That 12.1% was from just a few days ago.

Plus you need to tell that to the 4000 that was out looking for jobs at a VA job fair on Sunday that got turned away.

Spare me...walk away with what shred of dignity you got left.

Oh...gee...maybe I better cite myself...

http://www.bls.gov/web/laumstrk.htm

In February of 2010, that same source shows D.C. as having 1:1 as far as unemployed people per job opening.

http://www.indeed.com/jobtrends/unemployment

I mean, yeah, that's next -- but keep in mind things cost way more in general here than they do in Oklahoma. It's expensive to waive into the DC bar (he took the VA bar). He wants to get on the list to take on cases at the court, but that costs money too (I'm not a lawyer, so I don't know what everything entails). We're scrimping and saving for him to at least be able to waive into the DC bar, but it takes time. We also don't have a car (or the money or space for one) so he's pretty limited in terms of Virginia.

SMH that you really want to try to debate this with me.

I don't do brick walls.

I know lawyers who office out of their apartments. And generally to join a federal Bar Association or for State dues, it's only around $200 or so, which just about anyone can scrounge up or put on a credit card.

As far as getting on that list, if it's through the Federal Public Defender's office, I doubt that costs anything. If it's a fairly uniform system (and I'm guessing that's the case), then you just get in contact with the public defender, sit second-chair on something that goes to trial and you're ready to go. Doesn't pay great, but it pays.

Something I know a few lawyers do is just hang out in the courtroom at the criminal arraignment dockets and get appointed to represent (for a fee, of course) whatever unrepresented criminal defendants happen to be there that day. In fact, there are a few folks around here who I'm pretty sure do only that and don't actually even have offices.

And once you're a member of the federal Bar, get some good bankruptcy software and that can be a lucrative and easy field to make money in. As a lawyer, you're never unemployed because if you do a good job networking (note: networking means not networking with other lawyers, church, rotary, etc., are much more reliable ways to pick up clients).

Also, if you can get a simple website online, once you get it indexed well with the search engines, you'll be able to bring in quite a few cases that way. In this profession, getting a job with some big firm is highly overrated. Starting solo, you'll make a lot less money in the short run, but in the long run, in terms of stress and even money, you're more than likely going to come out ahead.

It would make your ego feel much, much better if I said that I had a degree in one of those fields, wouldn't it? :D I am completely comfortable having you conjure up stories about my life.

And, sorry, but you still haven't convinced me that you are successful. Try harder.

We have it a lot better here than in other parts of the country. I'll take the local economy here over the situation in Detroit ANY day.

But...he's working retail. He has to earn a paycheck, he doesn't have all day to hang out in a courtroom.

I really doubt you could do better working retail unless it's a really, really good retail job.

Things might be different in D.C., but I'm quite sure they have petty criminals who need to be pled out just like everyplace else.

But that's quite a gamble to blow off your paying job to hang out in court and hope you can find a petty criminal without representation who is willing to pay you.

Where I'm from, it's no gamble. You'll do better than retail wages, period. Could be different over there. I dunno. Otherise, substitute teaching would be much smarter than retail -- it's something to do when you're not in court or with clients, but you're flexible enough to still be able to practice law.

Good lord, I'm away for two days and this thread just gets wreckier.And do you really not see why that disagreement seems a bit . . . presumptious since you know nothing about her situation except what she has posted here?

Kevin, if your parents are in the situation where they need your care, then let me know how much of a true choice you think it really is. Sometimes it may be a true choice, but often it's Hobson's choice.

Choice nonetheless.

The premise I'm arguing against is that no one is culpable for their own demise in this economy.

Are some people's situations worse than others? No doubt. But I've seen damn near homeless folks scrape together the cash they needed for representation while still paying the bills. If a multi-time felon, semi-literate individual can make it, so can these apparently educated folks. They don't get my sympathy because no matter how bad they think they have it, I've seen people climb out of deeper holes.

Actually, he is. I know him personally. I don't have to stick up for him, he can do that himself. But this argument isn't over what the topic covers, this is a pissing contest because you two disagree with each other.

You're contradicting yourself now. If he QUITS his retail job, he becomes UNEMPLOYED, but not eligible to collect UNEMPLOYMENT. Then, he can take the chance of finding cases? And if he gets none?

First you said retail is better than nothing. Now you're saying quit your retail job and take a chance. Which one is it?

Not a contradiction at all. Quit the retail job unless it's really, really good. Otherwise, solo attorneys can do pretty well.