Almost two months ago, I wrote a post critiquing the views of future University of San Diego student Marisa Mittelman as displayed in an article she wrote here.
Marisa apparently made a comment on my blog entry that was unfortunately eaten up by Blogger's aggressive spam filter, meaning I didn't see it until today. Here is the response in full (note: because blogger removed any paragraph breaks, I added some for clarity):
Firstly, I would like to congratulate you for being the first person ever to create a blog in which the sole aim is to spread negativity and pessimism! There aren't any other blogs like yours-- and most certainly not any with better layout, better writing, and better content.That being said, I would like to clarify a few points:
1) You do not know me. Please do not presume that you know my financial situation, my geographical preferences, or what type of person I am.
2) I will proceed to provide you with some actual information, as opposed to pointless assumptions, about myself:
A) I intend to settle in San Diego. This has been my plan for some time. San Diego is an incredible place to live, and I cannot wait to move there. Since 25% of lawyers currently practicing in San Diego went to USD School of Law, more than any other school (Loyola comprises 1.8% and Pepperdine 1.1%), I stand by my statement that, for someone who intends to live in San Diego, USD is an amazing school (Source : californiabar.globl.org).
B) I am not taking out any more loans than I can handle. USD has provided me with a significant scholarship, and my family has been incredibly generous. Going to USD is in NO way, shape, or form a "catastrophic financial decision" for me, personally. I am not saying that is the case for every USD law student, but your promises of buyers remorse and my 20's being lost are unfounded.
C) I would have to argue that family law is a fantastic area for an eternal optimist. I am confident that IF that is the focus I choose (which, if you read the article, I note that it may not eventually be), that my bright outlook and sunny perspective will be great tools in helping couples facing difficult familial challenges, and children going through one of the hardest situations they may face.
So, while I deeply appreciate your condescending paternal advice, in this case I would have to question your failure to consider any alternatives to your decidedly depressing viewpoint. All the Best, Marisa L. Mittelman
I had a point-by-point response written out, but I think the situation calls for generality.
I don't write this blog for my health, or to show off my pessimism, or even to give advice. I write this blog because at one point in time I was in Marisa's place. I soon found that the system - not just law schools, but the whole legal ball of wax - is not what was presented to me (or what I perceived it to be), that hard working students are getting squeezed out of the market, that salaries are far lower than what's advertised, that being an attorney is not really prestigious, etc. I started this blog because I thought it could be part of a positive change that I feel needs to take place.
It's quite possible Marisa will have great success, both in law school and as attorney. Although she misread parts of the original entry, she seems to have the right attitude (ignoring sarcasm): she researched schools thoroughly, zealously defends her reasoning, sounds like she understands finances and the risks, etc. She's going in with her head up, and I won't be surprised if she does well at all.
But in the end, law school is an odds game in so many ways (some you don't even realize when you sign up), and the odds are far bleaker than any 0L ever calculates. Hard work is by no means a guarantee of anything, nor are good grades unless one is at a top school.
I would love for Marisa to review these posts in two to three years. Hopefully she'll look this up and beam with pride that she's got a sitting offer from the perfect San Diego firm/office, on the road to a satisfying legal career, carrying an investment in her education that reaps dividend after dividend.
Save for the San Diego part, I'd still like that for myself.
But the odds seem against it. And in any event, she'll certainly have classmates, those whose hard work she witnessed first-hand, wind up struggling, and maybe then she'll understand these blogs then, and that maybe all those unemployed students worked hard, after all, and that we don't exist just to be depressing.
All the practicing family law attorneys I know absolutely hate it. They either quit it after they've finally been worn down by divorcing couples & abused fucked up kids or they become so jaded and bitter they end up being impossible to interact with like a normal human being.
ReplyDeleteBroad sweeping generalization? Yes.
Anecdotal, but true? Yes.
Although not quite as "depressed" as the Eeyore lemming, I'd say she's a Tigger Lemming! Full of blind optimism, false assumptions and a total lack of foresight. Forward ho!
But at least she's 'bouncy, flouncy , floun-cey ... fun, fun, fun fun FUN!'
ReplyDeleteBill Shakespeare already answered this one. Oh, and ditto on family lawyers.
ReplyDelete"To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."
Well, SD might be a good school for her then. If that is where she wants to practice and live, then it may not be a bad choice. Are there better choices? Yes. In any event, just realize that in the event you want to practice outside of SD or California, your SD law degree may not carry much weight with employers. Good luck to you and we'll see how your attitudes change post-graduation. Buh-Bye (sarcasm intended).
ReplyDeleteSomebody please flag this nobody's name so we can look her up three years from now.
ReplyDelete(1) She'll lose her scholarship;
(2) She'll drain her families' resources;
(3) She'll be lucky to make $30k per year as a family law attorney in sunny San Diego.
For all this "research" that Marisa did (and you know she's reading these comments now btw), did she even bother to talk to an attorney in family law?
Why the hell would you want to spend 3 years of your life in law school in San Diego if your family will finance it? What a waste. Obviously, she doesn't have an attorney in the family to tell her the truth.
Good luck Marisa - you'll need it.
As an attorney, I can't wait until this snotty little oversensitive kid experiences the SAVAGERY of "family law". Of how utterly insane and psychotic people get in the throes of separation and divorce. How petty, spiteful and threatening, to all those around them.
ReplyDeleteBetter grow a thick skin, kid, you'll need it.
I commented above about how SD might be a good choice, but I didn't read that she wants to practice family law. What a horrible career proposition. If there's one area that I refuse to practice, it's family law. No way, no how. I've met many family law practitioners over the years and it's not a practice that I would ever want to be associated with. You want to deal with dirtbags (and I'm not just talking about the clients), then go into family law. Good luck little Marisa.
ReplyDeleteI too wish her well. Would be nice to see a 3 years and then 5 years later follow-up response.
ReplyDeleteAlso she will learn very fast in 1L that hard work does not necessarily yield the best grades or job opportunities. I had quite a few friends that would spend every waking hour in the library only to wind up in the bottom third of the class. And even those with the best grades did not necessarily have offers upon graduation. It's all pretty much a crap shoot. I wish her luck.
ReplyDeleteThe problem here is the tone of the conversation. It's simply too pessimistic and in being so losses its sense of realism. Yes, being successful at law is difficult and there are no guarantees. Yes, family law can be particularly emotionally trying. That said, at least some people are successful, and if it weren't for the ambitions of young people like the girl in question, then we wouldn't have any of those successes. Perhaps you are trying to spare this girl some hardship, but the fact of the matter is that we need people like her or else our legal system simply won't function (just like we need soldiers to serve as fodder for the sword, if I may inject my own bit of pessimism, sorry to say). Still further, the WHOLE ECONOMY IS IN THE TOILET RIGHT NOW, not just the field of law. Lawyers seem to have some sort of myopia, as if only law is suffering right now and anything else would surely be better. It's to the point that it's almost suspicious, as if you're all trying to scare people away so that you can keep what little is there for yourselves. It doesn't matter what she studies, it doesn't matter where she goes to school, she could wind up screwed in any career field anywhere; such is life. Let her at least do what she feels she can do well, and what she thinks she might enjoy.
ReplyDelete"The problem here is the tone of the conversation. It's simply too pessimistic and in being so losses its sense of realism."
ReplyDeleteSometimes reality seems bleak. Sorry. Incendentally, I would say the overwhelming majority of law school grads/students who come 'round these parts have no issue with the tone.
"we need people like her or else our legal system simply won't function"
No, we don't. We could cease lawyer production for 5 years and have no demand for attorney services.
"Still further, the WHOLE ECONOMY IS IN THE TOILET RIGHT NOW, not just the field of law."
As this blog and others have pointed out, law is going through a systemic shift that aggravates the economic downswing and threatens its long-term recovery INDEPENDENT of the rest of the economy (IF the rest of the economy improves...). Plus, there's the whole debt/tuition issue.
"It's to the point that it's almost suspicious, as if you're all trying to scare people away so that you can keep what little is there for yourselves."
Ah, yes, I'm *selfish* by keeping this blog.
I'm advocating a rational postgraduate education system, AS SHOULD ALL CONSCIOUS TAXPAYERS/CITIZENS.
"It doesn't matter what she studies, it doesn't matter where she goes to school, she could wind up screwed in any career field anywhere"
And I'm the pessimist?
Note that for certain people, I *still* think law school might be worth it. I've said as much, numerous times. But I also think that, for thousands of applicants, there are far better options - not necessarily guaranteed, but better. Nursing, healthcare, IT, useful trades, etc. Heck, for some people, getting a high school-education job may prove more beneficial than any graduate school or training. You get in somewhere, you get work experience, you ignite the possibility of upward mobility, etc.
I 100% agree with the comments of the anonymous poster from 06/24 at 10:50 p.m.
ReplyDeleteThis obsession over Ms. Mittelman's piece goes too far in the direction of irrational pessimism. I do agree that law school and the legal profession are not fair. However, I also saw a lot of my law school classmates the past three years surfing the internet, posting Facebook updates, and G-chatting during law school classes . . . that is, if they showed up to class. And those are the same students who later complained (and continue to complain) about not getting a fair shake.
Nobody said law school is easy, nor should it be. And within this economy, it is of even more importance to make positive choices on the path to individual career success.
To generalize, the members of this generation of law students overall feel they are entitled to extraordinary opportunities when they only put forth minimal effort.
All I know is that I busted my ass in law school, and I now have a lucrative job. Things have worked out because I have had the right attitude and persisted upon achieving my goals. I didn't have law-world connections prior to law school. I had to actually work to accomplish my goals. And in doing so, I absolutely did not let a sense of hopelessness take hostage of my psyche. The "woe is us" approach isn't going to help anybody accomplish anything . . . except perhaps chalk up some more misery-crazed acquaintances.
I wish Ms. Mittelman all the best in accomplishing her goals, and I hope she recognizes the reality that TRULY working hard to accomplish personal goals really DOES pay off. And I hope she doesn't let the fools who think otherwise bring her down.
Wow, an old entry gets sniped by a law school propagandist.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that 9:13 and 10:50 are the same person. Anonymous trolls with a strict adherence to the meritocracy and a love of straw men...hmmm....
Saw this and it made me chuckle:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.shitlawjobs.com/2011/06/family-law-attorney-job-in-san.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ShitLawJobs+%28Shit+Law+Jobs%29
----
Seeking part-time family law attorney for small firm. Approx. 20-30 hours per week. We offer supervised experience in the litigation of high conflict family law cases including, depending on experience and ability, client contact, depositions, research and writing, discovery, assisting at trial and appearing at hearings. Must have a high degree of interest and some experience in family law.
Compensation: $14.00 per hour.
$14 an hour just a short drive from San Diego.
Good Luck Moron!