Law degree and Public Office Forum
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Law degree and Public Office
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
- Posts: 321
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Re: Law degree and Public Office
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.
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
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Re: Law degree and Public Office
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
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Re: Law degree and Public Office
This is a poorly made poll. The choices are not very well thought out.
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Re: Law degree and Public Office
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.
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- reasonable_man
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Re: Law degree and Public Office
Where are you going to LS?gprime wrote: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.
- OGR3
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Re: Law degree and Public Office
First, that's what graft is for.gprime wrote: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.
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
- Posts: 756
- Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 5:39 pm
Re: Law degree and Public Office
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.
Yes, I know, blatant Bernie Sanders trolling.
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Re: Law degree and Public Office
Nowhere as of yet. Hell, I'm not even applying until next cycle, since I'm still a junior.reasonable_man wrote:Where are you going to LS?gprime wrote: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.
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.OGR3 wrote: 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.
- reasonable_man
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Re: Law degree and Public Office
So have you decided which biglaw firm you are going to work at yet?gprime wrote:Nowhere as of yet. Hell, I'm not even applying until next cycle, since I'm still a junior.reasonable_man wrote:Where are you going to LS?gprime wrote: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.
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.OGR3 wrote: 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.
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Re: Law degree and Public Office
reasonable_man wrote:So have you decided which biglaw firm you are going to work at yet?gprime wrote:Nowhere as of yet. Hell, I'm not even applying until next cycle, since I'm still a junior.reasonable_man wrote:Where are you going to LS?gprime wrote: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.
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.OGR3 wrote: 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.

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
- Posts: 850
- Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:20 am
Re: Law degree and Public Office
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
- Posts: 2194
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Re: Law degree and Public Office
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.
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.
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- mbw
- Posts: 341
- Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:56 pm
Re: Law degree and Public Office
Agreed. You left out, "already have."Bosque wrote:This is a poorly made poll. The choices are not very well thought out.
- TTH
- Posts: 10471
- Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 1:14 am
Re: Law degree and Public Office
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.
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Re: Law degree and Public Office
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.reasonable_man wrote: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.
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