Career Research - Architect and College Lawyer - Case Study Example

Career Research: Architect and College Lawyer Table of Contents Architect 3 Overview 3 Educational Qualifications 3 Skills Required 3 Job Duties 4 Compensation 4 Hours 4 Job Satisfaction 5 Lifestyle 5 Advancement 5 Lawyer 6 Overview 6 Educational Qualifications 6 Skills Required 6 Job duties 6 Compensation 7 Hours 7 Job Satisfaction 7 Lifestyle 7 Advancement 8 Works Cited 9 Bibliography 10 Name of the Student Name of the Professor Name of the Course Date Career Research: Architect and College Lawyer Architect Overview An architect is a professional who designs buildings and such concrete structures as well as determines ways to build the same. Additionally, the job of an architect also requires him to assure that such buildings and structures are safe, functional and best suited to serve diverse needs for which they have been designed. Educational Qualifications The career of an architect can be built by firstly undertaking a professional degree in architecture. It could be a 5 year bachelor degree in Architecture, where students enter the course during their high school or a 3 years bachelor course in architecture after high school. The Bachelor’s degree needs to be supplemented by a Masters degree in architecture, which shall help in determination of the area of specialization for entering into the job field. These degrees can be obtained from any of the certified and recognized universities of the country. These schools offering courses in architecture are generally accredited by some National Board. In UK, each architect gets his registration from Architects Registration Board after successful completion of the course. Skills Required An architect requires strong skills in drawing supported by clear imagination and a strong ability to align designs in 3 dimensions. In addition to this, he is to have strong negotiation skills while dealing with his clients as well as suppliers. To maintain clear communication with the clients and professionals, he needs to possess strong communication skills and develop good project management abilities to ensure that the key deliverables are met. Job Duties The job duties of an architect involve developing ideas for the structure in collaboration with the client, working in regular contacts over issues beginning from site selection to site design and constructions stages, functionality of the structure until its completion. The architecture also helps in budget estimations for the project and assesses needs of the building and purpose for which it is being constructed. He also works in close coordination with local authorities for getting sanctions and environmental clearances. The architecture also designs feasibility reports, deadlines and budgets. This is done with assistance from detailed workings, specifications and drawings of the architect. He might also have to file tenders and apply to building control and planning departments of the city wherein the project is to be undertaken. Lastly, the architect has to make sure that project deliverables are met and environmental compliances are adhered to while resolving issues and problems that arise in due course. Compensation The entry level salary may range from anything between £15000 and £20000, but may vary from one country to another. For an architect holding a master’s degree in architecture, the average salary shall vary between £20000 and £26000 in UK (Prospects, “Architect.”). The range for a senior level or a partner of an architectural firm can begin from £35000 (Prospects, “Architect.”). The salaries are generally high in UK. Similar to other professions, compensation for an architect also rise with experience and status gained during the career path. The mean hourly wage in USA is about $35 for an architect as of May 2013 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, “May 2013 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates United States”.). Hours An architect generally works in a 10 to 5 shift of work hours. However, he may also choose to work on contract basis, where work hours may be decided as per his discretion. Job Satisfaction The job of an architect involves heavy application of skills and creativity. The individual is free to use his decision making power in designs, utility and development of structures and this allows for very high levels of job satisfaction in the role of an architect. A good architect shall never have to worry about money as this is a very high paying job for ones who are creative at the tasks. Lifestyle A typical day in the life of an architect shall involve a host of different activities. He shall have to discuss designs, objectives and budgets with clients and also focus on revision plans of existing projects. Along with this, the architect shall need to provide potential clients with some pre-design service like, environmental and feasibility studies. He might need to decide upon plans of construction, while also communicating with designated authorities for presenting and clearing his designs and compliances. Therefore, the life involves variations and busy schedules (Lore, 75). Advancement The average wage rise in USA in 2013 over 2012 was 0.5%. With the rise in industrialization and population, it is natural to expect a faster growth in architect’s profession compared to most other occupations around the world. For the purpose of getting through a reputed architectural firm, it is desired that students undergo internship and gain real life experiences with an architectural company. Also, equipping oneself with new technologies, like, AUTO-CAD and graphic tolls, shall add on to architect’s portfolio and help in career development. Lawyer Overview A lawyer or an attorney, as they may be alternatively called, is a person who engages in practice of law and provides advice to clients on matter that concern law of the state. The lawyer is an advisor as well as advocate to clients, representing them in defense or as a plaintiff in courts. They try to move forward with client’s case through written documents or oral arguments. They also provide guidance to clients over matters that relate to legalities in their cases and ways to deal with the same. Educational Qualifications To become a qualified lawyer, one has to undergo rigorous training that involves a minimum study of 7 years after high school training. This involves 4 years of training at the undergraduate level and another 3 years of full time training in any school of law. For achieving the qualification, lawyers need to qualify the BAR examination of their respective country. In most of the countries, there is an additional requirement of passing an ethics test in addition to the BAR exams. Skills Required The most important and key skill that is desired of a lawyer is communication skills whether written or oral. His work involves strong analysis and also ability to balance multiple facts and tasks at a time so as to present the best possible solution to clients in matters that relate to law. Other skills that are desirable are leadership skills and strong sense of ethics so that he is able to practice what is right and expected in the legal environment. Job duties The duty of a lawyer involves interviewing clients and providing them with advise over legal issues as well as estimating costs for solutions, negotiating and meeting with opposing parties and solicitors, conducting good background research and analyzing all related documents pertaining to the case at hand for ensuring accuracy of advices given and procedures followed and negotiating and finalizing objectives of deals with the clients. The lawyer also helps in coordinating the work of his team and arranges for calculations of damages, claims and compensations. As a part of his administrative role, the lawyer also sets court hearings and calculates the necessary time sheets of his work to provide clients with an estimation of time, work and budgets. Compensation The hourly wage of a lawyer in USA is high and is about $61.5 as per the US Labor Statistics data in May 2013. The mean salary on an annual basis is approximately $138,580 for a practicing lawyer (Bureau of Labor Statistics, “May 2013 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates United States.”). The starting salary in UK is around £18,500 and can go up to £100,000 for established lawyers in London (Prospects, “Lawyer.”). Hence, the job is high paying. Hours Work hours may vary between 9-12 hours as per demand. The work is strenuous for both lawyers of companies as well as freelance lawyers. Job Satisfaction Lawyers might enjoy being in one of the highest paying jobs in the world. This assures of high satisfaction in terms of living and lifestyle. However, one has to exchange leisure times with work hours in most of the cases. Job satisfaction is very high because a lawyer has freedom to make decisions and choices between cases, solutions, clients and also in terms charging for a case (Andrews, 54). Lifestyle The work of a lawyer is largely office based. He has to generally work for long hours. The lawyers are expected to dress smartly and travel as per requirement of a case. High salaries assure high levels of lifestyle, but long working hours that stretch up to 12 hour a day during peak times take away the pleasure. Part-time work is possible, but is not very popular within the profession. Advancement Globalization has raised the demand for civil lawyers. Also, rise in crime rates has been increasing pressure on legal departments for resolving cases in a faster manner. Hence, demand for lawyers is expected to be on the rise, assuring a bright and prosperous career to law students for a long time. Works Cited Lore, Nicholas. The Pathfinder: How to Choose or Change Your Career For a Lifetime of Satisfaction and Success. New York: Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group. 1997. Print. Andrews, Linda. How to Choose a College Major. New York: NTC Publishing Group. 1997. Print. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “May 2013 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates United States” BLS. United States Department of Labor, 2013. Web. 2 June 2014. Prospects. “Lawyer” Prospects. Prospects, 2012. Web. 2 June 2014. Prospects. “Architect” Prospects. Prospects, 2012. Web. 2 June 2014. Bibliography Merritt, Jennifer., John A. Byrne, and Margaret Littman Business Weeks Guide to the Best Business Schools. New York: McGraw Hill. 2001. Print. Schneider, Deborah, and Gary Belsky Should You Really Be a Lawyer?: The Guide to Smart Career Choices Before, During and After Law School. Atlanta: Niche Press, LLC. 2004. Print. Silverthorne, Colin P. Organizational Psychology in Cross Cultural Perspective. New York: NYU Press, 2005. Print. Read More