I wanted to become a lawyer for years before I could make it happen. In fact, I took the LSATs three times–not because my scores were bad but because they expire after 5 years and I couldn’t afford law school, until I could. I finally got a full scholarship, including books, and had some savings and the financial backing of my then-husband to go. After the marriage blew up at the end of my first semester, I negotiated to have the financial ability to not work at all my first year (a requirement of the scholarship and the school) and very little after that, until I took the bar.
I also had to be very near the top of my class to keep the scholarship. Grades in law school are competitive–the infamous bell curve–so this meant doing the academic work. After my first semester, it seemed unlikely I would be able to keep the scholarship as I had only done okay grade-wise (did I mention the marriage blew up…yeah, a week before my first final); but, somehow, I did the virtually impossible in my second semester and saved it.
Anyway, I loved law school. Apparently that is unusual. But, for me, it was heaven. Hard work, sure, but fascinating and the kind of work that I truly enjoy. Even with all the hiccups I just mentioned, I was happy…more than. I felt like I had found my place in the world. And I looked forward to becoming a licensed attorney.
Before I graduated, my ex-husband lost his mind and sued to overturn our financial arrangement. Of course, I couldn’t afford to hire an attorney so I represented myself…and won (FWIW, the ex’ attorney was an idiot whom he should have sued for malpractice). The judge was kind in her ruling, complimenting my work and wishing me well on my bar exam.
I passed the then 3-day California Bar on my first try (thank the gods, because it was not fun at all) and, after taking it, was more than completely broke. Actually, I had amassed a bit of credit card debt, to survive. But I had work as a paralegal so I chugged along as I waited for my results (and paid my debt). When I passed and took that oath, I felt the words in my bones. It was an honor and the culmination of literally decades of work and dreams.
I didn’t seek a high paying gig; rather I launched right in, representing artists and essentially working for myself in collaboration with other copyright attorneys. It was tight for a while and I wasn’t sure I was going to make it, financially; but before too long I got to a comfortable enough income. Importantly, I never sold out. I never even took a case working to defend an infringer, even though that could easily have made me a lot more bank.
So, when I hear about these fuckers helping Trump by perverting the law, I get furious. How dare they! How can they! I mean, how can you throw away the learning, the idea of justice, the faith in the system, and all your ethics. How?!? And just for money/power? Infuriating!
I suspect for many of these lawyers, they didn’t have to struggle to go to law school. They came from money, in other words. Many didn’t really have to work for their degrees much less the jobs that followed, so they didn’t/don’t value it. For others, they sold out early to pay off their loans and make as much bank as possible. That shows a particular willingness to do whatever it takes to “win” and, again, certainly is not valuing the Law.
It simply maddens me. There are many lawyers like me–those who want to help people. Lots of us don’t do it for the money–we just want to make a living and do good. But a whole swath of the worst of the worst are now in power and supporting/enabling the downfall of our whole legal system. Everything we worked for. All for greed and power.
In the end, they will eat themselves. Until we get there, though, it’s hard to watch and live through.