To be a lawyer in the United States

[Igor]

Good day to everyone.

I'm a novice here but I hope I'll visit this website often. I don't sure if I've chosen the right topic for my message. Excuse me if I haven't.
Well, I would like to ask such a question: what does mean to be a lawyer in the USA? I've never been to there but I know some things from TV. Everybody says that the USA is a country where a lawyer is one of the most important highly paid and respected profession. Lots of people (as well as me) consider the USA as a state ruled by lawyers. And now I want to see an opinion of real American professional lawyer.

Thank you,
Igor

 

[Michael Wechsler]

A lawyer is someone who has a 3 year degree from an accredited law school and has passed the state bar. Highly paid? It can be but there are a lot of lawyers and competition. Respected? Sometimes... some don't particularly care for litigators and "ambulance chasers." It can be very respectful, as in any profession... and there is some power associated with it as well, especially since knowledge is power.