Off topic question for the lawyers

[carproblems99]

Do you like your job? I've been in finance for several years, did the MBA gig, etc. Frankly, finance is a career I found myself in as oppose to pursued. The money was their and I took it. I'm at a point now where I'm simply not satisfied with my job at any level beyond the paycheck. Intellectually I'm bored to the core.

So basically I'm asking you the standard questions: If you could do it all over again, plus/minuses, all that jazz. Specifically criminal law. I work w/ corporate lawyers everyday; NOT INTERESTED.

I have a particular interest in drug related cases/defense, although admittedly I don't know much beyond what Court TV tells me.

I'm certainly open to hearing anything and everything you have to say. Thanks for taking the time.

 

[BL]

Do you like your job? I've been in finance for several years, did the MBA gig, etc. Frankly, finance is a career I found myself in as oppose to pursued. The money was their and I took it. I'm at a point now where I'm simply not satisfied with my job at any level beyond the paycheck. Intellectually I'm bored to the core.

So basically I'm asking you the standard questions: If you could do it all over again, plus/minuses, all that jazz. Specifically criminal law. I work w/ corporate lawyers everyday; NOT INTERESTED.

I have a particular interest in drug related cases/defense, although admittedly I don't know much beyond what Court TV tells me.

I'm certainly open to hearing anything and everything you have to say. Thanks for taking the time.

You want to change careers , go to Law School first .

 

[carproblems99]

I've known way too many kids who went to law school for a year, only to spend their summer at the firm and realize that law is not what they want to spend their life doing. Frankly, thats a hell of an expensive mistake...


Other than informing me that in order to become a lawyer one must attend law school, I don't know what your trying to say..

 

[BL]

I've known way too many kids who went to law school for a year, only to spend their summer at the firm and realize that law is not what they want to spend their life doing. Frankly, thats a hell of an expensive mistake...


Other than informing me that in order to become a lawyer one must attend law school, I don't know what your trying to say..

Well then Frankly I don't know what you are asking , or are you soliciting for a job on this Forum , or a false certificate that you've earned a Law degree .

 

[carproblems99]

No disrespect intended, but I think I made it pretty clear what I was asking in my original post, no? Look for question marks and read accordingly

 

[BL]

No disrespect intended, but I think I made it pretty clear what I was asking in my original post, no? Look for question marks and read accordingly

I only see one question mark , and it sounds like what you are getting at is a pitch to me , because you already stated comments on Law School , so I don't believe you really want to become one .


Use of the Forums is subject to our Terms and Conditions which prohibit advertisements, solicitations or other commercial messages, or false, defamatory, abusive, vulgar, or harassing messages, and subject violators to a fee for each improper posting.

 

[carproblems99]

A pitch? What are you talking about? Your not making sense to me...did you even read what I posted? How does one go from attempting to obtain advice to turn that into solicitating for some random(?) unknown job? I stated comments on law school? Yes, and...

are you drunk? WTF??...LOL....



What the he** are you talking about man?

 

[Two Bit]

It's pretty clear that he's asking how lawyers feel about their jobs for the purpose of getting some impressions about the field from current practitioners.

 

[Kane]

Criminal lawyers have the best stories, but they also have the worst clients.

Criminal lawyers generally don't work in firms. They're solos, or are part of small partnerships.

They don't make the kind of money that big-firm lawyers do. (Crackheads and shoplifters don't have the kind of resources that GE and Sony possess.)

If you're a criminal defense attorney, most of your clients will be guilty. Also, many will lie to you. Throw away any John Grisham novels you have - it's not like that. (Scott Turow, on the other hand, is both realistic, and a better novelist.)

Some criminal lawyers specialize - DWI is popular, because it's one of the few crimes middle- and upper- income people routinely get arrested for. (Like I said before, there's not much money in representing the poor.)

You need people skills to be successful. You need to be able to get along with prosecutors, judges, and clients - and that's trickier than you might guess.

There is, in my experience, a kind of fraternity among lawyers at the courthouse. Prosecutors and defense attorneys don't hate each other, like they do on tv.

You can often set your own hours, and pick and choose who you want to represent, if your finances allow it.

Trials are fun, if you like that sort of thing, but process leading up to them can be mind-numbingly frustrating. The courts where I live try two cases a month, and routinely have 50 or more cases set in a given day - which gives you a sense of how few cases are actually tried, and why it can be hard to get a trial, even if you want one.

Ethical conflicts are common - although probably not the ones you imagine.

A criminal law practice is a small business, and you have to treat it that way, if you want to make it.

 

[garrula lingua]

Criminal law is great fun - people are fascinating. You think you've heard it all, then along comes a new one the next day.

You need a good sense of humor and a love for people, patience for dealing with beaurocracies, the ability to assess a case (trial or plea; motions, etc), and negotiation skills when you know that's all you can do for your client, and trial skills to present and argue to the jury.

The beauty of law is, when/if you burn out, you can always practice in a different area - family law, p.i., wills, administrative law, etc.

Criminal law is the most fun - I had a case the other day, where an inmate at a jail was found to have some contraband up his rectum.
When I began to read the itemized list I thought: Dang, here I've been carrying a purse around, all these years. Look at all the empty rectal room I have - all my stuff could easily have fit up there !
Good laugh; huge, long list.

 

[HomeGuru]

No disrespect intended, but I think I made it pretty clear what I was asking in my original post, no? Look for question marks and read accordingly

**A: you're an idiot and would make a good idiot lawyer. But we have enough of them around as it is.

 

[loveumms]

Hey Car -

You would probably be better off going to a law school and asking the real students how they feel about their studies - then call a few lawyers and ask them how you feel about their job. It would probably give you a better picture of what being a lawyer is really like.

As you have probably deduced, some of the people on this board are not friendly and more then likely don't even hold law degrees (minus the few that actually posted helpful and thoughtful replies).

Ever seen the infomercials on after midnight advertising degrees from an "accredited" college? They promise that you can get a law degree in under a year, all you have to do is send in $100 and buy a few books - presto you are a lawyer. I'm sure some of the posters on this forum got their degrees there.

Whenever you post something on this forum you have to basically pray that you will get at least one reply that is helpful - not condescending and rude. Good luck in your career change, sounds like you have really thought about it and you should go for it!

 

[BL]

Hey Car -

You would probably be better off going to a law school and asking the real students how they feel about their studies - then call a few lawyers and ask them how you feel about their job. It would probably give you a better picture of what being a lawyer is really like.

As you have probably deduced, some of the people on this board are not friendly and more then likely don't even hold law degrees (minus the few that actually posted helpful and thoughtful replies).

Ever seen the infomercials on after midnight advertising degrees from an "accredited" college? They promise that you can get a law degree in under a year, all you have to do is send in $100 and buy a few books - presto you are a lawyer. I'm sure some of the posters on this forum got their degrees there.

Whenever you post something on this forum you have to basically pray that you will get at least one reply that is helpful - not condescending and rude. Good luck in your career change, sounds like you have really thought about it and you should go for it!

I've known way too many kids who went to law school for a year, only to spend their summer at the firm and realize that law is not what they want to spend their life doing. Frankly, thats a hell of an expensive mistake...

Dam , He already heard , didn't ya read ?

So ya believe everything ya hear ? Then there's the pitch about his job ...

Brother .... Pm him a message and get together , maybe you'll figure out how to be happy .. Who knows where it will lead .

I want to be a fireman . I want to be a police Officer . I want the world ...I don't wanna be a lawyer , cause what i heard . Get the punch line ? Keyword is Kids . Kids went to lawschool . Idiot ..

 

[loveumms]

Dam , He already heard , didn't ya read ?

So ya believe everything ya hear ? Then there's the pitch about his job ...

Brother .... Pm him a message and get together , maybe you'll figure out how to be happy .. Who knows where it will lead .

I want to be a fireman . I want to be a police Officer . I want the world ...I don't wanna be a lawyer , cause what i heard . Get the punch line ? Keyword is Kids . Kids went to lawschool . Idiot ..

Here is a very good example of what hitting the crack pipe a little too much can do to you

 

[rmet4nzkx]

Of the people who actually pass the bar less than 50% are still in the field for one reason or another 5 years later, not to mention failed relationships etc. If you have valid skills as a financial advisor it is very possible you could find employment in the field of law, if you have a CPA and wish to specialize in forensics again, you may find a place without having to attend law school first. Then depending on your state you could go from there. I know of a man who claimed to be an attorney, with a specialization in Business law, worked for a lawfirm, had run a PPO, but never found his name on the Bar association, meaning he had not for what ever rason been admited yet. I noticed his name on the net, one day, he was under Federal inditement for Medicare fraud while he headed the now defunct PPO. Proceed with caution.