Comments on: Don’t Go to Law School — Find Out Why

By: Brown

Brown — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 13:44:11 +0000

follow thread

By: Swamp Rabbit

Swamp Rabbit — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 20:14:12 +0000

Thanks.

Well, I think so, but I’m a Mom. LOL! A lot of it is hard work and some of it is luck, but it is such a blessing to see her do something she was meant for and loves.

By: Frederick Leatherman

Frederick Leatherman — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 19:54:38 +0000

Congratulations. Your daughter is a star.

By: Swamp Rabbit

Swamp Rabbit — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 13:58:43 +0000

Reading the above, it drives home how important the career services office is at a given law school (plus alumni networking & reputation). If I were choosing between schools, I would put a lot of weight on that component of the comparison.

My daughter is a 2L and has just gone through two weeks of on grounds interviews with over twenty firms. This is for a paying job for next summer which usually turns into the first job after graduation. Career services seems to have the process down to a science.

Even though the job after the 1L year is usually unpaid, she had clerkship offers from two DA’s offices and two international opportunities. A clerkship with the UN is a big plus on a CV.

Anyway, it looks like a strong career services office makes this all much easier and puts less of the burden of “hustling” on the student. They still do have to sell themselves and keep on top of the process, though.

JMVHO

By: edgySF

edgySF — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:31:38 +0000

Great post…thanks for the brutal truth. I know of several lawyers out of work or underemployed.

But…I still think a JD is valuable. Perhaps not in a law firm, though. Knowing the American legal system is a powerful tool. It can benefit people in many, many fields.

My philosophy is to follow your heart — do and study what you love. Don’t go to law school just to get rich. You’ll be miserable. Go to law school because you’re passionate about it, and want to learn it inside out.

By: Two sides to a story

Two sides to a story — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 00:54:30 +0000

Heck, sounds like a law degree is more practical than my MA in Creative Writing, LOL!

By: Frederick Leatherman

Frederick Leatherman — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 23:21:49 +0000

There are many different types of law books that are published.

The basic set that law libraries and courts use consist of:

1. A multi-volume set of the state statutes with annotations (i.e., list of cases that cited the particular statute under consideration and a brief summary of the holding).

2. A multi-volume set of the federal statutes with annotations (i.e., list of cases that cited the particular statute under consideration and a brief summary of the holding).

3. A multi-volume set of state supreme court decisions.

4. A multi-volume set of state court of appeals decisions.

5. A multi-volume set of U.S. Supreme Court decisions.

6.. A multi-volume set of decisions by the applicable federal circuit court of appeals.

Each of these sets are regularly updated.

Statutes are updated with pocket parts containing new legislation, amendments of existing legislation, and recent cases that slide into a flap inside the rear cover of the hardback cover.

Cases are updated by issuing paperback volumes containing new cases.

By: KA

KA — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 22:21:31 +0000

They are good kids, but the program also just makes sense for them and is really about giving to the community. Although both sons are in a school specifically designed for urban missions, the situations my one son made a huge impact on him as a person. The shelter he worked with was 40 – 50% LGBT youth from 13 – 21 that had been kicked out of their homes, many addicted, and several that had to “turn tricks” for basic living. He had not worked with that population much in his life and the empathy and advocacy he learned was really good for him. The home he works at is tough. We have a son newly adopted from there. They have a 50% disruption rate in adoptions (and I know why..it is tough ). To my intern son, they are so much easier than the youth “street kid” population that he works with ease. AmeriCorps offered him an experience he would not have had otherwise.

I do not think they have made a good effort with PR. There are a lot of positions with limited applicants. It is a great program for anyone in that position.

By: Crane-Station

Crane-Station — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 22:15:05 +0000

I so hope that it will. We need to keep good programs like this.

By: Crane-Station

Crane-Station — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 22:12:12 +0000

Yes, he is on Linkedln.

Sounds like your son is on a very good track, and even though it is unsettling not to be getting paid, it is apparently the new norm. It sounds like possibly the immigration and civil specialties may be an excellent fit, if that is what he chooses. Also sounds as if he would be an excellent trial lawyer. Mock court is not easy to win!

I will also copy this message and send it as well, really good stuff, thank you.