By Ioannis Sistovaris, Year 12
When you tell someone that you wish to study law or that you are a lawyer, it is very common to get reactions such as “Are you sure? It’s very complicated” or “Wow! I wish I was able to do that”. However, it is hard for many people to understand why working in law is so well respected and admired within society, and I will try my best to answer this question.
To begin with, as I mentioned in my previous article “What is Law,” working in this area necessitates a great deal of internal pressure to not only have a good job but also to live at peace with your moral compass. Furthermore, the concept that law plays a critical role in moulding today’s society places a heavy burden and strain on those who practise it. In other words, legal professionals’ judgements have far-reaching consequences for people, organisations, and larger social frameworks. This kind of responsibility necessitates rigorous attention to detail and a strong sense of duty, earning attorneys’ recognition for their ability to negotiate these difficulties successfully.
In addition, becoming a lawyer requires extensive academic study as well as practical experience. The legal profession demands years of hard work, culminating in the development of specialized knowledge and abilities. Law school, in particular, is known for its rigorous curriculum, which requires significant reading, critical analysis, and the application of legal ideas to real-world situations.
During my work experience at a law firm, I witnessed firsthand the complexities of the legal profession. For example, I was instructed to study a broad range of real-life cases (a few hundred pages long) and then take notes to assess whether certain allegations were valid or may be adapted to the accused’s benefit. At the end of this internship, I discovered that defending individuals accused of crimes is a highly nuanced process that upholds the principle that everyone deserves rights and the ability to defend themselves, which gave me a newfound admiration for those who not only devote their time to working in such a complex field, but also for those who do it with such determination.
Furthermore, the role of attorneys in protecting individual rights – particularly in the context of criminal defence – highlights a distinct challenge for those working in the judicial system. Contrary to common belief, advocating for the accused includes more than just representation; it also necessitates adherence to the concepts of justice, due process, and the presumption of innocence, all of which are required to in order to fairly uphold the law. Specifically, it is stated that every individual has the right to defend themselves, i.e., to hire a lawyer, which includes not just those who have been wrongfully accused, but even those who commit heinous crimes such as terrorism. This therefore once again shows the willingness of lawyers to defend the rights of all individuals, regardless of public sentiment or personal beliefs, which proves their commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice for all.
In other words, I think the respect that lawyers have in society is a result of their skill at handling difficult situations, their unwavering dedication to academic and professional excellence, their commitment to defending the rights of individuals, and their significant influence on the development of both the legal and social landscapes. In short, I believe these are what give lawyers the respect and admiration they so rightly deserve.
