Becoming a Lawyer Begins By Building a Solid Foundation
Today we have a guest post by Jayme Soulati of Soulati Media. Take it away, Jayme!
By Jayme Soulati
Is the timing right to be a budding lawyer whether pre-law, in law school or recently graduated?
Seems like there’s a plethora (I love that word) of stories about first-year associates getting a bum rap, while those in law school can’t work (due to “paternalistic rules by the ABA and NALP” as this blogger implies), and others applying to law school are being encouraged not to.
In this Minneapolis Star Tribune story, the reporter states, “The job market for law school graduates is the worst it’s been since the mid-1990s. Both the employment rate and the starting salary fell dramatically for the class of 2010, new reports by the National Association for Law Placement show. Meanwhile, debt rises. The average amount run up while at one of Minnesota’s four schools now exceeds $90,000.”
The debt factor is one red flag against entering law school, isn’t it? But, guess what…if you want to be a physician, debt is often higher, and it takes longer to enter a specialty medical practice than it does to become a lawyer. No one is really telling medical doctors not to enter the profession of their choosing, right?
Of particular interest for law-school graduates fortunate enough to have found a law-firm position, the path through the forest is thicker in the first two years during “apprenticeship.” Corporate counsel is balking at paying for the training of novice lawyers billed at ~$250/hour. Rightly so…professional development ought to reside with the employer and not be an expense billed to clients, yet this remains a gray area throughout the legal sector. More on this topic can be found here.
Everyone likes to put young lawyers and wannabes on the platform to point fingers, but let’s be honest – is the current state of affairs in the legal industry the fault of 20-somethings? Or, is it an archaic fee-arrangement system that prompted corporate counsel backlash against highly profitable large law firms? Finger pointing won’t solve the issues in legal today nor will it help law students find jobs.
Sometimes it’s helpful to put on blinders and focus on the task at hand. If you’re a law student, or someone contemplating a career in law:
- Proceed as planned. Who has the right to challenge your aspirations especially if law is something you’ve always wanted to pursue? Many who apply and enter law school are fully aware of the negatives.
- Put creativity first. You can’t be in law school without also being creative. It’s going to take major creativity to keep your eye on the prize and land a position somewhere.
- Find a mentor. With someone established in the legal field, you’ll have a better time with your career development. This person may be an established lawyer, an educator, a business person, or other professional who can offer advice on how best to groom yourself for a future position.
- Expect humble beginnings along with frugality. Having this much debt right after graduation (and who paid for undergrad?) is daunting, but you’ll earn varying perspective about life and the pursuit of happiness while creative financing is the norm.
- Ignore negative writing and people. If you’re at all affected by some of the snark you can find online, then don’t read that type of content. Sensitive people can get brought down by others’ rudeness. Walk away, shut off the RSS feed, and surround yourself with high-energy people.
At the end of the day, these tips are nothing new; yet, they are a helpful reminder that the law student of today has to approach and engage differently than counterparts of five years ago. Times have changed, and anyone brave enough to conquer this new world has to build a solid foundation that begins with self.
Jayme Soulati is president of Soulati Media, Inc., http://soulati.com/blog a public relations practice specializing in legal marketing. You may follow her @BizLawToday @Soulati and via a variety of other social media channels. She works with the JD Match team to keep its content fresh throughout social and traditional media.
Thanks for the opportunity, Bruce and Janet! Hope to share more thoughts along the way!
I have relatives in law who had to surpass obstacles even farther beyond their control than the lack of funding–although funding was an issue, too. I think you point out with your advice to avoid the negative out there that thin skin isn’t much of a barrier to adversity.
Hi, Shakirah…thanks for stopping in. Interesting statement as, you’re so right. It seems the plight of today’s youngsters is being described as the end of the world; however, adversity plays a role in everyone’s quest.
Thanks for reminding us all of that.
Great blog, Jayme. I have to say, I majored in English – which people will pretty much always tell you not to do, crummy economy or not – and I’ve managed to do well for myself, I think.
I think it comes down to what a professor told me about her getting her PhD. She said, “I wasn’t even the smartest in the class. I just wanted it more than anybody else.”
So, I think that’s what it comes down to even for my JD-pursuing friends. You just have to want it that bad. And if you do, it will work.
Similar to Shakirah’s sentiments, Jenn. Love that, and you’re so right. What you suggest is that anyone with chutzpah is going to make it happen, obstacles or not.
What’s your view about the millennials (as I believe you are one?) and their will to win?
Great seeing you here; thanks so much.
I always have mixed feelings when included in the milenial group – I see myself as being at the tail end of Generation X – but that’s another story entirely.
I’m also not sure about my younger compatriots’ will to win. I’ve seen it run the gamut – from cluelessness to some real networking skill – so I’m excited to see where the end of college brings them.
Having a JD will never be something you’ll regret. I am no longer a practicing attorney, but the degree, the connections I made in school (and after), and the experiences I gained practicing (albeit briefly) have all served me well over the years. So yes, if you’re inclined to go to law school, you should do it!
Hi, Steve…so, just curious as the audience on JD Match is skewed to law students, what did you engage in as a vocation after law?
By chance, not sure if you’re a writer of a blog, but what a neat guest post you could develop to encourage young law students to stick with it and relish the connections, experience, education, and practice over time.
Please let me know if that thought strikes you positively. Thanks for your comments!
Hi Jayme… I practiced for two years after law school mainly doing criminal defense. That area of law wasn’t quite right for me and soon after I took a job back at my undergrad university. That took my down another path, but I always found that my legal background was a benefit for whatever I was doing (especially now that I co-own a business).
I do blog a bit at our Killer Minnow site (and elsewhere) and would be happy to guest post if you think it would be of benefit to students (or anyone else)!
Great tips, Jayme. I am working now with an attorney who serves as the Guardian Ad Litem for a three county region. She’s also a mom and now running for a Judicial seat. Becoming an attorney was a lot of hard work for her, but looking at her full life now, rich with family and rewarding work, I can see it’s paid off!
So much of the news we see, Erica, is about law school grads seeking employment in law firms. What you remind people is that those who have a JD can put that knowledge to work elsewhere in a variety of capacities.
It’s not a degree that will go to waste; however, I’m sure the debt acquired to earn it is somewhat daunting.
Thank you for coming over to comment; very much appreciate seeing you here.
While I appreciate the sentiment that people shouldn’t be discouraged by useless negativity, I don’t think potential law students should necessarily “put on blinders” and charge ahead with their plans.
The fact of the matter is that law schools have done everything they can to distort the actual payoff of a law degree, so many, if not most, students go in with an unrealistic idea of what they’re likely to earn when they graduate. See this post for details: http://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/09/law-school-myth-1-lawyers-make-a-lot-of-money/.
It’s also difficult to understand the day-to-day impact massive student loan debt will have on your life, until it’s too late. Details here: http://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/09/law-school-myth-2-student-loan-debt-is-good-debt/.
Personally, I’m not opposed to someone going to law school, if they’ve done sufficient research to be convinced that it’s a career path that can work for them, and they’ve carefully considered the down sides. Unfortunately, I don’t think most people who apply have done that, and, judging from the email I get, a lot of people do indeed regret going to law school.