by: Cory Cascalheira

A legal career is challenging, satisfying and lucrative. The media portrays lawyers as elite, successful professionals at the top of society. While the perks are unquestionably grand, a legal career is much more than a gilded status of glamour and prestige. At their heart, legal careers are meant to serve the people and make society the best place possible. But the work and lifestyle is not for everyone. To determine your legal career compatibility, keep the following three points in mind as you think about your options.

First, realize that the legal world is full of competition. Acquiring clients, winning cases, managing fees and keeping track of laws is a daily process for the legal professional. Competition in the legal field starts as early as law school as aspiring attorneys compete for the best grades, internships and future opportunities. Whether or not you handle pressure well should be one of the first introspective questions you pose to yourself.

Secondly, having a preference for cognitively complex activities is another must. If you don’t enjoy mental rabbit holes turn around now as the legal world is full of them. As if balancing laws wasn’t hard enough, legal professionals need to be sharp, eloquent and able to handle abstract logic. You’ll need to exhibit strong causal reasoning and be able to balance your time proficiently. The legal system is in constant evolution; it’s imperative you keep up with i