Many people believe that they have an understanding of the legal industry. Unfortunately, there are many myths about the legal industry that are treated as facts. These myths arise from depictions of lawyers in media like Hollywood films, which often take liberties with the truth.
That is why we decided to look at some of the most common myths and misconceptions about the legal industry.
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Guaranteed financial success
One of the most common myths about the legal industry is that all lawyers are guaranteed to become rich.
It can take quite a long time after completing a degree in law before a lawyer begins earning a higher salary. This is due to the Practical Vocational Training (PVT) which requires graduates to work as a for a period of 2 years before they can write the Attorneys’ admission exams. Then only can they become a fully qualified and admitted attorney.
Therefore, while very successful lawyers or those at large firms can earn a great deal of money it takes them a long time to become successful. Additionally, this earning potential is not guaranteed.
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Lawyers must be argumentative
Another common myth about the legal industry is that if you are good at arguing you will be a good lawyer. While the media tend to portray legal proceedings as verbal battles with advocates trying to win an argument, this is not an accurate representation of the process as legal proceedings are not about arguing in the traditional sense. Lawyers use a well-reasoned, well-researched discussion based on facts and the law to persuade the courts of their client's innocence or to justify their perspective. That is why it isn’t so much about being good at arguing but more about being good at communicating.
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Lawyers spend most of their time in court
One of the biggest myths about the legal industry is that legal professionals spend the majority of their time making their cases in the courtroom. This is mostly due to movies where lawyers are mostly shown in court representing their clients. In South Africa, you have the choice to become an advocate or an attorney. Advocates appear more frequently in court, while attorneys spend the majority of their time meeting with clients, working with legal documents, and researching laws to build their case. Read more here about the difference between attorneys and advocates. This embellishment is understandable as legal research is not the most exciting to watch despite it being considered a vital pillar of the legal profession.
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The profession is glamorous and thrilling
The legal profession is often depicted as being thrilling and glamorous. Movies often depict lawyers working thrilling cases with intrigue and a great deal of public attention in the courtroom. As with any career, there will always be paperwork involved. In the case of a lawyer, a lot of paperwork is involved. The work of a lawyer is very research- and writing-intensive, while also meeting with clients and taking depositions at a regular basis. This work is vital to the entire justice system. As with a complex machine, if one part fails to work properly, it will inevitably cause the entire machine from working properly.
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The profession is intellectually challenging
Becoming a lawyer can be intellectually gruelling. A great deal of their work can be mundane and repetitive and not necessarily intellectually challenging at times. This is especially true for younger lawyers, as they are often charged with mundane but necessary tasks, like reviewing documents, delivering documents, and anything else that requires little to no mental gymnastics to accomplish.
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Lawyers lie and cheat
One of the more negative myths about the legal industry is that lawyers will lie and cheat to ensure that their clients win. This could not be further from the truth as legal professionals are held to a very strict ethical code. This code is enforced by the Legal Practice Council (LPC) in South Africa, and it ensures that lawyers act ethically in the execution of their duties.
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Legal professionals will become obsolete
The last of the myths about the legal industry is the idea that lawyers will become obsolete in the age of automation. While automation may lead to many jobs becoming obsolete, a lawyer is unlikely to be one of them. This is because there is a lot of nuance and context to consider when it comes to legal proceedings (which is something that machines are not particularly good at) This isn’t to say that the legal profession won’t undergo changes alongside technology.
Conclusion
There are many myths about the legal industry in the modern world. Unfortunately, most of these myths are based on depictions of legal professionals in movies and media. We, therefore, hope that this article has helped to clarify some of these myths and that it helped provide you with a more accurate image of the legal industry.
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