Yes, it is worth becoming a lawyer!
It is one of the most demanding professions, but if it suits your character, you will have an interesting career that will help you grow as a person while offering good remuneration. A small example of personal development for a lawyer is cybercrime (ηλεκτρονικό έγκλημα). If you do not know what it is, you have certainly heard of online defamation, online fraud, non-consensual intimate imagery, child pornography, personal data breaches, and so on. It is an example of how the Internet has opened up new avenues, which require an open mind, adaptability, and a willingness to take risks and try new things!
What does a lawyer do?
A lawyer studies and applies the law. Together with judicial officers and public prosecutors, lawyers operate and shape the administration of justice in a country. The lawyer is the legal professional who undertakes the representation of, or provision of legal advice to, a client before a court — for a fee, of course.
The legal profession has existed for millennia; in antiquity, lawyers were called orators. The nature of the profession and the lawyer’s core duties have not, however, changed. With the passage of time, of course, new opportunities have arisen, such as cybercrime.
A lawyer must continuously study the law and stay up to date — not only with developments in the legal discipline and their own field of practice, but also with the various changes that society undergoes.
Why is the lawyer indispensable in society?
The lawyer is indispensable because they address the following matters:
- The commission of offenses.
- Cases relating to property and its distribution.
- Cases relating to the relationship between the citizen and the State.
What are the lawyer’s main activities?
As regards courts and the administration of justice, the lawyer prepares for a trial — sometimes for several months in advance — as follows:
- Gathers all information relating to the case (e.g. documents, photographs, video, screenshots, audio recordings).
- Builds the case file.
- Formulates arguments for the defence of the client.
- Takes statements from the client and from witnesses to verify the evidence.
- Presents the client with the legal framework and the available alternative courses of action regarding the case.
All of this is done so that the facts can be presented strategically and with persuasive arguments, of course for the benefit of the client. The more supporting documents that are gathered, the greater the chance of winning the case.
In addition, a lawyer may draft legal documents, such as wills, lease agreements, mortgages, and so on. The lawyer is, of course, well-versed in legislation and can advise clients on how to proceed.
The lawyer provides legal advice to natural persons, businesses, and public or private sector organisations. They represent their clients before authorities and wherever else they are duly authorised to do so.
What are the working conditions of a lawyer?
A lawyer typically works in office or court settings. Depending on the cases and the legal entities they represent, travel to various regions and/or abroad may be required. A lawyer’s work is at times rather difficult and complex for the following reasons:
- A very thorough knowledge of the law is required.
- Continuous training and updating on changes and amendments.
- Numerous tasks with strict deadlines.
- Excellent coordination and organisation are needed.
- The responsibility carried in cases can be enormous and the working hours endless.
A lawyer must come into contact with persons who have committed robberies, offenses, and other acts. Particularly for young professionals, this is an additional source of stress and requires some experience in handling such situations.
What are the daily duties of a lawyer?
A lawyer’s daily duties chiefly involve office tasks. A basic list is set out below:
- Gathering evidence relating to the cases undertaken.
- Drafting and filing of pleadings.
- Recording the history of cases for future reference.
- Continuous study of the law in force.
- Preparing cases and appearing at hearings.
- Conducting title searches at land registries and at the national land registry (κτηματολόγιο) offices.
- Internal administration, communication, and coordination with external collaborators.
- Certification of copies of various documents.
- Examination of witnesses.
What does a lawyer earn?
A lawyer’s salary and fees vary according to the cases they handle. Cases relating to the division of property may differ significantly from those involving very serious criminal charges.
The average annual income of a self-employed lawyer in Greece is approximately €25,000. For a salaried lawyer, the monthly salary ranges roughly from €600 to €2,000.
What character traits and skills must a lawyer have?
The legal profession, by its very nature, is subject to considerable stress and pressure. A lawyer must possess physical and mental stamina, must work with professionalism and consistency, and must act with strategy, decisiveness, and diplomacy. The tone, inflection, and words used should be selected strategically. Therefore, a lawyer must be quick-witted and have a rich vocabulary. A lawyer must possess physical and mental stamina, consistency, decisiveness, methodicalness, patience, social skill, and diplomacy. They must be able to:
- Combine facts and draw conclusions.
- Retain large volumes of information.
- Present facts with persuasive arguments.
Although every person is different, the nature of every profession demands certain core skills which every lawyer must possess, for example:
- Ability to take initiative and make decisions.
- Ability to work toward achieving goals and meeting deadlines.
- Computer skills (MS Office, CRM, email, etc.).
- Excellent communication skills.
- Very good knowledge of English and an additional foreign language depending on the client base.
- Physical and mental stamina.
- Consistency, decisiveness, methodicalness, patience, social skill, and diplomacy.
- Verbal richness and command of etymology.
- Retention of information.
- Inventiveness and the ability to combine information and circumstances.
- Ability to set out and present legal arguments with sound reasoning.
In the lawyer’s professional world, outwardness and networking are perhaps among the most important checkpoints in a career. If they are missing, they can hold back the lawyer’s career, whereas if done properly they can open doors and new employment opportunities.
The professional lawyer is characterised by ethics, honesty, and respect for both individuals and the law — these are some of the qualities that professional lawyers must possess.
NOTE: At its core, the legal profession is a solitary one. According to a study by the Harvard Business Review involving more than 1,600 practising lawyers in the United States, the profession exhibits high levels of “loneliness”. Specifically, the figure approaches 60%. This does not mean that a lawyer is constantly alone, but it is certainly something to be taken into account.
What education does a lawyer need?
The legal profession belongs to the field of Law. The field of Law deals primarily with rules of law, their interpretation, and their application. During the course of their studies, a Law student is taught the various branches (with their subdivisions) of national (substantive and procedural) public and private law, criminal law, European law, and international law, including, by way of example:
- Constitutional Law
- Administrative Law
- Criminal Law
- Procedural Law
- Ecclesiastical Law
- Civil Law
- Commercial Law
- Law of Negotiable Instruments
- Insolvency Law
- Maritime Law
- Insurance Law
- Labour Law
- Public International Law
- Private International Law
After undergraduate studies, the student may continue with postgraduate studies in a field of particular interest.
Once their studies are complete, the prospective lawyer must complete an 18-month traineeship at a law firm and, after passing the bar examinations, those who succeed are enrolled in the bar association of the region to which they belong.
If a lawyer is not professionally satisfied, what other options are available?
The legal profession offers a number of career outlets across many sectors.
- In-house lawyer: A lawyer may work as legal counsel for organisations, companies, businesses, public services, local authorities, etc.
- Judicial branch: Lawyers who wish to enter the judicial branch may, one year after obtaining their bar admission, sit examinations to enter the magistrate (justice of the peace) branch. To enter the judges’ branch, three years of practice and participation in examinations to fill vacant positions are required, following attendance at the National School of Judges, located in Thessaloniki. Admission to that school is by competitive entrance examination.
- Notary public: Provided that they have practised law, those interested in the field sit a relevant competitive examination announced by the Ministry of Justice to fill vacant positions.
- Diplomatic Corps: A graduate of the Law School may also pursue a diplomatic career, provided they pass the entrance examinations for the Diplomatic Corps Academy.
- Bailiff.
- Public Sector: A graduate of the Law School may have access to public services or committees, as well as to the National School of Public Administration, to legal entities of public law, local government bodies, independent administrative authorities, etc.
- Court Officer.
- Land Registrar.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON WHETHER IT IS WORTH BECOMING A LAWYER
1. What exactly does a lawyer do on a daily basis?
A lawyer studies legislation, represents clients before courts and authorities, provides legal advice, and drafts pleadings, contracts, wills, and other legal documents. Daily life involves gathering case evidence, drafting and filing pleadings, appearing at hearings, conducting title searches at land registries and at national land registry offices, examining witnesses, and communicating with clients. Beyond courtroom practice, a significant part of the work involves advising natural persons, businesses, and organisations, as well as keeping continuously updated on legislative changes that affect clients’ cases.
2. What studies and traineeship are required?
A degree from a Law School is required, where the basic branches of law are taught: Constitutional, Administrative, Criminal, Civil, Commercial, Labour, European, and International Law, as well as procedural law. After obtaining their degree, the prospective lawyer completes a compulsory 18-month traineeship at a law firm and then sits the national bar examinations. Those who pass are enrolled in the Bar Association of their region and obtain their licence to practise. Specialisation is usually completed through postgraduate studies in a field of interest to the lawyer, such as Cybercrime, Real Estate Law, or Administrative Law.
3. How long does it take to become a practising lawyer?
Undergraduate studies last four years and are followed by an 18-month traineeship. In total, from admission to the Law School to enrolment in the Bar Association, an average of five and a half to six years is required. If postgraduate studies are added, the time increases by one or two years. The substantive development of the lawyer, however, does not stop with obtaining the licence. The first three to five years of practice are considered crucial for gaining courtroom experience, building a client base, and specialising in a particular field of law.
4. How much does a lawyer earn in Greece?
Earnings vary significantly depending on the form of employment, area of specialisation, region, and clientele. The average annual income of a self-employed lawyer is approximately €25,000, while the monthly salary of a salaried lawyer at a company or organisation typically ranges from €600 to €2,000. Lawyers specialising in demanding areas, such as Cybercrime, Real Estate Law, or Tax Law, can exceed these figures. Networking, reputation, and the ability to manage complex cases are decisive factors that increase remuneration.
5. What skills are needed to endure in the profession?
Physical and mental stamina, methodicalness, patience, decisiveness, and diplomacy are required. A lawyer must combine facts, draw conclusions, retain large volumes of information, and present arguments clearly. Excellent communication skills, a rich command of language, knowledge of English and electronic tools, and the ability to meet strict deadlines are essential. Outwardness and networking are also significant, as they open professional doors. It must also be stressed that studies indicate high rates of loneliness in the profession, so the prospective lawyer must develop strong stress-management mechanisms.
6. What alternative career paths are available?
Beyond active courtroom practice, a Law graduate may work as legal counsel (in-house lawyer) at companies, banks, or public organisations. With the requisite practice and success in examinations, they may enter the judicial branch through the National School of Judicial Officers in Thessaloniki. Other options include notary public, bailiff, court officer, as well as a diplomatic career through the entrance examinations for the Diplomatic Corps Academy. Furthermore, there is access to the National School of Public Administration, to legal entities of public law, independent administrative authorities, and positions at local government bodies.