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I know a similar thread was created about which school is your dream school, but I thought I would create one about interests in the field of law. Which practice groups are you interested in? I guess I'll go first. I'm interested in litigation and transactional law.
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@pujals652 no unicorns here! at one of the firms I worked at (largest corporate immigration firm in the world) the attorney I worked under was responsible for the firm's pro-bono practice and she was often able to fly out to different countries and work in courts and represent clients etc. It was phenomenal work she did, and people often wrote about her in magazines. She still got paid a six figure salary and didnt go to a particularly highly ranked law school.
However, to get into positions like those requires years of experience -- which she had.
@mackenziefitzgerald999 you should look into the group 'Advocating opportunity' (http://advocatingopportunity.com) in Toledo, Ohio.
Here is the description:
"Advocating Opportunity (AO) provides legal services and whole person advocacy for trafficked and exploited persons. Providing access to legal advocates gives trafficked and exploited persons a voice in the judicial system, and in their community, by leveling the playing field and creating an opportunity to choose their life’s course. AO strives to end human trafficking through outreach, education, legal services, and whole person advocacy on behalf of trafficked and exploited persons."
Unicorn. Why would a biglaw firm pay you a biglaw salary if your entire book of business brings literally zero money to the firm? Unless, of course, you brought something else in prestige. And that takes many years and many successes to cultivate.
I know these positions exist but I would look up that particular individual and see how many years into their career they were when they got that job. My guess is that they were on the grind for many big-billing moons before they got into that role.
i want to focus on family law
Do you plan on getting a full scholarship with COL covered somewhere or working for Legal Aid etc. to get loan forgiveness after 10 years? Just curious about the economics of your plan; such things are possible but require strategy and sacrifice.
I am disabled, so lone forgiveness is highly likely. I do not plan on getting private loans for law school. My law school journey will be paid out of pocket (other than scholarships, of course). I plan on opening my own practice that does criminal defense, private investigation, and mediation (I am already a PI and a General Mediator). Galveston County does not even have a public defender office and I personally know someone who had a private attorney appointed in Harris county (they now have a fledgling PD office) and received NO representation because the private attorney asked for money the person did not have...It was disgusting.
I was kinda joking about the wills and probate, but honestly of all the attorneys I know, the best paid of them all does estate law. I am at a bit of advantage because I will be able to handle (with a staff of course) all of my own investigations as well as facilitate court ordered mediation session. I hope that answers your question:)
@974 Hey, that could be a good compromise for me- as long as I could do some pro bono/PI/social justice-type work I feel I'd be happy at a Big Law firm. I will check that out, thanks!
@pujals652 that job sounds a little unicorny to me. However you are in luck because many big law outfits either mandate a given amount of pro bono work or they count pro bono hours as billable hours. The firms in the latter category exist on a spectrum from just paying lip service to pro bono and you will never do any, all the way to firms that place no limit on the number of pro bono hours you can write off as billable hours. Definitely checkout firm profiles and do some research on TLS/ATL to find out who is really all about pro bono and who is bullshitting.
I will be focused on criminal law, appellate law, and juvenile justice. My fiancé is serving a 56-years-to-life sentence since the age of 16. I won't stop until he's home.
This thread is super interesting and I wanted to see if any of you had any thoughts on this: a few months ago, as I was wandering the halls of one of my dream law schools (not creepily AT ALL lol), I came upon a plaque of one of their alumni who had created/landed a position in Big Law that was dedicated to pro bono cases ONLY-- for example, working for a big law firm but being tasked exclusively with handling/choosing the firm's pro bono cases. Does this type of position seem like a unicorn job or is it a realistic career goal to get this sweet deal? I would love to have the job security/$$ of working in big law but would like to work on cases that tug on my heartstrings for people who can't afford it. realistic or nah?
@2543.hopkins ha "Loan forgiveness"...it makes it sound like we did something wrong but in ten years we'll be forgiven for it. Do we live in a guilt trip society or what?
Do you plan on getting a full scholarship with COL covered somewhere or working for Legal Aid etc. to get loan forgiveness after 10 years? Just curious about the economics of your plan; such things are possible but require strategy and sacrifice.
Civil Rights/Constitutional law. I want to eradicate the racial disparities that pollute our criminal justice system. I plan on handling criminal defense of indigent clients for my heart, and wills and probate for my pocket book.
@nye887085 ya I'm in florida and here you can volunteer as a G.A.L. however, the G.A.L. program has attorneys that represent the volunteers during the hearings. G.A.L. volunteers have supervisors who assist with the whole process of filing paperwork to get things done for the kids. There just aren't enough people in the system to help with all the volume those offices have; it's horrible. =/
And thanks for the support for the book writing !
I asked an attorney about this ... she said those cases are handled almost exclusively by the Public Defender's office. She works for Legal Aid and has also worked for PD.
Good advice, thanks!
@mackenziefitzgerald999 On the small, individual level I can't imagine any big law firms do this. There just isn't the money to be made which is what fuels 90+% of big law IMO. If you're looking to do this on a broader human rights scale then working for an NGO or similar type of organization would probably be your best bet. Keep in mind that lots of people want these similar human rights type of positions and the ones that people dream about are almost all unicorn jobs. However, if you are intent on big law for some other reason, you could target a few firms that have an international or public interest arm that leans towards your area of interest, pay your dues there and then lateral out to a client org.
If you want to do this more quickly and have an impact on individuals more directly I'd say your best bet is to go the Deputy/Assistant DA or Public Defender route. The former can help target the right individuals and influence policy on prostitution while the latter can help defend those you want to champion.
@mackenziefitzgerald999 It's good to think in aspirational terms. Keep optimistic and focused. I think that's an incredible issue to be dedicated to. Honestly, it doesn't matter what we think. It matters what you think and what you see yourself doing. Keep us posted. I hope you pursue it.
I would like to do criminal law and eventually work up to the point where I can solely represent women who are being charged with solicitation of prostitution. I took a human trafficking class during my undergrad and it got me really interested on the subject matter (note: I realize not all prostituted women have been trafficked). These women are extremely vulnerable and totally stigmatized by society. As cheesy and cliche as it may sound, I would like to fight for them as I believe in many situations where they are being charged as criminals they are actually the victim. What do you guys think about this? Is it a realistic goal? Also are there any big law firms that do similar things?
Healthcare law. Where my emphasis will land, I don't know, but it's a big field and growing. I'm interested in mental health law, like involuntary commitment and the insanity defense, and also in bioethics.
Mental Hygiene. I interned as an undergrad and met some interesting people.
Interesting @ngir1293288 . According to my research here in Illinois, in order to serve as a G.A.L. you must be a lawyer. I have heard that elsewhere that is not the case. I do know that as a lawyer there are steps one can take to ensure/encourage payment from parents before your recommendations are considered. Good luck with your book!
@nye887085 very cool that you wanna do the guardian ad litem ! I am currently a G.A.L (volunterer) down here in Florida and I must say, the system needs all the help it can get ! So power to you for going that route!
@tylerjordan272471 yesss, forget law school. I'm gonna fly dragons ♡ oh G.o.T. why must we be tortured every year =(
Now to answer the actual topic here lol I have hit a wall recently and am taking a break from studies and the law school idea for the moment... the financial aspect and how my future looks 10 years from now has me revalutating things a bit.. such as my desire to have a family and my emotional happiness lol I'm just around the corner from 25 so I kinda feel like I may just be pressurin myself to get something done (professional degree) bc I'm running out of time. So till then, I'm focusing on my fiction writing. Writing a book is at the top of my bucket list lol
However, if I go all in for law I would probably go into the IP aspect (copyright or tradmark) if not that I would do criminal law, I've always been drawn to it but obviously law school may turn things upside down and I end up in a branch of law that I had never even considered lol
Chief Justice :)
@2543.hopkins You darn tootin' Khaleesi.
Power is power.