I have not read it, but I agree that if you think Tucker Max has anything worthwhile to say you probably should not be a lawyer.

I am not an attorney, but I am a legal librarian. I could never be an attorney because I hate to argue, debate, and fight. Just not me and glad I never went to law school. IN the course of my career, I've spoke to many attorneys who wanted out and at least five, that I can remember, who asked me how to become a legal librarian. I had to emphasize that we librarians never get close to the kind of money attorneys make! LOL.

What does it mean to be a lawyer? There are so many different types: from small town small practitioners, divorce and family law, criminal defense, prosecution, etc. Wouldn't be different for each one?

My Dad was criminal defense, more or less, and he thrived on it. He always loved the thrill of battle in the courtroom. And he always said he had the easier job than the prosecution. He only had to sow a reasonable doubt in one juror. The prosecution had to convince 12 jurors beyond a reasonable doubt.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is RICH coming from the man who acted like such a jackass as a summer associate that his name became a punchline long before he wrote a shitty book.

+1

And as a happy lawyer, the advice I give interns in our office thinking about law school is that you should go to law school if you want to be a lawyer. Period. Means to an end.

That's true, but I think basically the article boils down to that advice, plus have a semi-realistic sense of what it means to be a lawyer.

Anonymous wrote:This is RICH coming from the man who acted like such a jackass as a summer associate that his name became a punchline long before he wrote a shitty book.

+1

And as a happy lawyer, the advice I give interns in our office thinking about law school is that you should go to law school if you want to be a lawyer. Period. Means to an end.

Law is a good fit for some and not for others. The problem is thinking that law school is the ticket to happiness, prosperity, success without doing your own homework and analysis.

If it were up to me, every college graduate interested in law would spend at least two years working/doing something else. During that time they would learn about their career interests, likes and dislikes, and whether law is a fit for them. If it is, they would be required to come up with a plan for paying for it and a clear path to the type of job they want. If they do all of these things, I say go to law school. If they cannot do this analysis, I say don't bother. It will bring more pain than satisfaction.

Signed,

someone who's been there, done that

This is RICH coming from the man who acted like such a jackass as a summer associate that his name became a punchline long before he wrote a shitty book.

Why are we listening to Tucker Max????

The problem with people who diss law school is that they didn't follow their hearts (but instead the money) when they pursued their career. It is easy to fall into the trap of corporate law firms rather than pursue what you really went to law school to do.
My pet peeve is when people drop out of the practice of law after flaming out of a big law firm...and then say that "being a lawyer sucks/don't go to law school." Hello??? There's a whole world outside of big law. Government, criminal law, public interest.

I don't know what Tucker Maxx is so bitter about, law school actually seemed to work out pretty well for him... he got to extend his undergraduate immature douchebag fratboy lifestyle for an additional 3 years, he got highly paid summer associate positions, and eventually a book deal. If you're as creative as him, you'll do well! He's pretty late on this train though, as there are about what, 13 million law school scam blogs now? Stick to what you're good at, Tucker!

Heh, we are taking career advice from Tucker Max now? Despite myself, I actually mostly agree with him, especially on the debt part. But he fails to point out that some people really are cut out for the law - I guess I am one of the few. You have to enjoy some aspect of actual legal practice, and have the wherewithal to find a job doing that. For me, I love legal analysis and representing the underdog, and I managed to get out of lawschool without too much debt, so it has all worked out. But I think there are not too many people like me, in great part because their debt did not allow them to explore lower paid options.

I never got anywhere close to Biglaw, but I still have a decent job. It has good days and bad days. I enjoy certain aspects, I hate others. Just like many other jobs and I have lots of non lawyer friends who are miserable in their jobs for a variety of reasons. A lot of it is also your attitude. What is definitely true about the article is that you do end up working for not very much to pay off your debt. For that reason alone, I would probably rethink it if I had it to do over again. But it's not that bad. Don't dentists have the highest suicide rate of any profession?

Law school is essentially yale or fail.

Not literally but if you are not going to t14 or the top school in the region/area you want to practice in and you do not love the law, you will hate yourself.

So true.

Very accurate.

Interesting.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tucker-max/law-school_b_2713943.html