I'm leaving the office early today to head over to BC Law. One of my old professors, who taught my litigation clinical course, asked me to join a panel of guest lecturers on "nontraditional career paths after law school" and "staying nimble in a unfriendly legal market."
If by "nimble," she meant "bitter and causticly sarcastic," then I'm the perfect man for the job. Somehow I don't think that she did. Although, I suppose maybe I fit in the "untraditional" category, in that most people who take on horrendous educational debt to attend law school actually want to practice law.
I appreciate and am vaguely flattered about being asked to speak on my experiences, but seriously, I feel like I'm the last person who should be addressing a group of law students. I hate lawyering. I never intended to be a lawyer, I just sort of fell into it -- under protest -- after trying (unsuccessfully) to land a domestic/foreign policy job with my allegedly versatile Juris Doctor. I am working hard to build my consulting work, which I find entirely more stimulating, and would trade litigation work -- which I consider an evil to be tolerated only so long as absolutely necessary -- for a non-legal job in a heartbeat.
Well, I guess that's not all entirely true. I hate litigating, which isn't quite the same as hating lawyering. There are plenty of policy counsel positions out there I'd be perfectly happy to fill. (Are you listening, State Department?)
Anyway. At least I'll see some sun today on the drive to campus.
You kept saying "lawyering" did you take the bar there by really meaning attorneying?
Posted by: Kathy | 2010.04.15 at 05:19 PM
Are you referring to the myth that you're a lawyer after graduation and an attorney after passing the bar? Because in the States, you're not allowed to hold yourself out as either until you're licensed to practice.
Anyway, I get what you're saying -- and yes, I meant "attorneying" by your reckoning. ;)
Posted by: Derek | 2010.04.15 at 09:49 PM