In stock It is the software standard for drafting, although missing the functionality of other CAD programs
It is necessary to have an operating knowledge of AutoCAD, although as you progress throughout a career involve CAD design, it would be more prudent to learn other software to help supplement the limitations of AutoCAD.
We use AutoCAD to produce architectural drawing sets. The office utilizes AutoCAD, because the software is relatively easy to operate and less software training is required using Revit, although the office loses productivity gains in the long run by not using other software.
Pros
I like the interface with the color scheme, which is helpful in facilitating the drafting process. Compared to other drafting softwares, AutoCAD is faster in start-up and prolonged use for producing relatively less complex 2D drawings. Also the software allows you to produce very precise and large scale drawings with ease. Applying hatches is a strong feature that often causes crashes in other CAD software.
Cons
I dislike that the functionality to organize large drawing sets or to organize repetitive elements is very limited. 3D modeling is cumbersome in AutoCAD, and I would never use AutoCAD to model 3D elements. The block appears to be the only "smart" or programming element that helps individuals to manage repeatable elements in their drawings, and these are for the most part limited to 2D elements. Coordination of drawings is very time consuming, and is a largely manual task.