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Not too sure if this topic has been touched here but how do you as an URM plan on giving back to the community once you have obtained your goal of becoming an attorney. Or even now as some of you are planning to go through this process of applying to law school?

I wish I had someone to guide me through this process from freshmen year in undergrad. I find that Pre-Law advisors are just overpaid seat warmers and offer no real help to minority students wanting to go up this road.

There are still plenty of soon to be first generation college graduates in the inner city who need help and guidance on this path. Even though the internet is overflowing with information they can access, they are still unaware of what's available to them once they decide to pursue a law degree. So this is how I have been giving back and will continue to give back once I pass the bar.
I have assisted 4 AA students that live around my neighborhood secure jobs in BIG LAW for the past five years and helping them navigate the corporate world from mail/supply room clerk to litigation support and paralegal positions. This may not be much to some but for the ones that I helped, it meant a lot. Especially to the one that started out as a mail room clerk 8 years ago at minimum wage and is not a project manager [correction: is now a project manager] in the litigation support department at a top firm making 95 grand now.

So the question is, how will you pay it forward?

my plan


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNPAJ9AY-M4

Not exactly the response I was looking for but still nice to look at
I looooooove me some Johnny Depp...hmmm

whattheheck wrote:Not exactly the response I was looking for but still nice to look at
I looooooove me some Johnny Depp...hmmm

Being personally responsible for immigration reform in this country.

Also, getting plastic surgery to look more like Johnny Depp, as that is helpful to all communities.

whattheheck wrote:I wish I had someone to guide me through this process from freshmen year in undergrad. I find that Pre-Law advisors are just overpaid seat warmers and offer no real help to minority students wanting to go up this road.

Well I guess I'll just say that the advice I give on these boards is my way of giving back

But seriously, I have no idea. I'd like to have professional success, and hopefully get the chance to do public interest within my hometown community (impoverished inner-city). However, I'm not sacrificing $160k/clerking to do this right off the bat out of LS.

does making it rain in the club count as giving back to the community?

dkt4 wrote:does making it rain in the club count as giving back to the community?

You are donating to the less fortunate...so yes, even if the less fortunate happen to be hitting you in the face with their titties at the time.

alexonfyre wrote:

dkt4 wrote:does making it rain in the club count as giving back to the community?

You are donating to the less fortunate...so yes, even if the less fortunate happen to be hitting you in the face with their titties at the time.

Do you have to be URM to do this?

MrPapagiorgio wrote:

alexonfyre wrote:

dkt4 wrote:does making it rain in the club count as giving back to the community?

You are donating to the less fortunate...so yes, even if the less fortunate happen to be hitting you in the face with their titties at the time.

Do you have to be URM to do this?

Yes, If you are white, it's racist.

I plan on working in the area of Aboriginal law, its interesting pay back the communities and I can make a good living I already wokr it this area as a negotiator/policy analyst and enjoy it.

dkt4 wrote:does making it rain in the club count as giving back to the community?

Only if they don't have NDN dancers 'cause then buddy you not making it rain

Moxie wrote:

whattheheck wrote:I wish I had someone to guide me through this process from freshmen year in undergrad. I find that Pre-Law advisors are just overpaid seat warmers and offer no real help to minority students wanting to go up this road.

Well I guess I'll just say that the advice I give on these boards is my way of giving back

But seriously, I have no idea. I'd like to have professional success, and hopefully get the chance to do public interest within my hometown community (impoverished inner-city). However, I'm not sacrificing $160k/clerking to do this right off the bat out of LS.

I totally understand not giving up clerking/160K to do the "right" thing. But you don't have to give up your career aspirations to give back. I don't plan on doing that but there are plenty of other ways. Whether it be you take someone under your wing or like you mentioned, giving advise on this site.

on a more serious note, there's a lot of ways to give back without going into PI or something.

however, i often lament that making it rain is not tax deductible.

I think this is a very good question for a thread. For at least it gets people thinking about the idea. It is, however, unfortunate, that people don't take it too seriously -- they obviously haven't received any form of "paying it forward."

Although I am just starting out on this process, I plan to pay forward what I have received (through the form of internships and general minority programs) by 1.) achieve success myself to serve as an example 2.) let myself be available to students wishing to pursue the legal profession and putting them in contact with people who can assist them 3.) take some of them on as interns 4.) provide pro bono work; all of this especially for the Spanish-speaking community. I only hope I am in position to do so a few years out.

I already volunteer at a school in a program that helps students get to college, which mainly consists of Hispanic students. I was in the same program a few years ago.

Again, very good thread idea.

Horchata wrote:I think this is a very good question for a thread. For at least it gets people thinking about the idea. It is, however, unfortunate, that people don't take it too seriously -- they obviously haven't received any form of "paying it forward."

Although I am just starting out on this process, I plan to pay forward what I have received (through the form of internships and general minority programs) by 1.) achieve success myself to serve as an example 2.) let myself be available to students wishing to pursue the legal profession and putting them in contact with people who can assist them 3.) take some of them on as interns 4.) provide pro bono work; all of this especially for the Spanish-speaking community. I only hope I am in position to do so a few years out.

I already volunteer at a school in a program that helps students get to college, which mainly consists of Hispanic students. I was in the same program a few years ago.

Again, very good thread idea.

Thank you for taking this seriously. And those are really great ways of paying it forward in your community. People have to understand that you don't necessarily have to fork over your whole paycheck to make a difference. And more often then not, your time is more of value to alot of URM students. I find that the issue with alot of minorities (please do not take offense) is that when they find success they often wear it as a "I am better than you" badge on their chest instead of taking what they have learned and passing it on. I find this so frustrating because the only way we are really going to progress as a whole is by helping one another.

Trust me when I tell you that it is VERY VERY lonely in those BIG LAW jobs when you are a minority. I have seen it time and time again. There is practically no one there to TRULY mentor you. You mostly find someone of your background in the mailroom or catering and I am sure they can't direct you on the partner track. I have seen urban minorities and minorities who come from wealthy backgrounds ALL get the same treatment.

I think a lot of you guys will be in for a rude awakening once you get to the other side (not wishing for a bad experience for you at all). It's just funny how a lot of people will be wishing and hoping to grab onto someone in BIG LAW to guide them when they have never taken the time to do the same for someone else.

MrPapagiorgio wrote:

alexonfyre wrote:

dkt4 wrote:does making it rain in the club count as giving back to the community?

You are donating to the less fortunate...so yes, even if the less fortunate happen to be hitting you in the face with their titties at the time.

Do you have to be URM to do this?

No you do not.

Just doing a quick estimate in my head, not meant to be entirely accurate...

I've put in something like, let's see, around 700 pro bono hours since I started law school. 90% of that has been criminal or civil defense litigation on behalf of indigent clients, who are (sadly) disproportionately people of color.

Now that I feel a little good about myself again, I'm going to bed.

vanwinkle wrote:Just doing a quick estimate in my head, not meant to be entirely accurate...

I've put in something like, let's see, around 700 pro bono hours since I started law school. 90% of that has been criminal or civil defense litigation on behalf of indigent clients, who are (sadly) disproportionately people of color.

Now that I feel a little good about myself again, I'm going to bed.

+1

Although you should probably feel good about yourself generally.

vanwinkle wrote:Just doing a quick estimate in my head, not meant to be entirely accurate...

I've put in something like, let's see, around 700 pro bono hours since I started law school. 90% of that has been criminal or civil defense litigation on behalf of indigent clients, who are (sadly) disproportionately people of color.

Now that I feel a little good about myself again, I'm going to bed.

I plan to follow in the steps of vanwinkle.

socraticmethodman wrote:

vanwinkle wrote:Just doing a quick estimate in my head, not meant to be entirely accurate...

I've put in something like, let's see, around 700 pro bono hours since I started law school. 90% of that has been criminal or civil defense litigation on behalf of indigent clients, who are (sadly) disproportionately people of color.

Now that I feel a little good about myself again, I'm going to bed.

I plan to follow in the steps of vanwinkle.

+1, and continue doing so when after I pass the bar

I have a concept for a non-profit that I want to put in action (or pass on as an initiative to an established non-profit) that is a definite pay it forward direct at under-served high school students.

My parents sit on the board of directors for a nonprofit founded by two practicing doctors. Those doctors don't sleep much, but I want to follow in their footsteps, as they have utilized their professional connections (and personal investment $$$s) to make major changes worldwide.

In the meantime... pro bono hours for me as well.

Lol @ "pre-law advisors are just overpaid seat warmers that offer no real help to minority students..."

Pre-law advisors don't offer help to ANY students... it has nothing to do with race. At all.

Shooter wrote:Lol @ "pre-law advisors are just overpaid seat warmers that offer no real help to minority students..."

Pre-law advisors don't offer help to ANY students... it has nothing to do with race. At all.

Maybe at your school... mine were awesome actually. Proofed all of my essays and resume, tracked and distributed law school scholarship LORs, answered my questions and emails at 8pm from their crackberries... Maybe it's a you-get-what-you-pay-for type deal depending on the $$$ of the undergrad institution?

BlakcMajikc wrote:

Shooter wrote:Lol @ "pre-law advisors are just overpaid seat warmers that offer no real help to minority students..."

Pre-law advisors don't offer help to ANY students... it has nothing to do with race. At all.

Maybe at your school... mine were awesome actually. Proofed all of my essays and resume, tracked and distributed law school scholarship LORs, answered my questions and emails at 8pm from their crackberries... Maybe it's a you-get-what-you-pay-for type deal depending on the $$$ of the undergrad institution?

No way. My school is one of the most costly in the country, and our pre-law program is pretty terrible/their information is outdated. Oh well, TLS has always been helpful.

BlakcMajikc wrote:I have a concept for a non-profit that I want to put in action (or pass on as an initiative to an established non-profit) that is a definite pay it forward direct at under-served high school students.

My parents sit on the board of directors for a nonprofit founded by two practicing doctors. Those doctors don't sleep much, but I want to follow in their footsteps, as they have utilized their professional connections (and personal investment $$$s) to make major changes worldwide.

In the meantime... pro bono hours for me as well.

This sounds great! Its things like this that motivate others to reach further then they originally planned.