dixiecupdrinking wrote:If you want to work directly with an indigent client population (family law, legal services, public defense) then going to BigLaw is going to be immensely unsatisfying. There's a lot of handwringing here about "good PI" over "bad PI" but the fact is a lot of students went into law in order to help certain people in a direct fashion, and for those students, working in a shitty office, making little money, and having a good deal of career uncertainty are worth it. If you aren't especially dedicated, though, when the firms come calling it feels like (and probably is) a rational decision to jump on board.
I think people are being ridiculous going into law in order to help people, as if there weren't enough lawyers trying to get those jobs helping people, when it is among the most competitive legal jobs.
If they want to help people, they should go help people. PI organizations need funds, need fundraisers, need organizers, etc. They should go do those jobs. Saying that you only want to help people by doing legal work and being funded by an organization is a pretty ridiculous way to be "helping people."