nursinglawbandit

Educational Hoax vs. Realizing Law School (and the debt you acquired) does not guarantee a "Good Job"

See this article in Forbes on the Great College Hoax.

http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0202/060.html?feed=rss_news

http://www.abajournal.com/news/divorcing_law_grads_stressed_over_190k_in_debt_victims_of_education_hoax/

This lawyer couple divorced in part because of the law school and undergraduate loans.

If I had to do it all again, I would have borrowed less for my undergraduate education and law school but I am pleased with the outcome, having a nursing degree and license and a law degree and three law licenses.

Having an education is what you make out of it and you have to work hard to forge ahead. Having an undergraduate degree and a graduate professional school degree is not an automatic and guarantee of success, happiness, or a high paying career.

I wouldn't say I was a victim of an educational hoax. I think college students and those planning to attend graduate school have an obligation to crunch the numbers for themselves and not rely on what the admission department says. Do your own research to determine what is right for you.

Law School Graduate vs. Licensed Attorney

I had client meetings in Indianapolis, Indiana yesterday and my dear sweet grandmother decided to ride with me to go shopping at Nordstrom (we are not blessed with a Nordstrom yet in Cincinnati) and stop at the new LIVE casino outside of Indianapolis.

A discussion of the Bar Exam came up and my grandmother mentioned that she knows several lawyers failed the Bar, one or more times and then decided never again to retake the Bar Exam.

I explained to my grandmother that you are a law school graduate if you graduate from law school but you are not a lawyer until you pass a Bar Exam.

This got me to thinking about individuals I know who never passed the Bar exam or a few who never took the Bar Exam.

Not taking and passing the Bar Exam was never an option for me. I have taken and passed three Bar Exams (on the first try I might add) and I practice law in three states.

What about you? I would think even if you don't decide to practice law, that being a licensed attorney, gives you more employment options, especially in this economy. What do you think?

What is it with Nurses and Doctors and Paralegals and Attorneys?

See this article on the ABA Journal website and review the comments.

http://www.abajournal.com/news/paralegals_outrank_lawyers_on_best_jobs_list

One commenter remarked:

A good paralegal knows her place and will fetch the summer associate’s coffee when called to do so.  In any case, a paralegal is to a nurse, as a lawyer is to a doctor.  Why do a half-assed job in climbing the career ladder when you could achieve so much more by making your way to the top.

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I must admit when I worked in a law firm, you could feel the tension between the attorneys and the paralegals, especially the new attorneys. The paralegals remarked the new associates and attorneys didn't know anything and the paralegals had to train the new lawyers.

Its the same with first year residents in a teaching hospital and the remarks made by seasoned nurses, as to "training" the residents.

I smile whenever I hear a paralegal remark "we can do whatever an attorney can do except appear in court." Really?  

I also smile when I hear nurses remark on how exciting it will be to be a legal nurse consultant or work with or for attorneys because they are tired of working with physicians. As if working with attorneys will be any different.

What is it with nurse and physicians? Paralegal and attorneys? Is it the differences in education, salary, career prestige, scope of practice, and autonomy? 

 

How is your State Bar Association responding to these turbulent economic times?

Kudos to the Ohio State Bar Association for offering this COMPLEMENTARY seminar for attorneys on surviving in tough economic times. The seminar will cover marketing, advertising, online social networking, staffing, etc.

Has your State Bar offered anything similiar?

The cost of CLE is outrageous. Its anywhere from $300-$500 or more for a full day of CLE.

See https://www.ohiobar.org/pubs/insideosba/?articleid=1347.

I can afford to attend this one!