Here goes (reading all these posts, one thing is for sure - we lawyers are never short of opinions and never shy about expressing them )-

I've been practicing law for 26 years - the year I realized that people born after I'd started practing law could legally drink, I had a cow. I am a health care lawyer: no not malpractice, I represent hospitals and other health care providers in their day-to-day operational issues. I spend most of my time drafting contracts (which I really enjoy), but can do everything from business deals to consent issues; I even dealt with a baby switch once. I went to court once, and that was enough litigation for me. I have worked in every legal setting: small 6 person boutique firm; equity partner in large, well known law firm; general counsel for a medicaid HMO, and now sole practitioner/contract lawyer with a (by my choice) part time practice. I also teach a masters level health law course at USC.

When people ask me about law school, my primary advice is - know what you're getting into. Law school has nothing to do with taking the bar exam, and neither law school or the bar exam have anything to do with practicing law. I hated law school with a passion, and refused to recommend it for years. However, I have mellowed - now I believe that so long as you go in understanding that law school is a game rigged to make you feel stupid, and that law school is just a means to getting to a career you want, then law school can be fine. I'd also note that my classmates who had been out in the "real world" for a few years before they started law school were much better equipped to deal with the emotional upheaval of law school.

As for practicing law, everyone's been pretty thorough on all the aspects. I'd just say that if you decide to be a lawyer, be thoughtful about what type of law you want to practice and in what setting. I've been a miserable, angry associate, I've been a stressed young partner, I've been an underfunded government lawyer, and now I'm a content contract lawyer who can take a Wednesday off to go to Disneyland without getting anyone's permission but my own. The truth is, I couldn't have the practice and freedom I have now if I hadn't worked my behind off for 20 years. Being a lawyer can be really painful, and it can be really satisfying.

However, don't even get me started about being a female in the profession . . .