Monday, October 3, 2011

I'm overdue for an update!

Well I know I promised to continue posting, and let me assure you that my week and a half long absence is not indicative of what is to come.  I will continue posting but it has taken me some time to get into the swing of things.

Let me first say that I really, really like my job so far.  It is a cool place to work and I even find the work challenging.  (In a good way!)  I hesitate to say this, because I don't want to undermine my fundamental message, but I think that my legal education is coming in handy in this position.  Here's the thing:  They tell you that law school teaches you a new way of thinking, and a new way of problem solving, that is useful even in a non-legal position.  This might come as a shock, but I think that is absolutely correct.  The problem is that there is almost no way you will be able to convince non-legal employers that you are not a flight risk.  So even if you gain some useful skills in law school (which, despite my anecdotal evidence, his highly debatable), you will be hindered in your job search by the JD.  You know where else you gain useful skills?  In the workforce.  If you are fortunate enough to have a job in this economy, stay there.  I would trade the marginally useful critical thinking skills I gained in law school in a heartbeat, if it meant I could have those years of my life back.

I know I'm a broken record.  But it truly can't be said enough:  Don't go to law school if you don't want to be a lawyer, and make sure that you know what the practice of law entails before you decide you want to be one.  That's as close to a golden rule as I can get.

Things are looking up, guys.

5 comments:

  1. I'm so happy for you Rose!

    I found my way into the trades, which made all the issues you discuss not apply.

    The only other alternative was sales.

    I wish it had been the other way around, but in the end I had to pay my bills.

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  2. Don't go unless you want to be a lawyer or you know how it will be useful to you in your career is it what I would say. I have talked to be people who are licensed to practice law and have a JD, but are not attorneys, yet they have found it very useful because it adds credibility. Of course perhaps there are cheaper alternatives to gaining credibility.

    Your JD will serve you over the course of your life, Don't let your first two years get you down. Besides what career field is there a sure thing. I was reading about other doctorate programs and as many as a 1/3 to a half drop out because its close to impossible to get a job in academia and there are no job prospects outside of their chosen field.

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  3. Rose,

    I'm now in Milan, Italy. I want you. I want you SO BAD....

    Jack Dawson

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