Ever heard the saying “It’s all about the journey”? That saying fits my uncle, Mark Miyahira to a tee. He floated around all his life. While his sisters had a clear idea of what they wanted, he had none whatsoever. However, going into college, he began to think about the possibility of becoming a lawyer. Now he is currently handling a major case in which a man’s house was burglarized. When the man went downstairs to stop them, they hit him in the head with a wooden statue that nearly killed him. From floater to federal prosecutor, Miyahira has made great strides in his pursuit for his dream job and justice.

Do you think that you have what it takes to be a lawyer? Miyahira says, “You have to be willing to learn. I’ve been a lawyer for 17 years and I’m still learning new things. The law is constantly changing because of how things are decided. You have to learn to adapt…If you are a person who figures that ‘I went to law school and I don’t have to learn anything new’ then it’s going to be hard.” It is also essential for aspiring lawyers to be analytical, personable, and ethical. You must be able to manage others in high stress situations and debate persuasively in discussion. Still think that you have what it takes?

Being accepted into a law school is considered the first of many challenges that aspiring lawyers face. Miyahira said, “When I went to law school the people in my law class came from a lot of different areas. There was a wide variety of people, people coming from other fields and prior jobs.” Once you get accepted, it only gets harder. The minimum education required is four years of liberal arts, then three years of law school, followed by a bar examination. Luckily for locals like us, the University of Hawaii at Manoa, William S. Richardson Law School is among the top ranked law schools in the country. It is the only American Bar Association accredited law school in the Pacific-Asia region. They are committed to public service and diversity. It is a face to face learning environment that provides individual attention and personal support for an affordable rate!

Going from the college classroom to the office of an attorney is a huge leap. To make the jump not so intimidating, legal internships are definitely an option. However, if leaving the islands is too big a jump, try applying for internships here, such as a position at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The District of Hawaii Internship Program is aimed to expose college students to the federal prosecution system. They welcome first and second year students during the summer. Miyahira says, “If they really want to see what being a lawyer is they might want to work part time in a law firm…It’s like any job, what happens on T.V is not what happens in the office.” Although internships do not guarantee pay it is still an opportunity that should not be passed up.

If being accepted into a law school is considered one of the most challenging parts of becoming a lawyer, then actually finding a job would be a close second. Seventy five to eighty five percent of attorney job openings aren’t advertised, although for Miyahira that wasn’t the case. “At the time, there was a good market, a lot of jobs for lawyers. There was a better market in 1992 of jobs, than there probably is now.” The employment opportunities of this career are growing about as fast as other careers. The occupational growth is 11% and by 2016 there will be a projected 84,000 jobs created. Jobs are out there, you just might have to break a sweat to find one!

A day in the life of one of these devoted workers would definitely give you a migraine if you were not a seasoned lawyer. Their day consists of gathering evidence in law libraries, meeting with clients, witnesses, and authorities, and of course making their appearance in court as they try to coax the jury to agree with them. Miyahira says that, “Most of my week is boring, it’s a lot of office work, a lot of writing.” However, the courtroom is a whole other story. He also comments that, “One of the most interesting experiences of being a lawyer is probably the first time you ever do a trial in front of a jury. It’s a different experience…It’s like a different world.” Lawyers definitely play a major role in connecting society to the legal system.

The work area of a lawyer can definitely be a problem for some. For Miyahira, it is certainly a down point of the job. “The hardest thing about our job is that we’re office people. There’s a lot of down time that you have to just sit there and watch the rest of the world go by… Working in the office day in and day out makes you wonder why you didn’t become a forest ranger, something where you get to be outside and enjoy the weather. You are just stuck in an office.” Lawyers work area is restricted to the office, a law library, or the courtroom. The office scene isn’t for everyone, but when you think about it, the high tension courtroom will probably make up for the monotonous office.

Most lawyers will tell you that money isn’t enough to keep you in this profession, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. The Bureau of Labor Statistics report that 37% of lawyers work 50 or more hours per week. For these hardworking men and women, late nights are no stranger and are expected. Miyahira says, “For most lawyers including myself, when we are successful in our job and what we are doing leads to a good conclusion, a good result, that is the best part of the job. It also is not bad that we get paid well.” In 2007 the mean annual earnings were $118,280. Yes, these late nights and those sprouting white hairs do not go unrewarded.

The life of a lawyer can be a draining one. Some lawyers cannot handle the immense stress that comes with the job. Miyahira says, “The hardest part of the job, the worst part is when I lose knowing that the person I am prosecuting is guilty, but I don’t succeed in convicting them. And when the crime I believe they committed is really bad, that’s the worst part. Sometimes I have to go to the victim or the victim’s family and tell them that we’ve lost and the person that hurt their family is not going to jail and will be free.” Other negatives of the job include long hours, high expectations, and overwhelming stress.

Contrary to all the negatives of this, most lawyers will tell you that it’s a very satisfying career. The pluses include constantly helping others, being able to challenge yourself, and of course making a good living. Miyahira says, “For me it’s knowing that in my job, I do get a result that makes people feel better. When we are successful in our job, and what we are doing leads to a good conclusion, that is the best part of the job.” Ask any lawyer and they will tell you that it was a good place to end up.

No one ever said that life, or finding a job would be easy. But it seems to me that ending up as a lawyer makes a lot of sense. Miyahira says, “It depends on what you want in life. It can be a very satisfying job. There are times when I have almost quit my job because I have lost big cases that I felt very strongly about. Then you have to pick yourself up and remind yourself that tomorrow is another day. For the right people, any job is good. You don’t know until you get there. It’s good for the right people.” Of course not everyone is meant for this career, maybe not even me, but it surely is a door of opportunity. It is one that I might consider opening and experiencing.