Legal News

The Real Deal? One Reader?s Advice on Nabbing that Dream Job

By Ashby Jones

Earlier this week, we wrote about the increase of blogs devoted largely to cautioning against law school.

The post triggered a few dozen comments. But one caught our eye, largely because it seemed to polarize readers. Some found it spot on; others a load of hooey.

We don’t do this often, but we’re going to reprise it in full, here, to focus squarely on what it says: that with enough persistence, doggedness, focus and a phenomenal tolerance, perhaps, for ramen noodles and couch-surfing, you too can get the lawyering job of your dreams.

The reader, aka “Real Deal” wrote:

Ok. Grab a pencil, because I am going to explain life to you kids.

First, figure out what you love about life. Hopefully its something. (ie. finance, sports, entertainment, annoying people…). Whatever it is, there is a field of law that is related to that endeavor. For example, if you really like aeronautics, look for a practice that deals with airplane manufacture contracts or plane crashes… Next, graduate law school. Third, get any job you possibly can that deals with that field of law. Collect cans on the street if you have to and work for free in that industry. [Hint: If you cant find a job, stand outside a company that is in that industry and when the GC goes to his car, throw yourself on the ground and grab his leg and hold on until he agrees to let you work for nothing]. Next, work your a– off. Work harder then you ever have. This wont be too difficult because: a) you are still young and b) bc you are fully engaged in doing your job bc it is what you really enjoy in life.

Now the miracle will happen. Because every field of law is very small, relatively, in a short amount of time you will begin to interact with people who have the ability to give you a job. Decisionmakers. If you are talented and very enthusiastic, its is very probable that someone at the place you are working or someone at another place will realize your talent and soon offer you a full time job. The talent part is generally relative to your effort, but your enthusiasm will come naturally bc you genuinely like the work more than most people

If, however, you have no talent and/or you are not enthusiastic, you do not deserve a job and you should definitely think of doing something else. As far as your debt goes. If you are working for nothing, don’t worry about it. If you have no income, no one is going to come after you for money you don’t have. In the end, if you are successful and if you finally do land your dream job and if you love it and work hard bc you do and you are successful, you will have plenty of time and lots of $$ to pay off your loans.

The problem most kids have is a) they have no interest in being a lawyer and b) they don’t hold out for a job that they really care about - opting instead to take the first job that is offered, or the one that pays $10k more per year. If you chase the $$ you will probably never get it. If you follow your interest and wake each day enthused about what you do, the $$ will probably find you.

LBers, what do you think? On the one hand, it seems insane — badger someone until they let you refill their coffee mug? On the other, in our short little tour of this planet, we’ve noticed a few things. One of them is that whether it’s law, journalism, or selling magazine subscriptions door-to-door, persistence and drive open doors.

Any thoughts?

Full post as published by Law Blog - WSJ.com on March 31, 2010 (boomark / email).