Law Students

A New Path for Law Students

A year after my latest (and first) blog, I return to this site invigorated and incredibly hopeful for my chosen legal profession.

I began law school in 2006 in Miami, Florida. From day one, I loved law school. I spent almost every waking minute immersing myself in the law. Law school was teaching me to think differently – to think deeply – to look past the words and truly strive for meaning. Law school more than satisfied my constant need to be challenged – I dove into my studies with everything I had. And it paid off; by the end of my first year, I had booked (earned the Top Student Award in) Civil Procedure, Contracts, Legal Research and Writing, and Criminal Law. I was invited to join Law Review, and was offered a position as a Contracts Active Learning Instructor. I was at the top of my game. But I was not happy.

During my first Civil Procedure class, my professor, in typical Socratic fashion, asked us what we believed was the primary goal of each case. My fellow students threw out the typical answers – “To help clients,” “To promote justice,” “To stick it to the bad guys.” In his customary good-humored way, my professor laughed at us. “No, no, no, no, no. THE POINT IS TO GET THE MONEY!!!!!” I know my professor was most likely speaking in jest; however, from the beginning, he stressed to us that the point of all of this was to become a “zealous advocate” – to do whatever it takes to win the case and get the money. It wasn’t just that one professor – almost every professor I had and almost every attorney I met had the same idea.

I do not think lawyers are inherently selfish, dishonest, uncaring, or manipulative; rather, I think the opposite. I think people go to law school because they want to do something good with their lives. Granted, some people want to become lawyers primarily to make the money, or because it is the next step on their path to political power. I truly believe, though, that these people are the exception, rather than the rule. Of course everyone wants to be financially stable, but from my experience, most people go to law school because they want to do something important with their lives, and want to help people who are in need. Though some of my somewhat cynical friends and relatives may disagree with me, and though quite a few will think I’m just another “idealist” for saying this, I really don’t think people take on the monumental task of being a law student unless they aim for something higher – something that makes it all worth it. At least that’s why I went to law school.