A lawyer advises and represents individuals or organizations in legal matters. Depending on their specialty and what type of law they practice, a lawyer may represent a client in civil or criminal court, or help a client write a will.

“There’s a reason why lawyers are usually called counsel; that’s essentially what our job is, to counsel,” says Juan Santamaria, a Houston-based staff attorney at the nonprofit Lone Star Legal Aid, who specializes in landlord-tenant cases. “We don’t just go to court to fight and argue. Our entire job is to complete a task for our client and to give our best counsel to that client to complete that task.”

Lawyers may work for nonprofit organizations or for federal, state or local governments, but the majority work in private or corporate legal offices or law firms.

Some lawyers work as district attorneys, prosecuting criminal cases within a jurisdiction, while others work as public defenders, representing individuals who are accused of crimes and can’t afford to hire an attorney. Some lawyers work as legal advisers to universities, municipalities or corporations. Environmental lawyers may work with waste disposal companies to make sure they comply with relevant laws related to the environment, family lawyers may advise clients during child custody or adoption proceedings, and securities lawyers may advise companies that are interested in listing in the stock exchange through an initial public offering.The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7.5% employment growth for lawyers between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 62,400 jobs should open up.

In the U.S., lawyers must earn a Juris Doctor degree, or J.D., after earning their bachelor’s degree. This can mean four years pursuing a bachelor’s degree, followed by three years of law school – or four years if a student attends law school part time. Students must pass an exam to be admitted to law school. This might be the LSAT or the GRE, depending on the school. As students narrow down their top choices, they should note which test to study for. It is also worth checking whether their programs of interest are offered by one of the 197 American Bar Association-approved law schools.

Following law school graduation, prospective attorneys must pass the multiday bar exam for the state in which they want to practice. Each state has its own bar exam and procedure to become licensed, but some states offer reciprocity, meaning that qualified lawyers in good standing can apply to practice in an eligible state without taking another bar exam.

Lawyers also may have to meet continuing education requirements throughout their careers. In Texas, Santamaria says, that means completing 15 hours of continuing education each year, some of which must be ethics training.

“I will say, as a practicing attorney, almost every attorney needs it,” he says. “We’re constantly in training. It comes naturally with the job.”