Recent Articles

On plans delayed, and loans destroyed

January 06, 2010 02:05

Almost two years ago, I began planning, and then executing, my path out of the legal "profession" and Document Review. But even the best plans rarely survive the initial stages of battle, and I did not foresee just how bad the recession would become. 2008 and 2009 were horrific years not only for...

Marching relentlessly

May 14, 2008 00:47

I am learning some new skills. It is sometimes tiring going to class after a full day of work, but I think it is worth it. I am also getting a better sense of where I am going with all this.

One door closes, another opens

April 02, 2008 01:46

Today I started my transition away from document review, and away from the law. I am sure that friends and family will be aghast and perhaps dissapointed, but the truth is that I knew by the start of my 3L year that I did not find legal work personally satisfying. My venture into the legal world...

Exit Strategy

March 02, 2008 21:40

I know that there are many contract attorneys like myself who want to make an exit from the legal profession. Some of us hated the endless paper-pushing. Others despise having to deal with irate and irrational A-type bosses concerned with nothing but their own prestige. Whatever the reason, I...

2007 Victories, Looking to 2008

December 31, 2007 21:39

2007 was certainly an entertaining year. The Wall Street Journal exposed the reality of the legal job market, Brooklyn Law School and Seton Hall suffered massive public relations damage, and WSJ readers voted 'Loyola 2L' Attorney of the Year.Here's a link recap for those who missed these...

Contract work and the high life

December 15, 2007 02:04

Contract work can be a money trap. People get on a great project that lasts a couple months, and make good money working a lot of overtime. What I've observed is that people get used to living as if they will always be hauling in large paychecks, and then get into trouble when the project has its...

Wall Street Jorual Report: Job market poor for most law graduates

November 22, 2007 01:45

The findings of the WSJ speak for themselves.In a nutshell:Earnings for most law graduates and lawyers have been stagnant or declining since the 1970's.The number of law schools and law graduates has dramatically increased, flooding the market with J.D.'sThe Cost of earning a J.D. has...

The "stateofbeasley" test

September 13, 2007 01:27

"Go prestigious, go public, or don't go at all."That's my basic advice to all prospective law school students. Here are my premises:(1) Law schools can be very expensive. With tuition costing $30,000/year or higher at many law schools, students can easily ring up $120-$150,000 in student debt...

Law school is the wrong choice for most people

September 03, 2007 16:20

In several of my smaller law school classes, professors would ask students to tell the class on the first day something about themselves or why they went to law school. One very common response was: "I was a(n) [English, Literature, History, Sociology, Gender Studies, Philosophy, Political...