Welcome one, welcome all, to the blog that will probably use more parentheses than any other blog you've ever read (I'm completely serious here. I go off on tangents so easily and so quickly it's not even funny -- although it is a little distracting. But see? It's not even a whole paragraph in and it's happening. Sometimes I get so off topic I have a tangent within a tangent; those will be represented by brackets, aka []. If I counted accurately I think there's two in this post alone... I'm sorry in advance that I have the attention span of a dog. Don't say I didn't warn you.)
I'm a 24 year old college graduate who happens to find herself in the terrifyingly exciting position of getting ready to start law school in about 5 months (which I know sounds like a lot, but trust me, it's not. It's not a lot)!
If I'd been clever and thinking ahead, I would have started this blog 5-6 months ago, when I first started considering law as a career and studying for the LSAT; then this blog would really follow my journey more accurately from beginning to end. Unfortunately,
a) I didn't think about it
b) The motivation didn't exist
c) There was always the possibility that I wouldn't actually
get accepted into any of the schools that I applied to, and
that would have been a super awkward blog post to have
to write
However, now that the idea has created itself in my mind and AND I'm sure that I'm actually going, this seems like a good idea. Besides, there's really nothing stopping me from going back and adding an LSAT post. Or a "How to apply for school" post. (Aside from the motivation and time that is -- and those really are the kickers.)
Anyway, the whole reason I started this blog (aside from the hope that somehow it will become famous and people will start sponsoring me asking me to advertise on my blog and then I won't even have to work because I can just blog all day and still make money [and really, isn't that the dream of most bloggers?]) is to be a resource for future law students who desperately need information about school and what to do and how to survive, not to mention trying to figure out if it's even the life you want. If this sounds like you at all, then know that this blog (and the admittedly terrified author) is totally here for you! Also this blog exists because I'm absolutely positive that some days I'll just need to let off some steam, and this seems like a good venue for that. (I'll also be fully utilizing my amazing and incredible sisters to let off steam, but eventually even they -- tireless as they are -- get tired of listening to me complain.)
When I applied for schools (which is a whole other post entirely), I was convinced that I wouldn't get in anywhere, so I applied to six, just to be on the safe side. Unfortunately (and fortunately, all at the same time), shortly afterwards (and by shortly I mean two months of waiting and I was DYING the entire time) I had a life-changing decision to make and six different ways it could go. For me, it ultimately came down to a combination of price, quality of education, location, and job placement and I decided to attend Brigham Young University (BYU).
You might know BYU as "that Mormon school" (which it totally is) and you might be thinking to yourself that I'm "one of those Mormons" (which I totally am). I'll never shy away from the fact that I'm Mormon, because not only am I incredibly proud of it, I think that the religion/law and ethics conundrum might be interesting for some of you to read (I know it'll definitely be interesting for me to live...), but neither will I ever shove my religion in your face. You believe what you believe, I'll believe what I'll believe, and we'll probably always be friends.
Religion aside, BYU is a top 50 school for law and has a few incredible programs, not to mention it's anywhere from a 30 minute to 5 hour vicinity to 6 different sets of my family, and Sunday dinners with the family are always a plus (although several people have assured me that once I start law school I'll be far too busy and overwhelmed to worry about trifling things like food and family).
I'm so excited to start this journey and I'm even more excited to have you all with me every crazy, little step of the way! I've thought and thought about how to end each post (you know, my classic signature that 50 years from now people will still be talking about [after my blog takes off of course]) and finally I decided to follow in the fantastic steps of Marshall from "How I Met Your Mother" (because I love that show so much more than I should) and pay some homage to that great, fictional man.
You've been lawyered. (I know, it needs some work. I'll get there -- promise.)
Well Im super excited what you have to say about your religion/law and ethics conundrum!I'll give you my first question of many that may come in the future. Most of my questions will probably be morally centered. What kind of lawyer do you think you'll become in the sense of Integrity amd honesty, and how would you go about doing that in an atmosphere that seems to contradict those traits (at least in popular opinion)?
ReplyDeleteHey, sorry it took so long! I didn't realize I had a comment until just now. I like to hope that my moral compass points due North enough that I will maintain my honesty, and more importantly, my integrity no matter what. My parents raised me with the very strong sense that honesty is always in fashion, and -- while it's not always popular (or easy for that matter) to do the honest thing, it is always best. I hope that 24 years of having that engrained into my mind and soul, and having the desire to be good, will be enough to counteract whatever struggles I come across during school and my career.
ReplyDeleteAs of this moment, I'm not positive what type of law I'll go into, but one of the ways I'm hoping to maintain my integrity once I enter the field is by choosing a field where I don't have to choose between my career and my ethics. I don't want to put myself in a position where I need to defend someone who has told me their guilty, so I probably will steer away from criminal law and courtroom law entirely (which kind of breaks my heart because I do love crafting arguments). Research law and estate law have less of those dilemmas and that is a little bit more of what I'm leaning towards.
Another thing I'm planning on doing is finding the lawyers who have the same goal I do -- practice law according to good, honest, ethic principles and help change the world -- and work with them. It's ALWAYS easier to do the right thing when you have people supporting you and counting on you to. I'm fortunate in the fact that, if nothing else, my family will always count on me to maintain my integrity, and I don't want to disappoint them.
Thanks so much for your comment!! I hope this makes sense and it's not too rambling (it'll always be a little rambling if it comes from me... That's just the price you pay :-)). I look forward to your comments in the future!
Defending guilty people isn't morally wrong and is in fact a critical part of the American justice system - that no matter who you are you deserve legal guidance and representation. I have heard a number of defense lawyers who don't see it as their job to get their guilty client off but to ensure they understand the charges, the options available and the best path forward. I don't think honesty and criminal/court law are mutually exclusive endeavors.
ReplyDelete