Law degree and Public Office Forum

[elmagic]

It seems a lot of elected officials including presidents, senators, members of congress, have a law degree, so I am curious to know if there are a lot of people here who are interested in public office down the line, or maybe even immediately following law school?

[sayan]

Law, at a fundamental level, deals with conflict and thus is in some ways able to prepare one to enter a world of constant conflict (i.e., politics). The foundation of argument is pretty useful too.

I can definitely see how it would prepare one for public office and it would be something I'm open to down the line; definitely not just out of law school, though.

[Panther7]

I would love to, but realistically I plan to work a real job for a few years to make contacts and get myself better prepared.

[Bosque]

This is a poorly made poll. The choices are not very well thought out.

[gprime]

I couldn't see myself running for political office for two primary reasons. First is money. Sure, you can work a biglaw job for a few years to retire your debt and then find some other sort of work that pays at a lower rate, but I don't much care to take a hit in income when I'm still trying to build up my wealth. Second, even were I to ignore the serious financial ramifications, I'm rather certain I'm unelectable based on the positions I hold.

[reasonable_man]

I couldn't see myself running for political office for two primary reasons. First is money. Sure, you can work a biglaw job for a few years to retire your debt and then find some other sort of work that pays at a lower rate, but I don't much care to take a hit in income when I'm still trying to build up my wealth. Second, even were I to ignore the serious financial ramifications, I'm rather certain I'm unelectable based on the positions I hold.

Where are you going to LS?

[OGR3]

I couldn't see myself running for political office for two primary reasons. First is money. Sure, you can work a biglaw job for a few years to retire your debt and then find some other sort of work that pays at a lower rate, but I don't much care to take a hit in income when I'm still trying to build up my wealth. Second, even were I to ignore the serious financial ramifications, I'm rather certain I'm unelectable based on the positions I hold.

First, that's what graft is for.

Second, good politicians change their views to give them the best chance of being elected, or you could just move somewhere more in line with your views.

[84Sunbird2000]

In the long run (and yes, I'll likely practice first) running for office is the main (but not only) reason I'm going to school. And I'm certain I'll run several times if I don't die young, even if I fail every time or have to run on the Socialist party ticket. Hmm, maybe I need to go to a Northeast school so I can practice and live in Vermont where they actually elect Socialists!

Yes, I know, blatant Bernie Sanders trolling.

[gprime]

I couldn't see myself running for political office for two primary reasons. First is money. Sure, you can work a biglaw job for a few years to retire your debt and then find some other sort of work that pays at a lower rate, but I don't much care to take a hit in income when I'm still trying to build up my wealth. Second, even were I to ignore the serious financial ramifications, I'm rather certain I'm unelectable based on the positions I hold.

Where are you going to LS?

Nowhere as of yet. Hell, I'm not even applying until next cycle, since I'm still a junior.

First, that's what graft is for.

Second, good politicians change their views to give them the best chance of being elected, or you could just move somewhere more in line with your views.

Moral questions aside, I'd think after a cost-benefit analysis grafting is a losing proposition. As to your second point, that'd be well taken if my life's ambition was a career in politics. But, that not being the case, I don't feel compelled to draft a political platform built around polling data. Moving somewhere in line with my views is no more practical either, since amplified versions of Goldwater generally don't win elections anywhere.

[reasonable_man]

I couldn't see myself running for political office for two primary reasons. First is money. Sure, you can work a biglaw job for a few years to retire your debt and then find some other sort of work that pays at a lower rate, but I don't much care to take a hit in income when I'm still trying to build up my wealth. Second, even were I to ignore the serious financial ramifications, I'm rather certain I'm unelectable based on the positions I hold.

Where are you going to LS?

Nowhere as of yet. Hell, I'm not even applying until next cycle, since I'm still a junior.

First, that's what graft is for.

Second, good politicians change their views to give them the best chance of being elected, or you could just move somewhere more in line with your views.

Moral questions aside, I'd think after a cost-benefit analysis grafting is a losing proposition. As to your second point, that'd be well taken if my life's ambition was a career in politics. But, that not being the case, I don't feel compelled to draft a political platform built around polling data. Moving somewhere in line with my views is no more practical either, since amplified versions of Goldwater generally don't win elections anywhere.

So have you decided which biglaw firm you are going to work at yet?

[gprime]

I couldn't see myself running for political office for two primary reasons. First is money. Sure, you can work a biglaw job for a few years to retire your debt and then find some other sort of work that pays at a lower rate, but I don't much care to take a hit in income when I'm still trying to build up my wealth. Second, even were I to ignore the serious financial ramifications, I'm rather certain I'm unelectable based on the positions I hold.

Where are you going to LS?

Nowhere as of yet. Hell, I'm not even applying until next cycle, since I'm still a junior.

First, that's what graft is for.

Second, good politicians change their views to give them the best chance of being elected, or you could just move somewhere more in line with your views.

Moral questions aside, I'd think after a cost-benefit analysis grafting is a losing proposition. As to your second point, that'd be well taken if my life's ambition was a career in politics. But, that not being the case, I don't feel compelled to draft a political platform built around polling data. Moving somewhere in line with my views is no more practical either, since amplified versions of Goldwater generally don't win elections anywhere.

So have you decided which biglaw firm you are going to work at yet?

I've read plenty of your posts, and I'm well aware of the message you make every effort to send on a continued basis. And it certainly isn't lost on me. If I don't get into an adequate caliber law school, I'll not be enrolling just for the hell of it. Whatever inclination I might have to enter the legal world, I'm well aware of the serious, long term financial pains attached to going to schools like Case Western or Seton Hall, and wouldn't be applying there, much less attending. But you know, the idea that a TLS applicant might actually, shockingly, opt to practice law after having gone to and graduated from law school, really ought not be shocking enough to warrant your unhelpful sarcasm. After all, I'm not here trying to convince unsuspecting future applicants to look at NYLS or Brooklyn on the promise of $150k starting biglaw jobs for everybody with a C average or better. Indeed, I've made no claim other than having an interest in attending law school, which ought to be a given for most non-students/graduates on these boards.

[MURPH]

I ran for office once, as a Libertarian. I got killed, of course. I don't think I'd run again but i would like to be active politically. I volunteer at the ACLU now and see first hand the influence that politically minded lawyers can have on the process. I could certainly see myself working for a public interest group or for a candidate.

[reasonable_man]

Gprime:

I actually practice law after attending LS. I just think the way you phrase it, as if biglaw is something you choose instead of the way it is, biglaw choosing you, is awful fucking silly.

[mbw]

This is a poorly made poll. The choices are not very well thought out.

Agreed. You left out, "already have."

[TTH]

I'd like to eventually run for something which a high income-to-time spent ratio. I know in some places, County Commissioners can make 30-40k for attending one three hour meeting every two weeks. Sounds like my kind of supplemental job.

[gprime]

Gprime:

I actually practice law after attending LS. I just think the way you phrase it, as if biglaw is something you choose instead of the way it is, biglaw choosing you, is awful fucking silly.

That is a fair point. But I don't think it is at all a stretch to suggest that somebody who goes to a select group of law schools and places well enough once there would have the choice to accept a biglaw job if they so desired it and made sound OCI choices. And I don't think I've suggested much beyond that, at least not intentionally.