Is it easier to become a lawyer than a doctor?

Asked by: Norene Hegmann I  |  Last update: December 19, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (24 votes)

The medical degree in most countries is 5–7 years while the law degree is 3–5 years. The practice qualification pathways are more stringent for medicine too — because lives are literally at stake. And the overall cost of becoming a doctor is (I'd say) double that for a lawyer.

What is more prestigious, a doctor or a lawyer?

In general, a doctor. This does not mean every doctor is more prestigious than every lawyer. One reason would be that there are significantly fewer doctors than there are lawyers. I hasten to add that the help a person could get from a practitioner of either profession is priceless.

Is it more expensive to become a doctor or a lawyer?

Law school costs less than med school, partly because you have three years instead of four. Lawyers can practice at normal starting salaries right away while doctors have to spend years making lower wages while their debt continues to accrue interest.

Are lawyers more stressed than doctors?

Listokin and Noonan compared Kessler 6 scores from lawyers and medical professionals (medical doctors, veterinarians, and dentists) and concluded that lawyers did endorse slightly higher distress scores than doctors, yet they found no statistically significant difference in the rates of mental illness between the two ...

What type of lawyer is the highest paid?

Patent attorneys are the highest-paid type of lawyers, with an average salary of $185,351, ranging from $119,88 to $285,530. Various factors contribute to a patent attorney's average salary, including experience, firm, location, and subject matter expertise.

My First 6 Months as a Doctor (what it's really like)

27 related questions found

Do lawyers make 200k a year?

The median starting salary is $215,000 in 11 cities and geographic areas. They are Austin, Texas; Boston; Chicago; Dallas; Houston; Los Angeles/Orange County, California; New York City; San Diego; San Francisco; Silicon Valley in California; and the Washington, D.C., area.

What type of doctor makes the most money?

A neurosurgeon is the highest-paid doctor on our list. Neurosurgery encompasses surgery of the brain, spinal cord/column, and peripheral nerves. Aspiring neurosurgeons must complete at least a seven-year residency. The average annual compensation for neurosurgeons is $763,908, putting them at the top of our list.

How hard is law school?

In summary, law school is hard. Harder than regular college or universities, in terms of stress, workload, and required commitment. But about 40,000 people graduate from law schools every year–so it is clearly attainable.

What is the most stressful type of doctor?

Emergency medicine reported the highest burnout rates among physicians, with 65% of emergency doctors experiencing burnout. Close behind were specialties like internal medicine and pediatrics.

Is lawyer one of the hardest jobs?

Lawyers are among some of the most stressful occupations, according to a recent analysis made by the Washington Post, which used data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The study found that “a white collar [job] appears to come with significantly more stress than a blue one.”

Is law or doctor harder?

Each path demands extensive education and a commitment to rigorous training before becoming a qualified professional. Although both law and medical schools present their unique challenges, it's generally accepted that medical school demands a higher level of intense coursework and thorough training.

Who makes more dentists or lawyers?

On a national average, the dentist will earn around $150,000 per year while lawyers have an average around $135,000. We must be careful, though, because of the statistical issues that arise when making such comparisons. On a flat scale, such as this one, the difference will seem to be significant.

Is being a lawyer prestigious?

Being a lawyer typically includes the benefit of having a certain level of prestige that affords you certain benefits that other employees may not receive (i.e. office, ability to set hours, expense accounts, decorating budget, etc.).

Does it take longer to become a doctor or lawyer?

The medical degree in most countries is 5–7 years while the law degree is 3–5 years. The practice qualification pathways are more stringent for medicine too — because lives are literally at stake. Just looking at those doctors and lawyers in my own family, medicine is much harder and takes longer to do.

Who gets paid more doctor or lawyer?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics gives median salaries for both doctors and lawyers, so it's clear that the doctors' number is higher. But median salaries are the midpoint in a list of salaries for one occupation, meaning that half of the list makes more and half makes less.

What is the highest degree lawyers get?

A Doctor of Juridical Science degree is considered the highest level of a law degree and is designed for professionals who are looking to gain an advanced legal education after earning their JD and LLM.

What is the happiest doctor job?

1. Plastic Surgery. Plastic surgeons top the list as the happiest medical specialty, with 71% considering their life outside of work happy. Being a plastic surgeon means you'll be able to make a difference in people's lives from all kinds of backgrounds.

Which medical specialty has the highest divorce rate?

While the family medicine and psychiatry specialties each reported the highest number of divorces (6 each, 10.5% of family medicine physicians and 16.2% of psychiatrists), no statistically significant correlations between specialty choice and marriage outcome were found.

What's the hardest doctor to be?

Neurosurgery. Among the most demanding medical specialties, neurosurgery requires expertise in the intricate realms of the brain, spine, spinal cord, and nervous system.

What GPA do I need for law school?

Obtain High GPA & LSAT Scores

According to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), students need a GPA of at least 3.59 and an LSAT of 162 or more to get into any top 10 law schools. However, that is the bare minimum, and you should aim higher if you want to increase your chances of getting into the top 3.

How many fail out of law school?

The first-year law school attrition rate nationwide is 3.8% in 2023. 15 Enrolling in law school but failing to finish offers no greater marketability than a bachelor's degree.

What is a first year law student called?

1L, 2L, 3L: In undergrad, your year in school is usually referred to as freshman, sophomore, etc. In law school, we use 1L to refer to first year, 2L to second year, 3L to third year. Your law school might have a part time division, and in that case, some students might be referred to as 4Ls as well.

What is the lowest paid doctor?

Among the lowest-paid specialties are providers who work in diabetes and endocrinology, pediatrics, infectious diseases, and public health and preventative medicine.

What is the highest paid job in the world?

List of Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in the World
  • General and Orthopedic Surgeons.
  • Anesthesiologist.
  • Investment Banker.
  • Corporate Lawyers.
  • Software Engineers.
  • Cosmetic Surgeons.
  • Psychiatrists.
  • Commercial Airline Pilots.

Do most doctors become millionaires?

About 51% of doctors reach a net worth of $1 million or more, but this changes a lot based on their age and area of work. Younger doctors, especially those just starting out, usually have lower net worths. This is because they often have student loans and haven't had enough time to grow their savings.