Xref: utzoo misc.legal:25357 comp.org.eff.talk:2148
Newsgroups: misc.legal,comp.org.eff.talk
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!uupsi!intercon!news
From: ooblick@intercon.com (Mikki Barry)
Subject: Re: Is it reasonable to become a lawyer?
Reply-To: ooblick@intercon.com (Mikki Barry)
Organization: InterCon Systems Corporation, Herndon, VA
Date: Thu, 18 Apr 91 14:22:08 GMT
Message-ID: <280DAB90.3BAD@intercon.com>
References: <1991Apr13.085913.5675@ys2.uucp>
Sender: usenet@intercon.com (USENET The Magnificent)

> Law school shouldn't be too difficult for anyone with any training
> in an intellectually rigorous discipline, e.g. engineering, math, cs.

I disagree.  Law school shouldn't be too difficult for anyone who enjoys 
reading, understanding, and virtually memorizing hundreds of pages of dull and 
boring text each and every night.  It really has nothing to do with previous 
training in an "intellectually rigorous discipline".  The skills necessary to 
do well in law school, besides a pathological need to have a book in one hand 
and a yellow highlighter in the other, include sorting through reams and reams 
of garbage to find the small glimmer of usefulness at the bottom.  Engineering, 
math or CS will not prepare you for shoveling piles of bullshit.

> > and what does it take to get into law school, and how much does
> 
> Decent grades and decent LSAT scores.

That's the way it USED to be.  The number of applications have increased so 
much in recent years that many people with 4.0 averages and 48 LSAT scores are 
being REJECTED.  Why?  Becuase they have no lives.  What is looked for now, 
besides very good grades and very good LSAT scores are life skills, such as 
prior career, prior publications, other organizations you have excelled with, 
etc. etc.

> > And if I do this, what are the prospects after law school?  I don't
 
> Good for computer lawyers, so-so for run of the mill lawyers.

Oh?  Only if you are willing to move.  For example, I had 54 interviews with 
firms in Washington DC that deal with computer law.  I was editor in chief of a 
technology law journal.  My grades were very good, and I have good interview 
skills.  NONE of these interviews resulted in a job.  Why?  MANY firms are just 
plain not hiring (yet they interview anyway to keep in practice...at least that 
was their "official" reasining).  I got my job by personal contacts in a 
corporation.

> You can feel free to do what you like, however, if you don't practice
> law, you'd better have an extremely good income from you chosen job
> (to pay off those student loans)!

No kidding!  Problem is, even with the average associates income, if your loans 
are substantial, such as top ten private schools (16,000 + per year, plus 
living expenses), you STILL can't afford the loans unless you work on Wall 
Street.  You certainly won't be able to afford a $40,000 corporate position, or 
a $30,000 government or public service position. 

Mikki Barry