawyers.” While these personality traits may help pave the way for a future career in the law, it does not mean you need to argue with every person you come across to hone your skills.

Lesser-known skills and abilities like patience and pragmatism go a long way when it comes to providing legal services. Not all things can be rushed, and the legal process itself, especially in the civil context, takes time. Not all cases are equal, and most cases can’t be solved overnight.

The job of an attorney is not solely to advocate for, litigate for, or merely do what the client requests of their representation. An attorney is also called “counsel.” So, being pragmatic when looking at solutions for issues clients may be facing is incredibly useful. Understanding the client’s financial limitations, the extent to which you can actually recover damages or resolve the issue, or even whether a particular mole hill should be made into a mountain.

Misconception: You Have to Go to Court

Lawyers and courtrooms tend to go hand in hand, but going to court is not a requirement for the practice of law. In fact, many kinds of attorneys—such as transactional or estate planning attorneys—rarely go to court to litigate.

It is not necessary to litigate on a client’s behalf for every single issue if you focus your practice on transactional areas such as contract or real estate deed drafting. You won’t need to go to court most days if your practice is designed to prepare a client for end of life. Estate issues are preemptively dealt with by drafting a client’s will or setting up a trust. Similarly, in-house attorneys for most business entities or state agencies do not spend a lot of time litigating in court.

Misconception: You Won't Be Successful If You Don't Have a Job Lined Up After You Graduate

After studying relentlessly for three years and finally receiving your JD, the first thing you want to do is start working, right? How else will you start chipping away at those unfathomable student loans?

While some law school graduates may immediately transition to working at a law firm as soon as they pass the bar exam, some may choose a different route. Graduating law school is half the battle, and it’s perfectly natural to want to take some time to prepare before taking the bar exam. Ultimately, having a job lined up will help financially and can potentially aid your career, deepening on what type of career track you have set out for yourself.

Misconception: You Have to Work at a Big Law Firm

Working at a big law firm may sound daunting, but many attorneys say it was an excellent first step in their legal career. Working in a small firm after graduating may sound like a better option—fewer employees mean you have more time to focus on learning your craft, right? But in reality, the opposite can tend to be true. At small firms, there tends to be so much work that you won’t always be able to ask your coworkers for help and guidance when an issue comes up. Think of it as jumping in the deep end. At a big law firm, on the other hand, you’ll have more opportunities for support and mentorship.

But whether it is best to work for a big law firm, a smaller firm, or to just hang your own shingle can truthfully only be answered with the most classic of law school answers: it depends. It depends on you, what your intended career path is, where you want to live, and how hard you worked toward that goal in law school. If your goal is to drive a fancy car, own a fancy house, etc., then those factors may ultimately impact where you choose to work.

If you believe you are competent enough to hang your own shingle after graduating and passing the bar, then shoot your shot with your own firm—plenty of big law firms were started out of someone’s home, for example. Small firms and solo practitioners also have a benefit, but at the end of the day, there is no real right or wrong answer. The only thing that matters is where you want your legal career to go and how hard are you going to work to get there.

Misconception: You Have to Stick to One Practice Area for Your Entire Career

While most law students tend to have a path in mind when choosing their courses, things can change post-graduation. Say you focused most of your legal education in criminal law, only to find out you don’t really like practicing criminal law once you graduate and start working. Pivoting to another area of law—be it after graduation or at any other time in your legal career—is possible. For some, this may be easy, while for others, it may be more difficult, but it is not impossible.

When pivoting to a different area of law, networking can make all the difference. Finding an attorney in the practice area you’re considering who can give you practical advice on the specificities of the niche area can help tremendously. So, if you start your legal career and it doesn’t feel right, don’t worry. You can always pivot until you find the right path.

If you’ve been practicing law for years or decades, you don’t need to be tied down if you feel like it’s time for a change. Any career—be it legal or otherwise—has its own unique challenges and stressors. It is possible, however, to find a legal career that offers a healthy work-life balance and more stable hours while being mentally stimulating and engaging.

Consider some of the following practice areas:

• Estate planning: This is a less fast-paced area of law, allowing practitioners to devote the right time and attention to their clients’ matters.
• Real estate: Most real estate transactions often follow a similar routine, making this a more structured choice.
• Transactional intellectual property law: Both exciting and straightforward, transactional IP law gives lawyers the opportunity to work with a wide range of clients, ranging from creators and inventors to companies. You’ll work to ensure their hard work is protected by securing trademarks, patents, and copyrights.

These are just some examples of alternate practice areas to consider. Of course, not all cases are alike, and even the simplest case can take a turn for the worst when you least expect it.

Misconception: You Will Burn Out Immediately

This misconception may be the one that’s closest to the truth, but it can be overcome with proper care and perseverance. It’s no surprise that lawyers tend to rank the highest when it comes to professional burnout. The legal industry is rife with emotionally draining cases, long hours, and difficult decisions. That can compound quickly, resulting in habits that can affect your health negatively.

Publications attorney Nicholas Goddard says, “Burnout is always a possibility in higher-stress jobs, such as being a practicing attorney. A great way to hold burnout at bay is by finding a “pursuit interest.” Making time at least once a week to pursue that interest will have positive ramifications in your personal and professional life. Whatever yours is, find it and pursue it. Doing so helps prevent burnout and thus helps lower or manage stress, which in turn will make you a better lawyer for your clients. Take it from this American salaryman: the job is never all there is in life.”

If the stress is too overwhelming, reach out to the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program for confidential mental health services for lawyers, law students, judges, and legal professionals.