Why You Should Become A Personal Injury Lawyer

If you are like most law students, you have a list of law firms you would like to work for when you finish school and pass the bar. You may send out resumes and only focus on areas of law that you are interested in.

With time, you may start to get a few rejections, which will narrow down your options. Or you may find yourself accepting a job at a firm that you thought was your dream job only to realize that it is not an ideal fit for you. You may not have even considered whether other law practices, like personal injury law, may be better suited for your personality.

Who Are You Looking to Represent?

This is a pivotal question when deciding what field of law you are going to practice in. You have to ask yourself if your sympathies lie with individuals or with corporations. How motivated would you be to represent someone who experienced permanent brain damage, lost a loved one, or is paralyzed after a car accident? If this type of legal representation pulls at your heartstrings, then you may have what it takes to be a personal injury lawyer.

How Do You Want to Get Paid?

Another factor to consider when determining whether personal injury law is right for you are evaluating how you want to work or how you want to get paid. Are you looking to work by the case or by the hour? Is your preference a guaranteed fee? Are you willing to work on a contingency basis? What is your risk tolerance?

There is a high potential for stress in personal injury cases. The stress level will vary. In the personal injury field, you only get paid when you win and only at the end of the case. Out of all the cases you will handle, only a handful of them are going to settle quickly and give you a high fee. However, in the majority of cases, you are going to be dealing with a case that drags on for years before you see compensation.

Appreciating Potential Financial Upsides

There are several potential financial upsides to practicing personal injury law. Some cases can settle for millions of dollars, so you can walk away with a sizable percentage of that. Additionally, working in personal injury law means that you will be able to help people who are experiencing some of the worst circumstances in their life. That can be more beneficial than any financial reward.