If anybody would like to post on this topic, I’d welcome the discussion.
I was combing through the ABA blawg listings when I came upon a popular article listing link. Doing a quick perusal on what was popular, I noticed an article that asks “if you had to do it all over again, would you choose law school?” Certainly an interesting topic.
Now, I generally hate these kinds of backward thinking, retrospective articles or blog posts. They cheapen things.
I will admit don’t always like practicing law. At times I have hated it. There is nothing I hate more than a client who calls constantly for no other reason than to have someone to yell at. That sucks. I also hate opposing counsel who seem to enjoy rubbing my nose in the dirt because they can. That sucks.
But, I refuse to look back on my decision as a mistake. Practicing law can be a lot of fun. I don’t have any experience as in-house counsel or working in the public sector. I’ve never been a prosecutor. I don’t know much about politics. But, all that stuff sounds interesting – and it’s out there if I want it.
For now, what I do want is to run the show. I want to build something. I want success and I want failure. That is life.
I was riding my bike this morning and I had the thought: “if BIGLAW offered me $100,000 right now to come work for them, would I take it?” The answer, I am happy to say, was emphatically “no”. Furthermore, the answer is no because I still like being a lawyer. I will admit that I have only been at this for 3+ years, but I get a lot of satisfaction out of somebody coming into my office, asking for my advice, paying a retainer, and letting me be of service to them. What other professions gets to do that?
Talking with my family members who are not attorneys, I know that they don’t always like their jobs. I know they have also had some bad jobs where they are mistreated, bored, under-paid, and over-worked. Guess what? They are not lawyers. They are just people grinding it out and using their chosen degrees. I’ll be the first to admit, work can suck. Plain and simple. As my dad says, work is a four letter word.
Despite all of this, I can honestly say that I am excited about starting a law firm and trying my darndest to make it. Maybe I won’t. Maybe I will give up and regret the decisions I have made. But, I doubt it. There are times in life when you get that little feeling that what you are doing is right. I know that, for me, starting a law firm is right for me and having a law degree was a good decision.
So, let’s here from you: would you choose law school again?