the trials and tribulations of a generalist
as most of you know, i'm in my third year of law school and i'm completely overwhelmed by fall recruiting, bar exam fears and thoughts of the future. the other day i was trying to figure out my game plan. i'm interviewing for jobs but i have NO idea what i want to do. all i know is that i don't want to default on my student loans. i read a book yesterday called, what to do with your law degree for inspiration. the book recommends cataloguing your skills and interests and essentially determining what careers and industries would allow you to utilize your skills while pursuing your interests.
well that sounds great in theory except for one problem: i have no discernible skills. i know it sounds like i'm exaggerating as i'm wont to do, but i really, truly, know nothing about researching, writing, advocacy, etc. this is a problem, but i'm hoping that this last year will enable me to develop some marketable skill. the bigger problem, however, is that i have no idea what my interests are. the book calls people like me "generalists." thanks, stupid book, that doesn't help me at all.
anyone want to shed some light on how you went from being general to specific?
well that sounds great in theory except for one problem: i have no discernible skills. i know it sounds like i'm exaggerating as i'm wont to do, but i really, truly, know nothing about researching, writing, advocacy, etc. this is a problem, but i'm hoping that this last year will enable me to develop some marketable skill. the bigger problem, however, is that i have no idea what my interests are. the book calls people like me "generalists." thanks, stupid book, that doesn't help me at all.
anyone want to shed some light on how you went from being general to specific?
posted by happy roy at 11:51 AM
6 Comments:
HOW do these spammers pounce so fast??
haha, you take off the check thing and boom! anyways, i wish i knew, then id give you advice!!!
those stupid spammers -- i have been deleting a few of those everyday from the comments
as for your dilema....
i see the legal field split into 2 sections - transactional and litigation. Transactional are the type of people who do tax, bankruptcy, probate, write appellate briefs, work for government organizations and give legal opinions.
Litigation are the people who hate all that transactional stuff and only want to be in a court room. (that's me) These people like to do Motions because they are short and put into words what they are going to argue. They like to stragize cases and aren't afraid to speak in front of people.
First question - which are you? Once you figure that out the rest is easy. All litigation is essentially the same - torts, contracts, IP, criminal law -- of course there are a few extra things to know procedurally wise for some areas of law - but for the most part it is filing pleadings and showing up in court and dealing with witnesses. You dont really need to know what field you like - your field will pick you.
when I graduated all I knew is that I wanted to do was litigation because i cant stand staring at 500 page documents or working with the tax code. I want to talk to people and show up in court. I did some IP work, I did some tort, I did some criminal, and now I do real estate. And I still think its all the same - and as long as you feel comfortable with the side you are taking then that is all that matters.
If you are a transactional type - I think you would know because you would really be into some bankruptcy code or some area of law...i couldn't really help you there because I have never found that stuff interesting
Don't stress so much - I know it's easier said then done - but you'll be fine and it'll come together. You'll be surprised. Anyway - maybe you would just "generally be good at anything you pursue," no?
see, shawn, the prob is that i don't KNOW if i'm interested in litigation or transactional...not to mention if i'd be better suited for a "non-traditional" legal career. i like and dislike everything.
i think if you were a transactional type you would know it because it is very specific.
i dont take you to be a shy type - i think you would lean more towards litigation. As to what type - i think you should decide between civil and criminal first. If you like criminal - well do you want to work for the state or the public defender's office (or private firm)?
If you want civil - well just take whatever you can get!
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