why does everyone want to be a lawyer?

Curiousgirl · #1 09-07-2002, 01:00 PM

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damasa · #2 09-07-2002, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Curiousgirl
why does everyone want to be a lawyer? Do people think becoming a lawyer is that easy and it just happens like that? Just because their choice of study didn't work out for them?

You make a HUGE assumption by stating, "why does everyone want to be a lawyer?'" I woder why you didn't ask why everyone wants to be a doctor or teacher or fireman?

These are all professions, and if someone wants to be something, they should at least be able to pursue that option.

You also make another huge assumption by stating "Do people think becoming a lawyer is that easy and it just happens like that?" For the most part, I feel that educated people who are considering law school understand the time and work that will be required of them. I also tend to think that most of these people (myself included) understand that such a path in life will be no cake walk.

Yet, you make ANOTHER HUGE assumption by stating "Just because their choice of study didn't work out for them?" Ok, if that were the case, they are off to McDonalds or try their hand at something else. You make it seem as if anyone can get into law school, not true, but yet another one of your great assumptions.

If you haven't noticed I tend to go to law school. Not to be a lawyer in all of my days ahead, but to eventually get into politics or something related.

For the sake of argument, please inform us of your profession....

Kevin · #3 09-07-2002, 03:39 PM

In my case it just makes sense.

Father's a lawyer... Has a lucrative practice. Son comes in as a partner and incrementally takes over practice and continues with lucrative business.

So I'm not pre-law major.. Sue me

Eupolis · #4 09-07-2002, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Curiousgirl
why does everyone want to be a lawyer? Do people think becoming a lawyer is that easy and it just happens like that? Just because their choice of study didn't work out for them?

"That easy?!" I don't think so!

Maybe it's a little easier than it ought to be, given the number of shoddy lawyers who get through, but I wouldn't call it easy. Law school was hard. (What's more, I'm still waiting for my bar exam results, so this is a bit of a touchy subject with me....)

I was a philosophy major in undergrad. The stuff that most interested me was practical, ethical, moral philosophy -- the stuff that involves what happens in people's day to day lives. This stuff doesn't interest a lot of people in abstract analytical philosophy. I thought about getting a Ph.D. in philosophy and trying to get a teaching job, but, as my advisor put it, "there are several thousand philosophy Ph.Ds in the American Philosophical Association, plus who knows how many thousand more driving taxis." A friend of mine told me that for an opening teaching philosophy at a small midwestern liberal arts school, there were over a hundred candidates, some of which had come from very prestigious schools indeed.

So, I thought, "in what field can I continue to explore the sorts of things I like thinking about, hopefully finding an avenue to put it to productive use in the world?" Law seemed the best bet. It could give me opportunities to work with at least some of the things in my wide range of interests.

One thing that made me a lot more interested in law practice was the year I spent working in my law school's civil practice clinic. I worked with three real clients, doing a marital dissolution and two Social Security disability denial appeals. I realized just how important it can be to have a lawyer at the right time. I realized the kind of responsibility that implies for the lawyer. I also started to learn how to handle it when you have a losing case and there's nothing you can do to save it. I became very interested in the client counseling aspects of lawyering.

Aside from the relative brutality of law school, the only downside now is that I still don't know exactly what I'm doing next. It's hard to move to a new area and find a legal job there when nobody there knows you and the market is already pretty full. The economy changed a lot while I was in law school. Still, I'm optimistic. If I'd gone for my Ph.D, I wouldn't be $70,000 in debt, but then, I would be a lot less likely to find a job in the next month.

BearyCuteAPhi · #5 09-07-2002, 08:10 PM

I don't want to be a lawyer...

Peaches-n-Cream · #6 09-08-2002, 12:09 AM

It's a noble and potentially a lucrative profession.

Rudey · #7 09-08-2002, 12:15 AM

Most of the people that "just want to be a ___" without having enough passion for it end up failing. It's funny seeing people getting their JD from some 5th tier Podunk school they applied to last minute - as if they'll be working at Skadden when they graduate.

-Rudey
--I hear if you take one of those online MBA classes you get heavily recruited by Goldman Sachs, so screw law school.

DeltAlum · #8 09-08-2002, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Curiousgirl
why does everyone want to be a lawyer?

Because sharks are becoming an endangered specis?

Sorry, I couldn't resist. Both of my brothers-in-law are lawyers, and really good guys.

Still...

Kevin · #9 09-08-2002, 01:04 AM

I was going to go for my MBA after graduataion... But I interviewed the retiring Chancellor for the Oklahoma Board of Regents for Higher Education for the news show I work on and he and his PIO show me an article about how MBA's are not worth much in today's job market... So I figure law school is where I'd better go. I've always felt drawn to the profession and feel I have a natural aptitude for it.

And yes, it *can* be a noble profession... But only if you're a noble person.

Fewdfreak · #10 09-08-2002, 01:33 AM

I want to be a doctor, that is all I've ever wanted to be. I would stay in school like 9 years as an undergrad if that is what it took me to get into med school. I would do anything, because that is the only think I want to do, I can't see myself doing anything else, no matter how hard school is, or how much you make doing something else.

bcdphie · #11 09-08-2002, 04:40 AM

I was looking into law school because I have a degree in history and political science. I was extremely interested in studying constitutional law and taking on cases that involved federal-provincial relations. But I decided on the marketing route instead. I don't think everyone wants to become a lawyer, but if they I'm sure they have a good reason for it, whatever that reason my be.

Shark_in_Skirt · #12 09-08-2002, 04:51 AM

Quote:

why does everyone want to be a lawyer? Do people think becoming a lawyer is that easy and it just happens like that? Just because their choice of study didn't work out for them?

And from what information did you get all of this total rubbish from? Oh right... you were making blatent, totally uninformed assumptions.

I don't think that anybody on this board who is a pre-law major has EVER implied in any way whatsoever that they wanted to become a lawyer because its "easy." I have no clue where you could possibly have gotten that impression.

Regarding "because their choice of study didn't work out"... Pardon my rudeness, but are you incredibly ignorant or are you incredibly simple-minded? Which is it? On exactly what statistics do you base the fact that the law is actually a last ditch attempt at a career? You obviously know nothing about the time and dedication it takes to become an attorney.

So here are the facts: (1) Not everyone wants to be a lawyer. Perhaps you ought to realize that sweeping statements aren't considered appropiate for the average intelligent person to make. (2) Nobody here thinks that becoming a lawyer is "easy." Nobody here really implied that any career was easy... everything takes time and effort (except for making really silly remarks which you're an expert at). (3) For the majority of law students, it was not a second major after the first attempt at a different major failed. (4) Are you SURE you have a college education?

XOXO,
Annie, who hates oversimplication, generalization, and ignorant people.

kddani · #13 09-08-2002, 09:43 AM

Law school definately isn't easy (although i'm personally not doing too bad) , but we've already had a few people drop out.

Overall, applications nationally for law school this year went up 20%; and 40% at my school.
The economy is bad right now, and a lot of people probably don't think they can find jobs. Whereas some people may have worked for a few years then continued their education, they'r'e going straight into it.

A law degree is also something that gives you a lot of options, you can do many things with it and get paid well.

I'm assuming you have something personal going on because your attitude sure doesn't sound too good....

texas*princess · #14 09-08-2002, 06:33 PM

I don't want to be a lawyer... I want to be extremely successful in the field of IT or programming.. that's what I do.. that's what I love.

Some people go for law school because they love that sort of thing.. or because they think they will be super rich ... or they maybe suffered an injustice in their life and want to try to see that it doesn't happen to someone else? I'm sure there are plenty of reasons people want to study law just like there are plenty of reasons people study family medicine, teaching, or communications.

Optimist Prime · #15 09-08-2002, 06:52 PM

I would go to law school because it would be interesting and a legal background would be nice. But screw it, I want to make films. Also, highlight the letters in peoples signatures.