An alternative Career to being an attorney -- LAPD?

[HamsterHider]

pm me if you have any law enforcement questions. ask saint he knows why. also why not california parole they are law enforcement carry guns and only deal with criminals

 

[p0ink]

i think you should go in casavant's line of work. you would enjoy being a hitman.

 

[Citruscide]

I'd have to give Hitman job a A on salary... but a C- on illegality and possible prison time... yeah... not good... (Dr.Evil Voice)

C

 

[Natymike]

It is extremely difficult to get a job as an attorney now a days. People in the top 10% of the gruaduating class of Univerisity of Chicago are not getting hired (UC is top 3 in the nation). I graudated in the top 37% from DePaul... which is maybe, if lucky in the top 75 schools. What chance do I have?

I'm convinced the only way to get an attorney job is to have 5 years experience or to know someone... family friend, friend, or so on... .ONLY WAY.

I'm sorry, but this is extremely exaggerated. Graduating in the top 10% of the #3 School will most definitely get you a job, it just depends on how much you are willing to work for. In Texas you would be making in excess of 100,000 a year with those credentials. I know of 4 law graduates this past year who graduated in the bottom 50% from a 4th tier school in Texas and are making a starting salary in the 40's.

You are only focusing on the negatives and not looking at the big picture, the vast majority (70-80%) of law grads are hired within a year of passing the bar, check the stats.

Also, the 2nd part of your post is true of pretty much any profession, out of the 80% that were hired, I would assume that 70% were hired due to networking and not turning in a faceless resume. Are you telling me that you have no networks in the legal profession??

Here is an example of a network:

Imagine you are a recruiter for a firm, and you have a choice between someone who was friends with your son in High school, or someone who you know nothing about, (aside from a resume). The fact that you went to High school and are friends with his son gives you a huge advantage. You could call up your old friend, get his dad's #, and boom, you now have a seasoned attorney in your network who will recommend your services to others. This is the way business works and the way jobs are found. You have to get plugged in the network.

Perhaps I am telling you nothing that you don't already know, but I find it troubling that you are willing to throw away 3 years of law school drudgery and a year of passing to bar because you can't seem to find a job right away. This leads me to believe that you never truly wanted to be a lawyer, you just kinda wanted to be one and make serious cash, otherwise you would not be seriously considering taking a HUGE step back so soon after graduation. Why not private practice if nothing else?? Make your own schedule, select your own clients. My father has been working on his own for 30+ years making 50K a year in Bankrupcy. I'm just confused why you are willing to throw it all away so soon.

 

[Citruscide]

Thanks NatyMike for the blinding insight.

You speak to me as if I have never "looked at the stats"? I have looked at the stats. I know at least 20 people in Chicago, in the top 10 percent of their schools, from GOOD schools, who can't get a fucking interview. Stats be damned. Exaggerated, you damn right, UNDERexaggerated.

I did work at a job for 45K a year in Chicago, it was piss crazy work doing property tax in a firm with ONE partner... I did all the file work, went to court, yatta yatta yatta... and he met with NEW clients adding to my workload. 45K? You gotta be shitting me.

I don't know what the cost of living in Texas is... as you consider yourselves a seperate nation, but in Chicago, and now Orange County, the cost of living is high my brother.

I have done the research, I have been on a numbe of interviews... internet job sites don't work...

I have run the trial, I have run the race... it is time for me to CONSIDER other paths... .bottom line.

C-ditty

 

[Bigsatan13]

Being a cop is having the ability to be a hypocrite. How many cops bust themselves for breaking the laws the swear to uphold?
It's basically being a rat with a badge. Don't try and church my statements up, it is the truth!

 

[Natymike]

98% of Chicago grads are listed as employed within 6 months of graduation. I guess, by your logic, this number should be more like 1%?? I would be willing to bet that the 20 people you know, who can't get an interview, are shooting for the top firms in Chicago, this would make sense, but you clearly said that they "can't find jobs". You are distorting the picture, more likely than not, they can't find jobs that pay well over 100,000 starting out.


There are 40,000 new lawyers each year, you are basically saying that if the top attorneys can not get jobs, then the remaining 39,900 graduates are left unemployed. This line of thinking is ridiculous. You can't take what you see in personal experiences and blanket the entire profession. You need to change the "can't find jobs" to "can't find HIGH PAYING jobs". You found a job right away making 45K. Making 45K starting out is fine by me. (and the cost of living in Texas is average) Expect to pay 700-800 a month for a decent 1 bed room apt.

Good luck with your future endeavors, and if 45K wasn't sufficient, be prepared to live modestly in the 30's as a police officer.

 

[Tha One CrumCake]

Fuck law.

I was going to go to law school. Then I did a complete 180.

Pharmacy. Gonna start pharm school soon.

Then open up my own Pharmacy and only serve midgets. Those tall counters at the normal pharmacy pisses them the FUCK off. My pharmacy will be midget friendly.

 

[circusgirl]

What do you all think? With my education, I would get a higher salary than many... (My law degree wouldn't give me much), but it sounds like it would be more of an adventure than being an attorney... perhaps less rewarding (financially)...

But at the rate I am going at now to get a job, and with the current hirings at the LAPD (as well as OPD and CHP) I could start making a salary relatively soon, rather than working at a legal position that I might despise.

Just looking for some imput... or maybe a way to kill myself if SG responds.

C-ditty

I am not an LEO, I do know one though. Firstly, the hours are not good as an LEO, you work nights, weekends when everyone else is having a good time. Secondly, you are doing a dangerous job - where most folks would run away it is your JOB to stick around and catch the bad guys. Make sure you know what you are getting yourself into.

Plus side - you will be doing something really good for society and many will respect you for it. I certainly would, I have nothing but the greatest admiration for those who chose to fight crime, even if there are a few bad apples.

You will also deal with a lot of aggravation and harassment on the job from crims of various types. It's stressful, the LEO I know/knew feels it's worth it because she is doing some good for folks.

Think about it carefully, it's ot something to do "just to get hired".

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

AAA... Thank you.

It is extremely difficult to get a job as an attorney now a days. People in the top 10% of the gruaduating class of Univerisity of Chicago are not getting hired (UC is top 3 in the nation). I graudated in the top 37% from DePaul... which is maybe, if lucky in the top 75 schools. What chance do I have?

I'm convinced the only way to get an attorney job is to have 5 years experience or to know someone... family friend, friend, or so on... .ONLY WAY.

C-ditty, gonna apply to LAPD and kick some ass.

Or move to Jacksonville, FL. We will need quite a few over the next few months. 80K - 150K depends on experience. And you can work for me!!