Protected - as in there are laws made by lawyers for the benefit of lawyers. Only peopled who have been to lawyer training schools can become lawyers - what do you think the “bar” is all about? It used to be you went to school and “read the law” now lawyers are there to teach you the most current “theory” behind the newest laws (million dollar awards for spilling hot coffee on yourself while driving a car).
Best possible job - a lawyer has an air conditioned office where people come to him and pay him to wander through the books looking for a prior case which supports their claim. Not hot sun (except for vacations) and no hard work lifting heavy objects, overtime is the exception and then it is well paid.
Am I down on lawyers - you betcha. Why? Because they, as a group, are unwilling to police themselves. It has been this way for decades. See Godfather I for proof of this.
They don’t even have to get out the books, just use the internet.