Xref: utzoo misc.legal:25447 comp.org.eff.talk:2192
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: Mon, 22 Apr 91 15:49:45 GMT
Message-ID: <2813061A.F4@intercon.com>
References: <1991Apr19.193313.314@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>
Sender: usenet@intercon.com (USENET The Magnificent)

In article <1991Apr19.193313.314@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>, 
jwoodman@magnus.ircc.ohio-state.edu (Jonathan A Woodman) writes:
> Gosh, all the high-tech firms out here are saying that they have never seen a
> better job market for people coming out of law school with technical 
> backgrounds. Maybe that is just out here in the Midwest, but look around. 
While
> most law students are scared to death of the job market right now, those with
> technical backgrounds appear to be sitting pretty.

I think that it is indeed because you are in the Midwest.  East Coast and West 
Coast people are finding it very difficult to find jobs, even from elite 
schools.  30-40% of my class are unemployed.  This includes computer lawyers, 
as well as main journal editors.  The difference is that if your "technical 
background" is in hardware, etc. and you want to be a patent lawyer, it's much 
easier to find a job.  The problem is that CS is *not* considered a technical 
discipline by the patent bar.  So, of course, the only people who know enough 
about software to argue for/against a patent are summarily excluded.  But then, 
that's government for you.
 
> >> 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)!
> 
> Unless you go to a state-funded school! :-)

You still usually need loans to sustain yourself since you can't really work 
first year.