The results are about to come out, and as an ordinary participant in the bar exam, I have some things to say!
I am a graduate of a well-known university's law school in China. For two years, I've taken the civil service exam and eventually ended up at a law firm with good benefits. I'm telling my real situation to let everyone know the true state of the legal profession or the lawyer industry. I'm not some kind of genius; I'm just a second-year apprentice who is still diligently working in this field.
Since I am not a judge, I don't have the right to comment on the work of the public security, procuratorate, and court systems. But as far as I know, apart from administrative positions in the court, workers without certification and outside the official system (such as court clerks) in our provincial capital city only earn about 800 yuan per month.
Our firm is one of the best-performing business firms in the province. Indeed, there are partners who make over a million yuan a year and drive Mercedes-Benzes and BMWs, but they are all partners, and the firm's revenue relies entirely on them. Ordinary lawyers who can't take on cases every month might only earn one or two thousand yuan. These lawyers are often the ones who do the most running around and "get the most training." I'm saying these things to tell everyone that being a successful lawyer is indeed prestigious, but! If you don't have case sources or ways to generate income, your earnings won't be as high as people outside the industry think. Many intern lawyers and assistants only make a few hundred yuan a month, and some people without certification have no income at all.
The income disparity here is significant, and not every lawyer lives in a mansion or drives a luxury car.
Speaking of academic qualifications, our firm hired a batch of recent graduates a while ago, all of whom were master's degree holders who had passed the bar exam. Now, among four or five of them, some couldn't endure the initial "training period" of the legal profession because of low salaries, while others lacked the spirit of hard work and dedication. They even couldn't write articles on intellectual property rights in English, which was far from meeting the job requirements. In the end, some resigned and others left. Actually, in specific work, it really depends on your mindset. Your attitude towards a case matters. If your eyes are only on the money, you will eventually fall into an abyss.
As for case sources, I personally believe that this is one of the basic conditions for becoming a successful lawyer. If you are introverted and don't know how to present yourself, if you are in a foreign place without extensive social connections, you may become a lawyer, but you will never become a famous lawyer handling big cases. Being a lawyer requires not only professional knowledge but also the courage to dare to fight.
From young lawyers to senior lawyers, there is a period of training, usually two to three years. During this time, you must withstand the test of low income and high pressure. If your family circumstances allow, you may have more leeway, but if your family income cannot support you through this period, you should carefully consider your choice.
I think the saying "Heaven rewards those who work hard" is a good life motto, but it depends on the situation. It's not that I intentionally want to pour cold water on everyone, but a person does not know the true state of an industry before entering it. You may hear others describe it as great, but in reality, it may not be what you imagine. One of my friends scored over 400 points last year, but now she hasn't found a suitable job and has only registered her name at a small law firm, which is almost useless for her future legal practice.
I just hope that everyone can adjust their examination mindset correctly and not bet their whole life on this exam. To be honest, even passing the exam won't change much for you. Our executive director once said in a meeting that to be a lawyer, besides having a solid foundation, you also need to learn how to protect yourself. Before choosing this profession, you must be mentally prepared.
I strongly disapprove of behaviors such as quitting jobs to prepare for the bar exam or renting houses outside for the sake of the exam. Don't assume that passing the exam will lead to instant success. It is merely proof of obtaining a qualification and does not represent how much money you will make in the future. A wise person knows when to act according to the situation. This certificate can help you, but it should not be your sole reliance.
Tencent Education Forum