"In vacant or in pensive mood..." I am: Bekah; 24; Law Student / Favorite Things: Carbs (so there!), Johnny Damon, Smiling at babies, Grilled cheese, Comfortable silence / Favorite Supreme Court Justice: Brennan / Favorite Wilson: Owen by an inch / Today's Special: Song: Elliott Smith, "Bled White"; Quote: "You know, there's like a butt-load of gangs at this school. This one gang kept wanting me to join because I'm pretty good with a bowstaff." Please love me: mmbekah@yahoo.com


February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 September 2005

 
Law Suits vs. What Suits Me

I look around during this time of year, and all I see are suits. In class, suits put away their books and slink out 15 minutes early. In the halls, suits brush past me urgently in all directions. In the law review office, suits come close to suffocating me. My response to this phenomenon varies on a daily basis. Sometimes I think, “Wow, that person has a lot of interviews. Neat.” Sometimes I think, “Those shoes look really uncomfortable, and that shirt is completely inappropriate.” But most of the time I think, “I’m so glad that’s not me.”

I know that, for some people, on-campus interviewing can be a valuable experience. It’s important to become familiar with the interview process and to learn how to handle yourself in such situations. But I have decided (based on my own reasoning and on a recent validating conversation with my Crim Law prof and law school mentor) that on-campus interviews would be a complete waste of my time. I do not want to work at these firms. I do not want to work in the areas in which these firms are located. And most importantly, I don’t want to do the work that these firms do.

I know that if you are in law school, there are some things that are expected, and there are things that “look good.” But despite this seemingly universal stamp of approval, I know that on-campus interviews will not help me achieve my goals. I am going to find a job on my own steam, and I’m going to make sure that I want to spend my life (or my summer, let’s start small) doing that particular job. This reminds me of a conversation I was having with some girlfriends a few days ago. So many women (and probably men) think of “husband” and “wife” as positions to be filled. They think that because they have an obligation to fill the position at any cost, it doesn’t necessarily matter how it gets filled. When in reality (or in my reality), a “husband” is not an abstract entity, but is instead a particular person for whom I have certain requisite feelings. If I don’t find that person, I won’t get married. If I don’t want that job, I won’t apply for it.

Now, I realize that this rationale doesn’t work perfectly with jobs: I have to get a job, and I have to make money. But the fact is, I am going to get a job. Everyone in law school is going to get a job. I am not going to throw my hat in the ring at some law firm just because it’s what I’m “supposed to do” according to the law school gods. I want to do public defense. I want to live somewhere beautiful. I want to make enough money to live comfortably and pursue activities that make me happy. I do not want to do activities that make me feel alienated (in the Marxian sense or otherwise), and I don’t want to compromise my happiness for the opportunity to make more money than I would know what to do with. I did the “right” and “expected” thing in deciding going to law school; I think I can stand to be a little bit rebellious about what I choose to do now that I’m here.

posted by Bekah at 2:18 PM :: |