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From: ts@cup.portal.com (Tim W Smith)
Newsgroups: misc.legal,comp.org.eff.talk
Subject: Is it reasonable to become a lawyer?
Message-ID: <41162@cup.portal.com>
Date: 11 Apr 91 10:08:19 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 36

[This is cross posted to misc.legal because it contains questions
 about how one becomes a lawyer, and to comp.org.eff.talk, because
 it contains questions about what one should do after one becomes
 a lawyer if one wants to deal with the issues EFF deals with]

I estimate that in about five years (when I'm 35) I'll be tired
of my current line of work (programming).  I'll still be interested
in keeping up with computer technology, but will be tired of actually
spending all my time writing new programs.  And I do not want to
move into management.

I'm interested in several of the legal and social aspects of computing,
such as copyrights and patents as they apply to software, privacy and
liability in email, BBS freedom, etc..

I'm wondering if it would be reasonable when I tire of programming
to get legal training or even become a lawyer and specialize in
these areas.

What does it take to switch to law from another profession?  For
example, how much preparation must one have before law school,
and what does it take to get into law school, and how much does
it cost, and how long does it take?

And if I do this, what are the prospects after law school?  I don't
think I want to actually end up as a working lawyer.  I think I would
like to end up working with my current employer in a research capacity
(which the owner of the company says fits in with his plans for me)
which would take up maybe 30 hrs/week, and then maybe donate the
rest of my time to organizations like the EFF or other such organizations
that are interested in these issues or just providing free advice to
people who can't afford a lawyer (like, say, BBS operators or
shareware authors).  Would this be useful to such organizations
or groups, or am I just being crazy here?

						Tim Smith