Seeking advice for a modern day Don Quixote Forum

[AdviceForFriend]

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[despina]

Likely if this guy hasn't been happy with the results of his first two cycles, and hasn't added anything to his resume in the meantime, the results of the next cycle will be the same and you won't have to convince him of anything.

Or maybe he'll be persuaded by a consultation with an American immigration attorney, who can explain to him in detail what is options would actually be to stay here.

Also maybe your next reply to him can explain that before he comes to America he needs to stop using "Jewish" as a synonym for "greedy"? Or actually, maybe he can stop doing that even if he doesn't come here?

[Tiago Splitter]

How does he plan to finance this venture? He won't have access to the federal loan spigot.

[AdviceForFriend]

Or maybe he'll be persuaded by a consultation with an American immigration attorney, who can explain to him in detail what is options would actually be to stay here.

I think this is a great option at this point. I'll write to an immigration attorney on his behalf and then forward the attorney's reply.

Also maybe your next reply to him can explain that before he comes to America he needs to stop using "Jewish" as a synonym for "greedy"? Or actually, maybe he can stop doing that even if he doesn't come here?

His unabashed antisemitism was the last straw for me as well. He lost what precious little respect I had for him. Unfortunately, I'm not going to bother trying to show him how the error of his ways. Such an effort will not bear any fruit. Antisemitism, Holocaust denial, and the acceptance of outrageous conspiracy theories are an accepted part of the cultural apparatus in that part of the world. I alone can't do anything to change that.

[AdviceForFriend]

How does he plan to finance this venture? He won't have access to the federal loan spigot.

He believes that he can "bargain" his way into getting a school to give him a full ride. If that fails, he says that his family is wealthy and is willing to cover his expenses. At the end of the day, regardless of whether he pays a penny for his JD, the degree itself will be a waste. It will not prepare him to practice law in Pakistan. And without an immigration status beyond student, there is no way he will get to stay here. What's the point?

[Tiago Splitter]

How does he plan to finance this venture? He won't have access to the federal loan spigot.

He believes that he can "bargain" his way into getting a school to give him a full ride. If that fails, he says that his family is wealthy and is willing to cover his expenses. At the end of the day, regardless of whether he pays a penny for his JD, the degree itself will be a waste. It will not prepare him to practice law in Pakistan. And without an immigration status beyond student, there is no way he will get to stay here. What's the point?

If he gets a job the employer can sponsor him for a visa. This is pretty routine among big firm work, but big firm jobs typically go mostly to students from top schools. If he can't get into a top school then yeah his immigration status will make an already difficult job search even harder.

[patogordo]

this thread is so fucking weird

[Theopliske8711]

Such an effort will not bear any fruit. Antisemitism, Holocaust denial, and the acceptance of outrageous conspiracy theories are an accepted part of the cultural apparatus in that part of the world. I alone can't do anything to change that.

Middle Eastern? Something East...

[AdviceForFriend]

If he gets a job the employer can sponsor him for a visa. This is pretty routine among big firm work . . .

Look at the way he writes. I honestly believe he doesn't have shot in hell at finishing in the top quartile at T14 or even a T1. I've explained all of this to him, but it's been like talking to a particularly thick brick wall.

[patogordo]

Four years. We dont know what will have happened in those 4 years. Recession deepens. US pulls itself out. US decides to wipe Pakistan off the map, bomb it to stone ages. World War III happens. Do we know? Would I be alive? Would I hit by a car and yooo there goes [NAME REDACTED], Goodbye.Or I fall off the stairs and paralyze myself for life. Life is unpredictable and we cant make it predictable. The best way is to have values, and stick by them, and do things which are in your hand while the stars play fickle with you.

sounds like he has basically the same justification for going to law school as half the 0Ls on tls

[Winston1984]

How could you be friends with someone like this?

[Tiago Splitter]

If he gets a job the employer can sponsor him for a visa. This is pretty routine among big firm work . . .

Look at the way he writes. I honestly believe he doesn't have shot in hell at finishing in the top quartile at T14 or even a T1. I've explained all of this to him, but it's been like talking to a particularly thick brick wall.

You might be surprised...But he's gotta get a high LSAT score or else yeah this is stupid and you either need to shoot him or let him do his thing

[AdviceForFriend]

How could you be friends with someone like this?

Full disclosure: he isn't a friend in the true sense of the word. He is the son of one of my dad's college buddies. I'm the only person he knows who has been to law school in the US and therefore keeps asking me for advice. The difference between us is that I'm an American citizen and don't have any immigration problems to worry about. I've tried to be honest with him about how poor his decision appears to me, but it's apparent that he isn't looking for honest advice.

[patogordo]

is this what you do every time someone you don't care about asks you for advice? just tell him "well i don't think it's a smart move but i wish you the best of luck whatever you decide. hope you don't get blown up by a drone." and then move on with your life.

[AdviceForFriend]

is this what you do every time someone you don't care about asks you for advice? just tell him "well i don't think it's a smart move but i wish you the best of luck whatever you decide. hope you don't get blown up by a drone." and then move on with your life.

It took me some time to realize this, but yes, your advice is sensible. As I've said, I'm pretty much given up. He can do what he wants. It's just unbelievable how stupid this decision is (then again, the same probably applies to a lot of 0Ls)

[AdviceForFriend]

Middle Eastern? Something East...

Close enough.

[Ambi-Turner]

His unabashed antisemitism was the last straw for me as well. He lost what precious little respect I had for him. Unfortunately, I'm not going to bother trying to show him how the error of his ways. Such an effort will not bear any fruit. Antisemitism, Holocaust denial, and the acceptance of outrageous conspiracy theories are an accepted part of the cultural apparatus in that part of the world. I alone can't do anything to change that.

Why not just tell him that the majority of law students are Jewish? The veracity of the claim doesn't matter if it can scare him away from wasting his time/money.

[sublime]

..

[AdviceForFriend]

Why not just tell him that the majority of law students are Jewish? The veracity of the claim doesn't matter if it can scare him away from wasting his time/money.

Haha that's an option I did not consider. Good call.

[AdviceForFriend]

We get it OP, you are much more rational and intelligent but less bigoted than your friend, Don Quixote, "that part of the world," and "most 0L's"

Um. Thank you...?

[Balthy]

We get it OP, you are much more rational and intelligent but less bigoted than your friend, Don Quixote, "that part of the world," and "most 0L's"

Um. Thank you...?

He's saying your a patronizing dickhead who stereotypes just as much as your friend.

[AdviceForFriend]

He's saying your a patronizing dickhead who stereotypes just as much as your friend.

If you say so.

[Balthy]

But OP, ive lived in "that part of the world" for a year and...i agree

As for your friend, it seems like he doesnt really want to use his US JD in the normal professional sense. He seems to have loftier goals of changing his country on a larger scale, maybe as an activist or politician. To this end, i do think preftigious US degrees are ridiculously valuable in pakistan/bangladesh (don't know about india).

[Balthy]

Having an ivy league education in those countries is like the equivalent of winning a nobel prize or curing cancer in the US. Instant, no-questions-asked credibility.

[AdviceForFriend]

But OP, ive lived in "that part of the world" for a year and...i agree

As for your friend, it seems like he doesnt really want to use his US JD in the normal professional sense. He seems to have loftier goals of changing his country on a larger scale, maybe as an activist or politician. To this end, i do think preftigious US degrees are ridiculously valuable in pakistan/bangladesh (don't know about india).

I agree. I've told him that a JD will be valuable to him if and only if he wants to run for political office in Pakistan. However, running for political office in Pakistan isn't exactly straightforward. His family may indeed be wealthy, but it isn't politically well-connected. It's tough to say whether his political ambitions, if he indeed has them, are genuine. Even if they are genuine, ambition alone sadly isn't sufficient. We are talking about a country that ranks 127/177 in Transparency International's 2013 Corruption Perception Index.