What Kind of Lawyer Are You?
You might have a picture in your head of what a lawyer looks like, and does, on a daily basis. That picture may be accurate to a degree, but one of the most crucial things to understand about the legal profession is that there are almost as many ways to be a lawyer as there are lawyers.
Large Law Firms
The traditional "big law firm" attorney who works in a tall building downtown, wears stuffy $2,000 suits and reviews hundreds of pages of tedious corporate documents day in and day out certainly exists in real life. If you're attracted to working in a detail-oriented corporate environment, assisting large companies with mergers and acquisitions, or overseeing corporate litigation or securities transactions (and making a lot of money for those long, long hours), then this model might in fact be the best route for you. Other large firms, of course, deal in other practice areas - employment and other kinds of litigation are quite commonly emphasized in such firms.
Small to Mid-Sized Law Firms
If big firm life doesn't appeal to you, there are many other private practice settings that might suit you instead. Small to mid-sized firms practice in all legal areas, offering a wide selection of possibilities for a recent graduate. While the starting pay may not be as significant as larger firms, new associates often get a broader array of experience more quickly, whereas big firm associates are typically shunted off into something called "Document Review" -- a tedious, mind-numbing discovery analysis process that lasts for days.
Legal Aid/Public Interest Law
If private practice isn't your cup of tea, consider what some might think of as "the other end of the spectrum" -- the legal aid lawyer. Typically paid a good bit less than his/her corporate law counterparts, the legal aid lawyer also gets some unique perks with that position. For instance, public interest lawyers get more court time than do associates in big firms. They're often thrown right in from the first day with clients of their own and cases to litigate. While they are expected to dress professionally for work and court appearances, they don't always adopt the stuffy big firm style. They also get the unique benefit in many areas of participating in law school loan forgiveness programs, where loan payments are eliminated with a commitment to practice in the legal services field for a certain time period.
Government Law
Government lawyers are routinely declared to be some of the happiest in the profession. They get terrific benefits, including a fairly predictable 8 to 5 (or 9 to 5) daily schedule, and some interesting work with immediate public application. Many lawyers find a great deal of personal fulfillment in this type of work. In addition, government lawyers are usually deemed public employees, with a greater degree of employment protection since the Constitution applies to their employer (unlike your average private law firm).
Solo Practice
There's also the possibility of opening up your own practice, either straight out of law school or after a year or two of working elsewhere for experience. Whether you "go solo" or cast your lot in with a classmate who also wants to own his/her own practice, you can be your own boss and practice law the way you want. This leads to a very high degree of personal satisfaction, although it must be noted that this path isn't for everyone. If you don't have a strong stomach for financial uncertainty, consider working for a few years to build up a substantial financial cushion first.