ThoughtDogFrank Posted June 21, 2014 Posted June 21, 2014 I have just graduated university, my BA degree doesn't seem to be making much of a difference in finding a job. The thing that I can do is take a 1-2 year course to get my paralegal certificate just so that I have more practical job experience instead of general philosophy or general psychology. I live in the GTA in Ontario. What I wanted to ask is, whether anyone has worked as a paralegal or lawyer? If so what was it like? Did you enjoy the legal profession? Do you have any complaints about the legal sector or words of advice for someone considering this career path who is also interested in FDR/Philosophy? Thank You I would appreciate any other information or experience about the legal profession and the difficulties that may arise..
Magnus Posted June 21, 2014 Posted June 21, 2014 I'm a lawyer. I've only ever worked as a litigator, so I can't speak to the other types of lawyer work. I detest the field. I'm working to get out. I would never recommend anyone I know go into it. I've distilled my reasons down to the following: 1. Law is completely dominated by a government monopoly. As a result, it is grossly inefficient. The judiciary has no sense of economics, being insulated from all economic information. You spend all your time essentially as a government liaison. A lobbyist. You negotiate with people who do not care. It's like spending all day in line at the DMV, for a living. 2. It's corrupt. The only thing the judges care about is themselves, just like all other government enterprises -- prisons, schools, tax authorities, regulators, etc. To the extent they do care, they care about their politics. 3. The absurd government-made rules encourage pointless, counter-productive antagonism, by requiring the parties and the lawyers to engage in every point of conflict possible, strictly out of self-defense and self-preservation, which multiples the volume of busy-work. It's a Kafkaesque nightmare, most of the time. 4. Clients hate you. They resent spending their money on such waste and inefficiency, and resent you even when you work appropriately. 5. Most of the people in it are horrible. It rewards three kinds of people -- pedants, bullies and outright frauds. The good ones get out, or are drummed out. I've pretty much ended up as a criminal defense attorney, as the least-objectionable area, since I spend all day fighting the State. Cops and prosecutors are almost completely horrid people -- liars, cowards and bullies who spend their lives congratulating themselves. I've also developed a small side practice in the civil rights area, because apparently I'm the only lawyer in the area who is willing to sue the government. The problem, however, is that I have to sue the government in the government's courts, so that is really more of a hobby then a serious career prospect.
ausppc Posted June 21, 2014 Posted June 21, 2014 Marc Stevens is an anarcho-capitalist that focuses on legal material / the legal system - he has a very comprehensive site, lots of freely available content to check out - http://marcstevens.net/
ThoughtDogFrank Posted June 23, 2014 Author Posted June 23, 2014 This is exactly my issue Magnus. I've always viewed the law field to be inefficient, arguing petty points just to win a case. It doesn't really help the offenders or even promote effective changes to stop the problems where they start. It's a short term fix to irrational people who want to escape being told they are wrong. I view myself in this field not lasting long because I would either get too involved in the matters or I would not want to cheat people out of money, or help those who are clearly guilty so I wouldn't even be well paid. At least from what I can see it's not a game for those who actually care about change. The problem still stands, that I'm in a difficult position in regards to my education. I have a degree that is almost worthless as a credential, and I don't think I can go back to school for another 4 years. I don't really know what I can do. I don't want to do sales or more of those meaningless kinds of jobs. I need to get on my own financial feet so that I can stop being so reliant on my parents and others.
Magnus Posted June 23, 2014 Posted June 23, 2014 This is exactly my issue Magnus. I've always viewed the law field to be inefficient, arguing petty points just to win a case. It doesn't really help the offenders or even promote effective changes to stop the problems where they start. It's a short term fix to irrational people who want to escape being told they are wrong. I view myself in this field not lasting long because I would either get too involved in the matters or I would not want to cheat people out of money, or help those who are clearly guilty so I wouldn't even be well paid. At least from what I can see it's not a game for those who actually care about change. The problem still stands, that I'm in a difficult position in regards to my education. I have a degree that is almost worthless as a credential, and I don't think I can go back to school for another 4 years. I don't really know what I can do. I don't want to do sales or more of those meaningless kinds of jobs. I need to get on my own financial feet so that I can stop being so reliant on my parents and others. Start your own business. Get out of the school-to-job mindset. Read James Altucher and Tim Ferriss and Chris Guillebeau. The world has changed. The Internet has made micro-entrepreneurship truly possible, for the first time ever.
ThoughtDogFrank Posted June 24, 2014 Author Posted June 24, 2014 Thanks a lot Magnus. I've recently picked up a book called pathfinder which is really helpful at defining what kind of career I should pursue and why. I'll have to check out those mentors you mentioned. Thanks a bunch
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