Dr. Bombay and I have had similar experiences lately. Lawyers have told us to avoid going into the law. My impression is that there is a group of people who continue to practice law but hate it and aren’t shy about telling you. The rest just keep their mouths shut about it, masking their real feelings. The underlying message is that if you can find something that pays well, is relatively stable, and that you enjoy then don’t bother going out of your way to become an attorney (notwithstanding that pesky law school debt).
Is this how most lawyers feel? If you can put aside the recession and layoff news, what do you think? Have you heard similar messages from lawyers you know?
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I hope you get lots of comments on this one! I want the people who like their J-O-B as an attorney to speak up in numbers at least equal to those naysayers condeming the law as a career choice. I understand that they’re so happy and so productive that they don’t have the time to shout out their joy. But they need to speak up. They need to view speaking up in support of a legal career as part of their community service. Make time for it, people. Society needs to hear the other side of this issue. The discussion feels so one-sided. You CAN find some very positive, very vocal supporters at nontradlaw.net, and major kudos to them and a big fat THANK YOU, too.
I am tentatively beginning law school this fall after working in a few firms as a paralegal. I feel like I’m doing it because I have no other options and this has always been the plan. Almost every lawyer I have met has been sad, divorced, extremely stressed, etc. One atty I worked for told me flat out: “Don’t do it” regarding my decision. I would love to hear some positive things about working in law but frankly, I’m not sure anyone in the profession has anything good to say about it.