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Although there are many careers an individual could pursue that help one attain the personal and professional success which makes life enriching, deciding to become a lawyer can be a particularly advantageous decision. This is the case for several reasons, including the facts that lawyers are generally paid highly competitive salaries. Additionally, becoming a lawyer requires that one continually make new contacts and improve upon one's skill set. Despite the benefits that result from becoming a lawyer, however, individuals who choose the occupation are often stereotyped by others who view them through a narrow lens. Here are some common stereotypes that many people have about lawyers. 1. They're Ruthless. Oftentimes, people assume that all lawyers are ruthless after witnessing the cutthroat methods of just one lawyer. Yet asserting that each lawyer operates according to these types of principles-which could include anything from chasing ambulances to attain new clientele or badgering a witness-would be the perpetuation of a stereotype that certainly doesn't apply to every lawyer. 2. They're Boring. Many people assume that lawyers are boring as a result of the fact that they spend much of their time reading law books and sitting in courtrooms that can be dull and uneventful. However, just because the work that a lawyer does is occasionally boring doesn't mean that the lawyers themselves are. They are often known to have a host of interesting hobbies and are oftentimes the life of the parties they attend. 3. They're Ingratiating. Many people assume that lawyers are ingratiating because some of them attempt to put themselves in the good graces of potential clients or to sway a jury. Yet lumping all lawyers into this category is just a stereotype. In fact, it is not unusual to find that some of them exhibit characteristics that are antithetical to ingratiating behaviors-like being stand-offish, introverted, or brusque and formal when engaging others in discourse. 4. They're Stupid. Some people stereotype lawyers as stupid after encountering one who wasn't well-read or didn't conduct continual research within her or his field of study. Despite the fact that some don't stay up to date through their reading efforts, however, it is not safe to say that most lawyers are ill-informed about issues pertaining to their own career field or any other general subject. 5. They Have No Social Lives. The stereotype that lawyers have no social lives is often rooted in the observation of one who can only be seen preparing for trial in her or his office. And these types of lawyers do exist. In reality, however, these are not the only types that exist. Many individuals who choose to practice law go in knowing that the occupation requires extensive time spent in preparation to try a case. Knowing this, these lawyers allocate specific periods of time to preparation and other times for recreational activities such as golfing, cooking, or going out to eat with friends and family members. Conclusion Because stereotyping incorporates the formation of oversimplified and assumptive generalizations about individuals and/or the groups they belong to, it can be a very dangerous enterprise. This is the case given that we are all highly individualistic creatures with unique proclivities and predilections that shape the way we think and act. With this fact in mind, individuals who stereotype lawyers should note that the generalizations they use to define lawyers will often be inaccurate and inappropriate. Thus rather than stereotyping them as already possessing certain undesirable characteristics, it is important to recognize that they each possess their own individual ways of being and knowing.
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