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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Occupational Requirements Survey > Publications > Factsheets

Lawyers

Lawyer working on a laptop .

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.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.

In 2024, work was controlled by people for 37.2 percent of lawyers, and work was self-paced for 62.8 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of lawyers with cognitive and mental requirements, 2024
Requirement	Yes	No
Adaptability: Work schedule variability	45.5	54.5
Pace: Pause control	>75	<25
Working around crowds	<0.5	>99.5
Telework	84.7	15.3
Work review: Supervising others	18.7	81.3
Work review: Presence of supervisor	51.2	48.8
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Education, training, and experience requirements

The minimum level of formal education required, credentials necessary, on-the-job training, and prior work experience necessary for average performance in jobs.

In 2024, on-the-job training was required for 64.7 percent of lawyers.

A professional degree was required for greater than 99.5 percent of lawyers.

Environmental conditions

The various tangible or concrete hazards or difficulties that are in the vicinity of where jobs’ critical tasks are performed.

In 2024, a quiet noise exposure was present for 61.1 percent of lawyers. Another 38.9 percent were exposed to moderate noise, less than 0.5 percent were exposed to loud noise, and less than 0.5 percent to very loud noise. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used by less than 0.5 percent of workers to mitigate noise exposure, and was not used by greater than 99.5 percent.

Physical demands

Refer to the physical activities required to perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in some cases, duration of these activities are published.

In 2024, reaching at or below the shoulder was required for 1.7 percent of lawyers and was not required for 98.3 percent. For less than 5 percent of workers, reaching at or below the shoulder was seldom performed, for less than 0.5 percent reaching at or below the shoulder occurred occasionally, less than 0.5 percent frequently, and for less than 0.5 percent reaching at or below the shoulder occurred constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required for less than 0.5 percent of lawyers and was not required for greater than 99.5 percent.

The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 94.3 percent of lawyers. On average, workers spent 90.9 percent of the workday sitting and 9.1 percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of lawyers with physical demands, 2024
Requirement	Yes	No
Choice of sitting or standing	94.3	5.7
Driving	32.6	67.4
Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs	<5	>95
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey