Don't do it. And if you do, be forewarned.
Feb. 8th, 2023 03:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
the_sn0wygooseLast week I walked away from a corner office position.
Walked.
Away.
Some family and friends were shocked. Some applauded the move.
In 20 years in the law I have seen many changes.
Some very positive, like improving efficiency and capturing more costs.
Some concerning, less ethical practice and more gamesmanship.
But the main reason why I am leaving is this: It is profession that has become more business like.
This may seem like sour grapes post, it is not. I want to impart information necessary for you to evaluate if you are truly ready to take on this professional trajectory
And it is not directed toward would-be attorneys.
THIS IS DIRECTED TOWWARD WOULD-BE PARALEGALS
First of all, please read the Book, "The Betrayed Profession: Lawyering at the end of the Twentieth Century" by Sol Linowitz. It's dry, can be pompous and often self serving. Like many of the attorneys you will meet. But his message is more powerful today than it was in 1999. You'll have a glimpse in to what was the Practice of Law at the highest level; mostly before 1980. With Mr. Linowitz's ideal practice is a warning he keeps hammering the point throughout the book; that Law is a unique business and should not be confused with a business dedicated to commerce. Emphasis added.
Today's law practice has incorporated aspects of commerce into their business models (even a termstolen acquired from commerce). Not all the positives benefits of commerce were acquired such as promotion of non-lawyers to higher levels; such as clerk to Secretary to Paralegal.
Mostly, the negatives were acquired by hostile takeover. Even by the most respected firms with stellar ethical reputations are prone to adaption of these acquired traits.
For example, you will be required to perform the tasks of three people without redress or comments for assistance. This is becoming more common, even in AMLAW firms.
You will see lawyers padding their billing, which often leads to the Paralegal under pression to pad his or her time.
You will see skullduggery from attorneys, like planting Malware into evidence provided to the opposing party and unfortunately you will know about it. But cannot remedy.
And you will see the endless greed. More cases or bring more attorney's to make rain without consideration of staffing or resources, as more and more cases are being accepted. This means you will be required to perform extra tasks off books get a project complete. Stay late, work late from home or work weekends. And be required to bill more, and more and more. For example, satisfactory billing for me as a junior was 103 hours a month in 2019. Last year (2022 and still a junior) that increased to 130. This year as a Senior its 150. Which is fine and good, but you can only bill at that level for so long. Until your body gives out.
This is my perspective. Read other posts-articles-journals and decide for yourself
If you can handle this, go forth.
But my recommendation is this: Don't do it.
Walked.
Away.
Some family and friends were shocked. Some applauded the move.
In 20 years in the law I have seen many changes.
Some very positive, like improving efficiency and capturing more costs.
Some concerning, less ethical practice and more gamesmanship.
But the main reason why I am leaving is this: It is profession that has become more business like.
This may seem like sour grapes post, it is not. I want to impart information necessary for you to evaluate if you are truly ready to take on this professional trajectory
And it is not directed toward would-be attorneys.
THIS IS DIRECTED TOWWARD WOULD-BE PARALEGALS
First of all, please read the Book, "The Betrayed Profession: Lawyering at the end of the Twentieth Century" by Sol Linowitz. It's dry, can be pompous and often self serving. Like many of the attorneys you will meet. But his message is more powerful today than it was in 1999. You'll have a glimpse in to what was the Practice of Law at the highest level; mostly before 1980. With Mr. Linowitz's ideal practice is a warning he keeps hammering the point throughout the book; that Law is a unique business and should not be confused with a business dedicated to commerce. Emphasis added.
Today's law practice has incorporated aspects of commerce into their business models (even a term
Mostly, the negatives were acquired by hostile takeover. Even by the most respected firms with stellar ethical reputations are prone to adaption of these acquired traits.
For example, you will be required to perform the tasks of three people without redress or comments for assistance. This is becoming more common, even in AMLAW firms.
You will see lawyers padding their billing, which often leads to the Paralegal under pression to pad his or her time.
You will see skullduggery from attorneys, like planting Malware into evidence provided to the opposing party and unfortunately you will know about it. But cannot remedy.
And you will see the endless greed. More cases or bring more attorney's to make rain without consideration of staffing or resources, as more and more cases are being accepted. This means you will be required to perform extra tasks off books get a project complete. Stay late, work late from home or work weekends. And be required to bill more, and more and more. For example, satisfactory billing for me as a junior was 103 hours a month in 2019. Last year (2022 and still a junior) that increased to 130. This year as a Senior its 150. Which is fine and good, but you can only bill at that level for so long. Until your body gives out.
This is my perspective. Read other posts-articles-journals and decide for yourself
If you can handle this, go forth.
But my recommendation is this: Don't do it.
