Bombarded with People Saying "Don't do it!" Forum

[ymmv]

The responses here actually provided me with some comfort and encouragement about my decision to pursue law.

Based on my research and personal experiences, I arrived at the conclusion that I wanted to practice law a long time ago.
For me, a legal career isn't about capitalizing on the American dream of status and prestige...nor is it about delusions of grandeur, or seeking an elevated social status that will compensate for my personal insecurity and shortcomings.

So what is it about for you?

[fats provolone]

The responses here actually provided me with some comfort and encouragement about my decision to pursue law.

Based on my research and personal experiences, I arrived at the conclusion that I wanted to practice law a long time ago.
For me, a legal career isn't about capitalizing on the American dream of status and prestige...nor is it about delusions of grandeur, or seeking an elevated social status that will compensate for my personal insecurity and shortcomings.

my immediate mental response to your post: "kill yourself"

in law, you will be working for and with people exactly like me

enjoy

[A. Nony Mouse]

To be fair, a lot of people here say "law" when they really mean "biglaw." My colleagues and most opposing counsel are exceedingly chill.

Of course, in the public sector you get a different kind of burnout, particularly among the "help the indigent" kinds of jobs, so there's that.

[ashca2014]

The responses here actually provided me with some comfort and encouragement about my decision to pursue law.

Based on my research and personal experiences, I arrived at the conclusion that I wanted to practice law a long time ago.
For me, a legal career isn't about capitalizing on the American dream of status and prestige...nor is it about delusions of grandeur, or seeking an elevated social status that will compensate for my personal insecurity and shortcomings.

So what is it about for you?

Obtaining the means and influence to [hopefully] have a positive impact on people's lives.

As I mentioned earlier, I have dealt with depression for most of my life. I have also changed locations and living circumstances throughout my life. I've lived in the suburbs of Hawaii, a city in Japan, a college town in Germany, and I've been pretty much dead broke in no-where Indiana. In high school, I was a religious prude...in college, I was a hippie party girl. What I've learned through these experiences is that, for the most part, external factors rarely have a significant impact on one's overall happiness in life. I've been severely depressed in life circumstances that most people would assume would bring a person immense joy.
Any person who buys into the lie that money, prestige, and status bring happiness and fulfillment is terribly naive, and probably has had very little real world experiences. If a person is choosing a life path based on society's concept of success, or because they think it will make others respect and admire them...they are pretty much screwed.

I transferred from a small satellite school on a military post in Japan, to one of the top universities in the country. I thought I would encounter people with unmatched intelligence, passion, etc. But instead, I was met with a bunch of entitled, superficial, neurotic people who were driven to achieve financial success merely because it had been drilled into them at a young age.
They weren't happy. I met more alcoholics and pill poppers than I did people who truly had a passion for what they were studying. For most of them, it was about living up to the ridiculous expectations of their cold, strict parents. I'm thankful I had the opportunity to receive a great education...but I'm also thankful I had the opportunity to see that the "upper class" aren't any happier than the rest of us.

In my opinion and based on my personal experience, happiness and fulfillment comes from having self-confidence (which has to be cultivated introspectively...depending on external factors like prestige and the opinions of others cannot sustain a positive/healthy self-image), healthy and satisfying relationships with friends and family, and being able to do something you enjoy and are passionate about. I enjoy writing, research, debate, philosophy, legal history, and being an advocate for others.
As a black female, I feel I have a perspective that has afforded me unique insight and motivation when it comes to helping subjugated social groups.

But at the same time, I don't expect to change the world. I also don't expect for my career to be the central source of meaning and happiness in my life.

[fats provolone]

i hope you do well honestly

[ashca2014]

The responses here actually provided me with some comfort and encouragement about my decision to pursue law.

Based on my research and personal experiences, I arrived at the conclusion that I wanted to practice law a long time ago.
For me, a legal career isn't about capitalizing on the American dream of status and prestige...nor is it about delusions of grandeur, or seeking an elevated social status that will compensate for my personal insecurity and shortcomings.

my immediate mental response to your post: "kill yourself"

in law, you will be working for and with people exactly like me

enjoy

We'll see.

[ashca2014]

i hope you do well honestly

D'awwww.

[ashca2014]

Of course, in the public sector you get a different kind of burnout, particularly among the "help the indigent" kinds of jobs, so there's that.

Yeah, that does concern me a bit, to be honest. We shall see I suppose. But I've kinda been burnt out on life since I was 14...so it can only get better or stay the same.

[fats provolone]

i hope you do well honestly

D'awwww.

I'm drunk though

[kalvano]

Happiness and fulfillment come from money and having the most impressive business card.

[ashca2014]

Happiness and fulfillment come from money and having the most impressive business card.

Okay, Patrick Bateman.

[UnicornHunter]

The responses here actually provided me with some comfort and encouragement about my decision to pursue law.

Based on my research and personal experiences, I arrived at the conclusion that I wanted to practice law a long time ago.
For me, a legal career isn't about capitalizing on the American dream of status and prestige...nor is it about delusions of grandeur, or seeking an elevated social status that will compensate for my personal insecurity and shortcomings.

So what is it about for you?

Obtaining the means and influence to [hopefully] have a positive impact on people's lives.

As I mentioned earlier, I have dealt with depression for most of my life. I have also changed locations and living circumstances throughout my life. I've lived in the suburbs of Hawaii, a city in Japan, a college town in Germany, and I've been pretty much dead broke in no-where Indiana. In high school, I was a religious prude...in college, I was a hippie party girl. What I've learned through these experiences is that, for the most part, external factors rarely have a significant impact on one's overall happiness in life. I've been severely depressed in life circumstances that most people would assume would bring a person immense joy.
Any person who buys into the lie that money, prestige, and status bring happiness and fulfillment is terribly naive, and probably has had very little real world experiences. If a person is choosing a life path based on society's concept of success, or because they think it will make others respect and admire them...they are pretty much screwed.

I transferred from a small satellite school on a military post in Japan, to one of the top universities in the country. I thought I would encounter people with unmatched intelligence, passion, etc. But instead, I was met with a bunch of entitled, superficial, neurotic people who were driven to achieve financial success merely because it had been drilled into them at a young age.
They weren't happy. I met more alcoholics and pill poppers than I did people who truly had a passion for what they were studying. For most of them, it was about living up to the ridiculous expectations of their cold, strict parents. I'm thankful I had the opportunity to receive a great education...but I'm also thankful I had the opportunity to see that the "upper class" aren't any happier than the rest of us.

In my opinion and based on my personal experience, happiness and fulfillment comes from having self-confidence (which has to be cultivated introspectively...depending on external factors like prestige and the opinions of others cannot sustain a positive/healthy self-image), healthy and satisfying relationships with friends and family, and being able to do something you enjoy and are passionate about. I enjoy writing, research, debate, philosophy, legal history, and being an advocate for others.
As a black female, I feel I have a perspective that has afforded me unique insight and motivation when it comes to helping subjugated social groups.

But at the same time, I don't expect to change the world. I also don't expect for my career to be the central source of meaning and happiness in my life.

What job, exactly, do you have in mind for yourself? If you want to "help people" there are a thousand better ways to do it than through the law. Why not go work for UNHCR or get into public policy or start a company that doesn't treat people like shit?

If you really want to help people, going to law school seems like you are- at best- taking a three year detour, and more likely you're just driving off the path.

[ashca2014]

The responses here actually provided me with some comfort and encouragement about my decision to pursue law.

Based on my research and personal experiences, I arrived at the conclusion that I wanted to practice law a long time ago.
For me, a legal career isn't about capitalizing on the American dream of status and prestige...nor is it about delusions of grandeur, or seeking an elevated social status that will compensate for my personal insecurity and shortcomings.

So what is it about for you?

Obtaining the means and influence to [hopefully] have a positive impact on people's lives.

As I mentioned earlier, I have dealt with depression for most of my life. I have also changed locations and living circumstances throughout my life. I've lived in the suburbs of Hawaii, a city in Japan, a college town in Germany, and I've been pretty much dead broke in no-where Indiana. In high school, I was a religious prude...in college, I was a hippie party girl. What I've learned through these experiences is that, for the most part, external factors rarely have a significant impact on one's overall happiness in life. I've been severely depressed in life circumstances that most people would assume would bring a person immense joy.
Any person who buys into the lie that money, prestige, and status bring happiness and fulfillment is terribly naive, and probably has had very little real world experiences. If a person is choosing a life path based on society's concept of success, or because they think it will make others respect and admire them...they are pretty much screwed.

I transferred from a small satellite school on a military post in Japan, to one of the top universities in the country. I thought I would encounter people with unmatched intelligence, passion, etc. But instead, I was met with a bunch of entitled, superficial, neurotic people who were driven to achieve financial success merely because it had been drilled into them at a young age.
They weren't happy. I met more alcoholics and pill poppers than I did people who truly had a passion for what they were studying. For most of them, it was about living up to the ridiculous expectations of their cold, strict parents. I'm thankful I had the opportunity to receive a great education...but I'm also thankful I had the opportunity to see that the "upper class" aren't any happier than the rest of us.

In my opinion and based on my personal experience, happiness and fulfillment comes from having self-confidence (which has to be cultivated introspectively...depending on external factors like prestige and the opinions of others cannot sustain a positive/healthy self-image), healthy and satisfying relationships with friends and family, and being able to do something you enjoy and are passionate about. I enjoy writing, research, debate, philosophy, legal history, and being an advocate for others.
As a black female, I feel I have a perspective that has afforded me unique insight and motivation when it comes to helping subjugated social groups.

But at the same time, I don't expect to change the world. I also don't expect for my career to be the central source of meaning and happiness in my life.

What job, exactly, do you have in mind for yourself? If you want to "help people" there are a thousand better ways to do it than through the law. Why not go work for UNHCR or get into public policy or start a company that doesn't treat people like shit?

If you really want to help people, going to law school seems like you are- at best- taking a three year detour, and more likely you're just driving off the path.

There may be better ways...but as I initially stated, I have an interest in law, and a desire to practice law as my career.
It's something I've wanted to for as long as I can remember. I was the weirdo kid who watched Courttv (now Trutv) instead of cartoons all summer, and liked to listen to political talk radio.

In our country, decent legal representation is often limited to those with the massive bank accounts to afford it. Why? Because a majority of people who pursue a legal career are white males (although, admittedly, that has been changing in recent years) who generally do so with the intention of making as much money as possible and achieving a social status that will make them envied and admired. They have no problem looking out for the legal interests of those that reflect their values and desired lifestyle.

In my opinion, the American legal field desperately needs people who come from a different perspective. I feel that as a black female, I can offer a level of insight, dedication, and empathy to clients who otherwise may be not be provided with adequate representation. Furthermore, I don't care about becoming rich, I don't need a fancy condo in NYC, and I don't dream about owning a $100,000 car to compensate for the shortcomings of my masculinity. Therefore, I'd be willing serve clients without demanding obscene amounts of money.

Basically, I think the inequity in legal representation in our society is bullshit...and I hope to do my part, however small, to change it. I would gladly offer my services to groups that focus on racism, sexism, ageism, disability rights, animal rights. Obviously, I will zero in on a speciality at some point...but yeah.

I am aware that there is a possibility that things may not turn out as I hope they will...but that's life. There are no guarantees.
I might go to law school, spend three years tired and miserable trying to maintain decent grades, then get run over by a bus the day before graduation. I don't think my goals are any less realistic than the dudes who are pursing law school with dreams of becoming obscenely rich and screwing super models for the rest of their lives (which pretty much seems to be the norm among those who salivate over the prospect of "biglaw").

[Tiago Splitter]

In our country, decent legal representation is often limited to those with the massive bank accounts to afford it. Why? Because a majority of people who pursue a legal career are white males (although, admittedly, that has been changing in recent years) who generally do so with the intention of making as much money as possible and achieving a social status that will make them envied and admired.

That's actually not at all why. You sound like a law school dean.

[pancakes3]

I find the OP's characterization of the types of people who go to law school to be fairly offensive. People are capable of pursuing financial security without being compensating for a small dick or motivated by supermodel pussy. In fact, I would say that most don't.

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

OP keep in mind this is true of other high stress/long hour professions
A lot of doctors tell undergrad pre-meds to do something else, even to become a dentist (bc better hours, low stress, good $)
A friend of mine who is a dr posted an article (with a graph) showing that the economic outcome is similar for someone who starts becoming a public school teacher out of undergrad vs. goes to med school, because the latter is very expensive plus you lose the salary from those years
Don't go to law school if you don't want to be a lawyer or your don't have the traits to be successful

[ashca2014]

In our country, decent legal representation is often limited to those with the massive bank accounts to afford it. Why? Because a majority of people who pursue a legal career are white males (although, admittedly, that has been changing in recent years) who generally do so with the intention of making as much money as possible and achieving a social status that will make them envied and admired.

That's actually not at all why. You sound like a law school dean.

May not be the sole reason...but I'd wager it definitely has an impact.

[ashca2014]

I find the OP's characterization of the types of people who go to law school to be fairly offensive. People are capable of pursuing financial security without being compensating for a small dick or motivated by supermodel pussy. In fact, I would say that most don't.

I wasn't referring to people who merely want financial security.

[Rigo]

Drop the holier than thou attitude.
You took your diagnostic a few days ago.

[ashca2014]

Drop the holier than thou attitude.
You took your diagnostic a few days ago.

And?

If you or others perceive me as having a "holier than thou" attitude...not my problem.
I'm not claiming to be some martyr, or self-sacrificing Mother Teresa. I'm pursuing fulfillment and career satisfaction just like everyone else...I just have my own definition of what it is.

[kjartan]

Your classmates are going to eat you alive.

[ymmv]

Your classmates are going to eat you alive.

No they won't. Law schools are full of people this naive who form an echo chamber of enablement when congregated.

[ashca2014]

Your classmates are going to eat you alive.

No they won't. Law schools are full of people this naive who form an echo chamber of enablement when congregated.

More comforting info.

[Rigo]

Drop the holier than thou attitude.
You took your diagnostic a few days ago.

And?

It's tactless.

If you or others perceive me as having a "holier than thou" attitude...not my problem.

Who wouldn't perceive that given your posts on this page?

I'm not claiming to be some martyr, or self-sacrificing Mother Teresa. I'm pursuing fulfillment and career satisfaction just like everyone else...I just have my own definition of what it is.

Cool. That isn't what I'm criticizing.
You're making inaccurate sweeping generalizations of others in order to prop yourself up as a better person. Citing the size of a man's anatomy for all the ills you perceive in the legal field/world is a bit much. You're making value judgements about people you don't know.
Also, know your audience. Many posters here are white males who are in biglaw/want biglaw. This isn't how you make friends and influence people.

[fats provolone]

i have a huge cock and biglaw still sucks