Also called: Solo Practitioner, Country Lawyer
Runs their own small law office handling whatever legal needs local people have.
In a small town, one lawyer might write a farmer's will, handle a DUI, close a home sale, and form a new business, all in the same week. They run their own office, so they also do the billing and marketing. Rural areas have a real shortage of lawyers, and some states pay incentives to practice there.
Income depends on how busy the practice gets.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Professional degree (MD, JD, DVM…), about 7 years after high school. Bachelor's in any subject, then a 3-year Juris Doctor (JD) and passing the state bar exam.
Ways in: 4-year college, Professional school. Training cost: Over $150k.
Majors to look at: Political Science, History, English, Philosophy, Economics.
Growing about average (about 4% over 10 years). BLS projection for all lawyers (2024-34).
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI drafts wills, deeds and forms, letting one lawyer serve more people; local trust and court appearances keep the job human.
Classes: AP U.S. Government, Business CTE class, AP English Language, Speech and debate.
Official data: O*NET occupation 23-1011.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.