If I dislike reading, will I hate being a lawyer? Forum

[greg737]

OK, so I have never, ever considered myself a pleasure reader. Does that mean I will hate being a lawyer? I know much of the job (and all of law schools) are reading and re-reading cases, so obviously it's a big part. I do work as a journalist now, so I can write and I read plenty while working. It's just I don't choose to read on my own time.

I mean I went the SparkNotes route to get through all the books they have you read in high school; Would it seem like I'm setting myself up for failure if law school and beyond?

[Norwood]

Does an accountant who hates to do accounting on his own time for pleasure mean he hates being an accountant?

There's a difference between choosing not to read on your free time and hating to read. If you hate to read and can't stand reading for more than 5 minutes then think twice about being a lawyer. I don't choose to read on my free time either. However, it was never a problem when the time came around to sit down and crank through 40 pages or so of cases.

[whymeohgodno]

Does an accountant who hates to do accounting on his own time for pleasure mean he hates being an accountant?

There's a difference between choosing not to read on your free time and hating to read. If you hate to read and can't stand reading for more than 5 minutes then think twice about being a lawyer. I don't choose to read on my free time either. However, it was never a problem when the time came around to sit down and crank through 40 pages or so of cases.

+1

Maybe you just procrastinate. I'm one of those people that sparknoted his way through a lot of classes as well. But it wasn't for the hate of reading. It was because I procrastinated and had no time.

[CanadianWolf]

Reading & writing are essential skills for lawyers. If you do not like to read, you probably will not enjoy the practice of law just as chemists should enjoy lab work.

[FantasticMrFox]

Reading & writing are essential skills for lawyers. If you do not like to read, you probably will not enjoy the practice of law just as chemists should enjoy lab work.

but i doubt most people enjoy reading cases the same way they enjoy reading for pleasure so even if you don't generally read during your free time doesn't mean much especially seeing this person stated he writes and reads plenty for his journalism-related job (which is still better than people who enjoy reading but read cheap fictions)

[CanadianWolf]

The OP's primary concern is that he doesn't like to read on his own time. This is fine since, as an attorney, you are unlikely to have any "own time".

[LockBox]

Reading & writing are essential skills for lawyers. If you do not like to read, you probably will not enjoy the practice of law just as chemists should enjoy lab work.

I'm a chemist who works in a lab doing "lab work" all day. I distinctly detest lab work. OP, go to law school.

[CanadianWolf]

You hate your job so you want OP to hate his ? Misery loves company ?

@LockBox: Just noticed that you are applying to law school & will be leaving your job as a chemist to attend Santa Clara's law school.
Doesn't that discredit your advice to OP ?

[LockBox]

You hate your job so you want OP to hate his ? Misery loves company ?

@LockBox: Just noticed that you are applying to law school & will be leaving your job as a chemist.
Doesn't that discredit your advice to OP ?

I understand how you would come to that conclusion. Without revealing too much, lets just say that i'm looking for a different career for reasons other than detesting lab work. To be fair detest is probably too strong a word...but it's more the industry that i'm not a fan of.

[CanadianWolf]

Another concern is that many lawyers who love reading & writing hate their jobs as attorneys--but that's a slighty different issue.

[warandpeace]

just ask yourself if you are comfortable with spending 30mins-1hr reading at a time, etc. i don't think you have to adore reading. it's not "literature", anyways.

[greg737]

Thanks for all the responses. It does seem like "pleasure reading" and law school reading are distinct things -- probably b/c law school reading is not pleasurable at all!

I have read a few case decisions just to see what they're like. It appears to be a much more analytical type of reading, so I feel I can manage.

I just hated all my english classes back in high school, mainly b/c I simply did not care about people like "Pip" and what significance he had to my life.

[arvcondor]

How the hell does someone who doesn't like reading come to be a journalist?

Also re: the last line of your above post: I'm not really sure how to deal with you.

[Renzo]

How the hell does someone who doesn't like reading come to be a journalist?

I had the exact same question, but decided that whatever the answer was I would find it unsatisfying, so I let it go.