Planning for my future

[Microcosm]

I've been thinking a lot recently about my future and what I want to be.

I'm in 10th grade. I excel in English, but I dislike reading in the sense that it bores me.

I thought I could be a lawyer, but there is so much reading involved and I'm afraid I wouldn't enjoy it much.

What I believe I would like to be is a teacher, but there is a problem. A. You don't get paid much at all, B. It's not some big contribution to society, and C. I wouldn't get the great benefits that come with a law degree(the wide expanse of career pathways that diverge from a law degree).

I know I'm a little young and I don't plan on figuring this stuff out for sure in the tenth grade, but if you have any advice or suggestions for me or for the thought process in deciding a career, I'm all ears.

For further contemplation, here are some factors towards finding a career for me:
-I'm decent in English, although my forum posts are sloppy, I know. I'm decent in writing formally is what I mean. Plus, with some work, I could improve.
-I have recently found a great liking for public speaking.
-I thought about being a news reporter of some sort, but I'm not sure...
-I'm just below average with making connections and such with other people.
-Money is not necessarily an issue towards my education. I think I can handle the finances when they come.

[phuckphace]

burnout is extremely high in law, I hear. the necessities of the job end up suiting only a certain type of person - you're more than likely not going to be that type. personally I'm pretty disdainful of the practice of law in general - it strikes me as an obnoxious form of state-endorsed rent-seeking that is dependent on fuckups and criminality for its income. then again I unironically believe baddies should just be shot in the head without a trial so my opinion probably doesn't mean much here, lel and/or lmao

back on topic, you seem to have a fairly good grasp of English for a 15-year-old, so you have that going for you, and from having read a lot of your posts on VT it's clear that you have a very approachable personality that a wide spectrum of people will appreciate. this has potential, especially in a world where a lot of people with good jobs are stuck having to deal with some weirdo/asshole all day.

I really don't have any specific career advice for you (I work in retail ffs) except that you're on point about teaching. the pay sucks a fat one and here in THE CURRENT YEAR being a teacher in most places is going to end up being a lot closer to "caseworker at a juvenile corrections facility." there are some gas station chains that pay shift supervisors more than what a teacher earns, and fewer shootings too!

whatever you end up doing, just make sure it's not something that robs you of your dignity, or you'll burn out in a hurry. thankfully though, you've got plenty of time left and a lot of things can change by the time you're in your late 20s.

[DriveAlive]

Being a lawyer is one of the worst jobs you can have. Imagine making no money, dealing with scum, and being in a state of combat constantly. Everyone wants to stab you in the back and any slip-ups will cost you your job. A complete nightmare.

[Vlerchan]

I'm doing law (with economics) in university and I can answer whatever questions you have about studying that. It does involve a tonne of reading (about 100 pp. per subject per week and I'm excluding the recommended material no-one reads here) but I don't feel it matters as much if you're interested in the subject. You get real efficient at skim-reading though and that helps when it comes to cases.

I'm not sure what the situation is like in the U.S. but in Ireland we graduate way too many lawyers for our population. You need to be incredible at connecting with people if you want to not spend your 20 poor. It also does involve a certain - conflict-prone - personality and depending on the subfield you can deal with a lot of awful people (most of the jobs are in contract and commercial though - that's just dealing with firms).

You could also be a college level lecturer if you think you'd enjoy teaching. That's a lot more difficult to get into and would involve a great deal of time in school but if you enjoy the subject I'm sure it would be worth it. Though with any academic profession it'll require a lot of reading. Professors I have seem to have an encyclopedic knowledge of their subject's literature and that's double-expected in the U.S. where asking questions is the done-thing.

Is there any subjects you like? I don't mean are good at but actually like.

[northy]

What do you enjoy? Try and work that into your career path.

[Exotic Babe]

Why not a prosecutor instead of lawyer? Just curious, because it seems to me that if you wanna make good money as a lawyer, you'd have to accept to lawyer anybody who is willing to pay you money, even if maybe that client is actually guilty?

[DriveAlive]

Why not a prosecutor instead of lawyer? Just curious, because it seems to me that if you wanna make good money as a lawyer, you'd have to accept to lawyer anybody who is willing to pay you money, even if maybe that client is actually guilty?

Prosecutors make no money, the work is difficult, and you are also supposing that the person you are prosecuting is guilty of the crime. Your job is not Justice, but to win cases.

If you want to make money, you should work in corporate law. Then again, all types of law will leave you basically soulless and shorten your life. It is not a good way to make a living.

[Vlerchan]

Prosecutors are lawyers who argue the case for the state and against criminal defendants. According to a national salary survey conducted by the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), the median entry-level salary for a prosecuting attorney in the United States was $50,000 in 2012. Criminal prosecutors with five years of experience reported a median salary of $61,400, and those with between 11 and 15 years of experience earned a median salary of $76,700 per year.

work.chron.com/average-salary-criminal-lawyers-11800.html

I'd consider that a considerable amount.

I'm also sceptical it'll leave people unsatisfied. Least the lawyers I've spoken to seem to enjoy their work. It just requires a certain type of personality. It's also totally possible to specialise in more fulfilling areas: Like I've a close friend that intends to specialise in environmental law being quite passionate about the area.

[Exotic Babe]

Prosecutors make no money, the work is difficult, and you are also supposing that the person you are prosecuting is guilty of the crime. Your job is not Justice, but to win cases.

If you want to make money, you should work in corporate law. Then again, all types of law will leave you basically soulless and shorten your life. It is not a good way to make a living.

Oh, I thought prosecutors are on state salary? And that it's lawyers' job to win cases, prosecutors can stop prosecuting when there's no more evidence against the accused person, so their job is justice?

[DriveAlive]

Oh, I thought prosecutors are on state salary? And that it's lawyers' job to win cases, prosecutors can stop prosecuting when there's no more evidence against the accused person, so their job is justice?

Prosecutors are attorneys just like any other lawyer. Yes, they are paid a state salary, which is hardly enough for the level of work they do. And yes, a prosecutor can stop prosecuting if they see fit, but then again, they might not have a job if they do not get enough convictions. Prosecutors are hired and fired based on their conviction rates, not a perceived notion of delivering justice.

[phuckphace]

I'd go into law as long as I AM THE LAW

[Vlerchan]

prosecutors can stop prosecuting when there's no more evidence against the accused person, so their job is justice?
You would surprised how complicated you can make the law of evidence if you try hard enough.

[outback4]

nobody needs lawyers in America right now. they're so many people graduating from law school who end up teaching high school law and government courses because they can't find jobs as actual lawyers. if you do find a job as a lawyer, you will deal with terrible people and hate your job most of the time. my advice? don't be a lawyer!

find something you love though. to me it sounds like you might like news reporter or something? good luck!

[Maria16 Here]

I have thought of journalism too but I talked to a friend of mine in it and found out that there is a very small percentage of people at the top that make decent money and most barely squeeze by.

[Microcosm]

Wow. I've neglected this thread. My apologies.
Vlerchan asked a question about what subjects I thought I liked and I'd say it's difficult for me to decide whether I actually like these subjects or not.

History and English. I'm pretty good at English, but I don't always enjoy it.

And history I find to be really meaningful. I enjoy learning about it, but I'm not very good at forming historical opinions in an entirely concise way and then putting it down on paper.

A lot of people have been saying lawyers don't do well, but I've heard that a law degree provides one with a whole variety of opportunities. Like an international lawyer or trying to take a government position.

Certain types of lawyers do make a considerable sum of money. The problem still stands though that my affinity for reading and my comprehension of reading is only very average.