Occupation Summary

Lawyers

O*NET 23-1011.00

Description:

Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.

Annual Wages:
$154,196.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 16.55%.
Education Level:
Doctoral Degree. According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Public Service

  1. Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
  2. Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
  3. Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
  4. Present and summarize cases to judges and juries.
  5. Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases.
  6. Gather evidence to formulate defense or to initiate legal actions by such means as interviewing clients and witnesses to ascertain the facts of a case.
  7. Represent clients in court or before government agencies.
  8. Examine legal data to determine advisability of defending or prosecuting lawsuit.
  9. Select jurors, argue motions, meet with judges, and question witnesses during the course of a trial.
  10. Present evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in criminal or civil litigation.
  11. Study Constitution, statutes, decisions, regulations, and ordinances of quasi-judicial bodies to determine ramifications for cases.
  12. Prepare legal briefs and opinions, and file appeals in state and federal courts of appeal.
  13. Negotiate settlements of civil disputes.
  14. Confer with colleagues with specialties in appropriate areas of legal issue to establish and verify bases for legal proceedings.
  15. Search for and examine public and other legal records to write opinions or establish ownership.
  16. Supervise legal assistants.
  17. Perform administrative and management functions related to the practice of law.
  18. Act as agent, trustee, guardian, or executor for businesses or individuals.
  19. Probate wills and represent and advise executors and administrators of estates.
  20. Help develop federal and state programs, draft and interpret laws and legislation, and establish enforcement procedures.
  21. Prepare, draft, and review legal documents, such as wills, deeds, patent applications, mortgages, leases, and contracts.
  22. Negotiate contractual agreements.

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National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Lawyers employed Annual Growth Rate
Legal services 51 0.49
Insurance carriers 2 0.64


Labor Market Information


2025 Statewide median hourly wage $74.13
2025 National median hourly wage $76.76
2024 National employment 864,800
2024 Texas employment 59,336
Texas projected employment by 2034 69,157
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2034 3,013




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Law and Government
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
99.60%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
93.20%
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
80.00%
Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
64.00%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
61.40%
Communications and Media
Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
60.40%
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
55.40%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
51.60%
Personnel and Human Resources
Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
47.80%
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
47.00%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
92.40%
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
90.00%
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
90.00%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
90.00%
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
85.00%
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
82.40%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
82.40%
Persuasion
Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
80.00%
Negotiation
Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
80.00%
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
75.00%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
97.60%
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
92.40%
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
92.40%
Written Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
90.00%
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
87.60%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
82.40%
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
80.00%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
80.00%
Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
77.60%
Category Flexibility
The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
75.00%


  • Getting Information
    -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    -- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    -- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    -- Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
    -- Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
Other Activities


  • Achievement
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
  • Recognition
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.



Tools

Compact disk players or recorders: Compact disk CD recorders;

Desktop computers: Desktop computers;

Digital video disk players or recorders: Digital video disk DVD recorders;

High capacity removable media drives: Universal serial bus USB flash drives;

Liquid crystal display projector: Liquid crystal display LCD projectors;

Notebook computers: Laptop computers;

Optical character recognition systems: Optical character readers;

Overhead projectors: Overhead projectors;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers: Personal digital assistants PDA;

Photocopiers: Digital photocopiers;

Scanners: Computer data input scanners;


Technology

Accounting software: BQE Software BillQuick; ESI Software ESILAW; Fund accounting software; Genlex CaseAce; LexisNexis Lexis Back Office; LexisNexis PCLaw; SMEsource BillingOrchard; Software Technology Tabs3; TimePro Legal Software TimePro; TimeSolv Legal;

Analytical or scientific software: Direct Hit Systems THREADS; Convex FactLogic;

Calendar and scheduling software: Compugov DocketView; CompuLaw Vision; Levare Center Court;

Content workflow software: I-many Contract Management;

Data base user interface and query software: Gavel & Gown Software Amicus Attorney; DPS Software General Litigation; Eclipse Legal Systems Proclaim; Economic Analysis Group EAG CaseTrack; eLawSoftware; De Novo Systems De Novo CaseMgr; Diarymaster; HiPerSoft Practice Information Powertool; LegalEdge Law Firm Suite; LexisNexis Lexis Front Office; Juris; Justice Systems FullCourt Enterprise; Lawex TrialWorks; LawLogix Edge; Computer Sciences Corporation Legal Solutions Suite; CyberDyne Industries CaseWizard; Corporate Focus Solium Shareworks; Corporatek EnAct Platinum; Creative Data Solutions DuProcess; CrimeCog Technologies E*Justice; Crocodile Consulting Traffic Control; Bridgeway eCounsel; Chesapeake Interlink Needles; Client Profiles Case Management; Cobblestone Systems Contract Insight; Abacus Data Systems AbacusLaw; ADC Legal Systems Perfect Practice; ADERANT Expert Matter Center; Advanced Technologies Class Act; AdvantageLaw WinVantage; Argosy Legal Systems Power Closer; TopDogLegal; Upside Software UpsideContract; Thomson Reuters Elite ProLaw; WebEx WebOffice; Woll2Woll InfoPower Studio; WorthMORE Software CaseWORTH; Solution Specialties TRACKER; SUSTAIN Justice Edition; Synaptec LawBase Case Management; Synergy International Systems Synergy CaseTrack; Tabs3 PracticeMaster; Nolo Quicken Legal Business Pro; Saga Practice Manager; Selectica Contract Performance Management; LT Online Corporation LAWTRAC; Lucid IQ CMP; Microsoft Access; LexisNexis CaseMap; Orion Law Management Systems Orion; PerfectLaw All-in-One Suite;

Data mining software: Google Analytics;

Desktop publishing software: Microsoft Publisher;

Document management software: NetDocuments; Microsoft Office SharePoint Server MOSS; Technovation Software ImmigrationPro; ProDoc; Nuance PaperPort Professional; OpenText eDOCS DM; World Software Corporation Worldox; WealthCounsel WealthDocs; Thomson West Cowles Estate Practice System; IBM Federated Records Management; FTI Ringtail Legal; Immigrant Software Immigrant Professional; Interwoven RecordsManager; Iron Mountain Accutrac records management software; Best Case Solutions Best Case Bankruptcy; Anacomp CaseLogistix; Adobe Acrobat; AbacusNext HotDocs; Captaris Alchemy; Catalyst Repository Systems CatalystCR; CT hCue; CT Summation iBlaze; DATAssimilate Systems DATAssimilator;

Electronic mail software: Catalyst Repository Systems CatalystDR; Catalyst Repository Systems CatalystXE; Microsoft Outlook; MicroFocus GroupWise;

Enterprise resource planning ERP software: Microsoft Dynamics; SAP software; ERP software;

Information retrieval or search software: Fastcase legal software; LexisNexis Shepard's Citations Service; LexisNexis; Thomson Reuters Westlaw; Wolters Kluwer Loislaw;

Internet browser software: Web browser software;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software; Corel WordPerfect Office Suite;

Presentation software: inData TrialDirector; IDEA TrialPro; Microsoft PowerPoint; Visionary Legal Technologies Visionary Professional; Verdict Systems Sanction;

Project management software: Virtual Case Management; Microsoft Project; Practice Technology Prevail; Legal Files software; Constellation Justice Systems CourtView; Customer Expressions i-Sight; Canyon Solutions Jcats;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;

Tax preparation software: Tax software;

Time accounting software: Sage Timeslips; Equative TimeLedger;

Video conferencing software: LogMeIn GoToMeeting;

Word processing software: ProCAT Denoto; Microsoft Word; Word processing software;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Lawyers include:
  • 23-1021.00 Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
  • 23-1022.00 Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
  • 11-1011.00 Chief Executives
  • 13-1031.00 Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
  • 13-1041.03 Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
  • 13-2099.04 Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts
  • 23-1023.00 Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
  • 23-1012.00 Judicial Law Clerks
  • 13-1075.00 Labor Relations Specialists
  • 25-1112.00 Law Teachers, Postsecondary


Sources of Additional Information
  • For more information about law schools and a career in law, visit: American Bar Association
  • National Association for Law Placement
  • For more information about the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and the law school application process, visit: Law School Admission Council
  • For a list of state and jurisdiction admission bar offices, visit: National Conference of Bar Examiners
  • For information about the requirements for admission to the bar in a particular state or jurisdiction, visit the state’s licensing agency online. State and local government websites also usually have information about job vacancies.
  • To apply for positions with the federal government, visit: USAJobs
  • Occupational Requirements Survey

  • For a profile highlighting selected BLS data on occupational requirements, see
  • Lawyers (PDF)
  • Lawyers

  • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.