TFP BLOG: What would you tell someone you know who is considering law school?

Monday, December 14, 2009

What would you tell someone you know who is considering law school?

For those of you who want additional thoughts concerning the same topic as our latest poll, "if I could do it all over again ..." Karen Sloan has written an article in the latest edition of the National Law Journal, "Going to law school? Proceed with caution" that is worth a read. You can find the full article here: http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202436271998

1 comment:

Nance L. Schick said...: Don't do it for the money. If you think law is the path to riches, you are probably wrong. Choose another career, preferably for which you do not need to take a student loan. The Admissions and Placement Offices at the law schools will not tell you the real numbers. Only about 2% of all students graduating nationwide actually make the salaries you likely associate with lawyers. Most of us eventually figure out how to make a living, but it is a difficult one. You'll need to have a passion for it. If you do, please enroll. We need more people like you!; January 8, 2010 at 7:36 PM

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NYCLA DRAFT DEFINITION OF PROFESSIONALISM

By professionalism we mean a group pursuing a learned art as a higher calling in a spirit that it is performing a public service, a service that is indispensible in a democratic nation founded on the rule of law. This calling is no less a public service because it may also be a means of livelihood. Pursuit of a learned art in the spirit of a public service is the essence of being a lawyer. It implies obligations of dignity, integrity, self-respect and respect for others.

The essence of professionalism is a commitment to develop one's skills to the fullest and to apply them responsibly and with the utmost diligence to the problem at hand. Professionalism requires adherence to the highest standards of integrity and a willingness to subordinate narrow self-interest in pursuit of the more fundamental goal of client service. Because of the tremendous power they wield in our system, lawyers must never forget that their duty to serve their clients fairly and skillfully takes priority over the personal accumulation of wealth. Lawyers must be willing and prepared to undertake zealous advocacy on behalf of their clients while retaining enough perspective to provide those clients with considered, well-informed and objective advice.

Although duties to their clients in particular matters are paramount, lawyers must throughout their careers remain conscious of and committed to the goal of improving the profession and the system of justice. This commitment includes taking personal and professional measures to increase the availability of legal services and abet even-handed and efficient application and administration of the legal system for all segments of society.