I recently earned my Bachelors degree in Sociology…yup. I’ve got a funny feeling that Environmental Law degrees and/or Energy Law and Entrepreneurship are going to be profitable markets considering the bell shape of technological advancements in biological/chemical/nanotech/solar and whatever else that can potentially finally deliver Nikola Tesla’s dream of massive energy numbers to all people on the planet. Do any of you see where I’m going with this thread and the true value of getting one’s foot in the door of an important corporation concerned with energy regulation (taxation?) and/or environmental conservation resouce acquisition laws? Really vague. Hopefully one of you smart ones can toss us a nickle and stop bickering on the gamble.

“. . . a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive preparation including instruction in skills and methods as well as in the scientific, historical, or scholarly principles underlying such skills and methods, maintaining by force of organization or concerted opinion high standards of achievement and conduct, and committing its members to continued study and to a kind of work which has for its prime purpose the rendering of a public service . . . ”

http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/abstract/85/5/675

Since the true professions only include divinity, medicine, and law, we attorneys are in a very small group of people dedicated to provide service to those in need of our higher knowledge in the field. Our responsibilities rest on integrity, service, and assisting others in receiving justice and do not focus on whether our pay equals those who operate wall street hedge funds or CEOs that make decisions on the basis of risk and gain for the benefit of paying dividends to its shareholders with no consideration for that decision’s greater effect.

Only those who hold a law degree and license may walk the walk of a legal professional. If someone wants to enter the legal profession, they are choosing to walk, talk, and act as our profession requires, overseen by other attorneys, for the greater good of human-kind. It is time that self-actualization is not measured by money and objects, but on self growth and life participation.

It is the greed of the lenders who seek to make profits off those who seek a legal education and also the fault of the law schools who charge ridiculously high tuition (400% increase since the 90s) that should be admonished for not properly preparing its students for what the profession is really about.

“self-actualizing people see life clearly. They are less emotional and more objective, less likely to allow hopes, fears, or ego defenses to distort their observations. Maslow found that all self-actualizing people are dedicated to a vocation or a cause. Two requirements for growth are commitment to something greater than oneself and success at one’s chosen tasks. Major characteristics of self-actualizing people include creativity, spontaneity, courage, and hard work.”

http://www.abraham-maslow.com/m_motivation/Hierarchy_of_Needs.asp

It is my opinion that if a law student is not seeking the true profession of law by attending law school, perhaps attending a business school and receiving an MBA is their better choice.

Potential law students looking for the maximum economic return should probably start their own hedge fund with their tuition … On the other hand, if being a lawyer is really what you want to do for the next 40-50 years, it’s hard to say you shouldn’t pursue that dream just because you may have been able to find a job that yields more $ and requires less education.

The other major issue is that the major barrier to entry in the profession (i.e. the amount of loan debt many students incur) is currently disproportionately high to economic rewards available to many of them. Even some of the “winners” who land the increasingly scarce Big Firm jobs may not really be “winners” if they don’t really want to be there working the hours, but have to because of loan debt.

I suppose the key is to go on with eyes wide open, which is where I think that the current system often breaks down.

Also, I’m with Jasper on this one. I’ve been waiting for someone to chime in from the middle ground for a while. I am working, thankfully, and will be for a little while after the bar exam in July. After that, who knows? I’m saddled with debt up to my ears … and it was worth every penny.

It saddens me to hear things like, “for the most part, learning the law is frighteningly tedious,” from Anonymous 12:38. I’m not saying it’s a walk in the park, but it is pretty damn great.

I guess what I’m saying is that your attitude shapes your thoughts about the gamble, and what winning really means. In my book, that does not include “Big Law,” working 80+ hours a week, or measuring the value of my experiences by the amount of money I earn.

Love,
Pollyanna