What does a lawyer do?

What is the main role of a lawyer? 

The job of a lawyer is to help people understand and use the law. That includes everything from advising clients on their rights and obligations to preparing legal documents, resolving disputes and representing clients’ interests in negotiations and courtrooms.  

Professor David Heilpern, Dean of Law at Southern Cross University, has seen the role from every angle. He practised as a solicitor and barrister, spent 22 years as a magistrate and co-founded the university’s law school. So it makes sense that his description of the job cuts through all the jargon:  

“For all lawyers, the work is the same. There’s a grey area that exists, and your job is to help your clients muddle their way through that grey area,” he says.

It’s like being a guide in a foreign country. You’re hopefully showing them the pathway from unhappiness to satisfaction.

Key responsibilities of a lawyer  

What lawyers do on a daily basis ultimately depends on the type of role and the area of legal practice, but most lawyers will:  

• meet with clients to get to grips with their situation and advise them on their options 
• research legislation and case law to craft advice and arguments 
• draft and review documents like contracts, wills, leases and court filings 
• negotiate on a client’s behalf and resolve disputes through mediation 
• represent clients in courts and tribunals, or brief a barrister to do so 
• uphold strict ethical codes, including an overriding duty to the court and the administration of justice 

How does the role of a lawyer vary?  

Your area of practice, employer, seniority and clients all shape the job, which you can explore further in law jobs and career pathways in Australia.  

A criminal lawyer might spend most of the week in court or meeting with clients, while a commercial or property lawyer might rarely leave the office.  

Whatever the setting, David is adamant there’s no such thing as boring legal work: “Even what appears to be a mundane, paperwork-based legal job – I don’t think there’s any such thing, really. They all involve intricacy, grey areas and helping people.” 

And you don’t need to pick a lane before you enrol.

“By the time you finish your law degree, you’ll know where your interests lie and what you want to do.” 

Who do lawyers work with? 

Clients come first – from individuals and families, to small businesses, corporations, community groups and government bodies.

Around them sits a wide professional network of paralegals and legal assistants, fellow solicitors, barristers, judges and court staff, mediators, expert witnesses, police and government agencies. 

The network is much broader than it used to be. David says that government departments, local councils, charities and universities all run in-house legal teams now, which means lawyers increasingly work alongside policymakers, executives and community organisations, not just other lawyers. 

Where do lawyers work? 

Lawyers work in private firms of every size, from suburban practices to international giants. They also work in-house for companies, in government departments like Legal Aid and the Office of Public Prosecutions, in community legal centres, in courts, and for themselves as sole practitioners or barristers. 

Location is important to recognise too. Demand is especially strong outside the capital cities, according to David. “I’ve got a friend who’s a legal practitioner in beautiful regional town. He’s had three vacancies for the last couple of years and has just been unable to fill them.” 

For graduates open to regional practice, such a shortage could be a real opportunity for a legal stepping stone or a long-term career. 

What skills do lawyers use? 

Legal knowledge gets you in the door, but David says three skills separate the best lawyers from the rest: 

1. Communication

Both written and oral. “You really have to be able to express yourself clearly and carefully in the practice of law.” 

2. Mediation and dispute resolution

The stereotype of the combative lawyer is no longer seen as the most appropriate. “Combativeness used to make successful lawyers. It’s far less so now. The whole emphasis is on mediation and dispute resolution, and that’s a skill.” That includes famously adversarial areas like crime and family law. 

3. Compassion

Perhaps the most important of all: “The ability, without becoming overly emotionally involved, to still care. To care about your clients, to care about the world. Lawyers have an important function beyond client work, which is ensuring that the rule of law is maintained in society.” 

Beneath these characteristics of great lawyers are also the fundamentals. Things like having sharp analysis, attention to detail and an appetite for reading and consuming new knowledge. 

How do lawyers maintain their skills? 

Learning doesn’t stop at graduation from your law degree.  

To keep a practising certificate, Australian solicitors complete at least 10 continuing professional development (CPD) units every year. These encompass compulsory fields like ethics, professional skills, practice management and substantive law. Many lawyers also pursue specialist accreditation or postgraduate study in their chosen field. 

If you’re worried becoming a lawyer sounds hard, know that wellbeing is now treated as part of that professional upkeep. Law societies and bar associations across the country employ dedicated wellbeing staff and run support services for members, which is a change that David welcomes.

“You can’t be a good lawyer if your mental health is falling apart.” 

What does a lawyer not do?  

• Lawyers don’t just do whatever their client wants: “Lawyers have a paramount duty to the court, not to their clients. That’s a real distinction between law and many other professions,” says David. Acting ethically comes before winning. 
• Lawyers don’t all work dawn to midnight: Punishing hours still exist in pockets of the profession, but it’s less true than it’s ever been. Modern firms recognise that work-life balance is actually important for productivity. 
• Law is not a boys’ club anymore: More women than men now study law in Australia, and New South Wales has more female magistrates than male ones. 
• Lawyers don’t decide the outcome: Judges, juries and tribunals do that. A lawyer presents the strongest honest case but can never guarantee a result. However, if becoming a judge is a future dream for you, practising as a lawyer is a step towards that goal.  

Is a career as a lawyer right for you?  

You don’t need to come from a legal family or ace every exam you’ve ever sat. You might thrive in law if you:  

• genuinely enjoy reading and research, as well as untangling complex issues in case law 
• like helping people through stressful, confusing situations 
• can explain complicated ideas in plain English, on paper and out loud 
• care about fairness and would rather resolve conflict than inflame it 
• are curious about how society’s rules really work 

 Above everything, David says there’s an easy way to know whether you’ll be a good fit for law.  

“The secret to studying and practising law is that you’ve got to enjoy it. If you don’t enjoy it, go find something else.”  

Not sure yet? You don’t have to be. “Really, the only way to know if you’re going to enjoy law, or are able to study law, is if you start studying law.” 

If you want to test your interest in law, the good news is you can start with a single subject before you decide whether to enrol in a full degree.  

Find out more about the road ahead in our guides on how to become a lawyer and how to study law online in Australia. 

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