| Topic Name: |
SAD but TRUE facts about the legal profession |
| Message Name: |
Interesting |
| Date Posted: |
06/24/2001 |
| In Reply To: |
Thanks.
I believe that the truly sad fact of the matter is that what I said will not matter.
I can easily be dismissed as bitter, etc... or for any number of reasons, at whim.
Everyone believes that they will be in the top 10 percent of their class and that, despite the advice and experiences of others, they will be different.
As an aside, I was just looking at the class notes in the periodical sent by my school. My class year was initially 1996, but I did the MBA and took some time off in the middle because I was burnt out, so I graduated with the class of 1998.
Let me tell you, five years out, things look crappy, except for a very few.
As I said, I have my MBA (3.9 avg.). THAT saved me. 2 weeks prior to the 1998 July Bar, I simply "quit". I walked away. That was the wisest move I made since going to law school. I knew that once I took a shitty legal job, I was doomed. That would pigeonhole me into law and a never-ending cycle of low-paying, non-rewarding jobs - forever. I would always be underemployed and low-paid. No way, Jose.
I had sent out hundreds of resumes. I was looking hard for a job a year before I graduated. Nothing. It took me a year after I graduated to find a job I felt offered ME a chance to build a BUSINESS pedigree.
I landed a job at one of the "Big 5". Now, I work as a consultant to a company with a solid name in the computer field. I'm building a pedigree. I make high 5 figures. I have the education. Ironically, I'm viewed quite well on the business side. Funny!! On the legal side, I'm a "hack", even though I told you all before that most graduates did not have higher graduating honors than I. And they didn't do no MBA neither.... All the Law Review geeks took classes like "Jurisprudence" to keep their cums up. They knew the game.
My prospects are fantastic. I'll always have my MBA and top 1/3rd law, and honors.
Now, I'm building a pedigree in a field where people are always in demand and there is limitless opportunity. My resume is comparatively better than most CIO and CEO resumes, absent experience. I'll get more of that as each year passes, along with tangible AND transferable skills.
I can work anywhere geographically. With law, you need to have the LICENSE. That means passing the Bar in each state you go to or reciprocity (if they have it AND your Multi-State was high enough AND you meet ethics requirements AND you've been actively practicing law 5 of the last 7 years, blah, blah, blah....)
I will make six-figures soon. Quite soon, I'm sure. Maybe on my next job. Less hours, better opportunity, less stress. No CLEs. More money. No senseless $300 bi-annual dues to NY for a license which won't net me anything but a massive paycut. No bitchy female attorneys to answer to or deal with.
So you all thought I was a loser, huh??
In the final analysis, my law school did nothing for me. I was only able to "escape" law because of a choice I made to do the MBA as well. Even first year, I knew enough not to bet my entire future on law.
My background is unique. The overwhelming number of graduating JDs will be just that - JDs. They won't have an escape option. Guess what? No one will care.
Think about it.
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| Message: |
HR & Big 5
Author: syslaw
Date: Jun 23, 2001 8:35 AM EST
"I agree with Cosmo. I went into HR and did reasonably well, but I was able to make more in Big 5 consulting.
Ironically, I managed to pass the NY Bar on the first try six years after graduating from law school. Only then did I started having difficulty finding jobs in corporate America."
Interesting, to say the least!
So - I'm not the only one to be completely pissed off at the system...
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