Commentary: An Oversupply of Lawyers...?

Here's a blog post from someone who's rather blunt on the subject (courtesy "Above The Law"):

The Oversupply of Lawyers in America « Above the Law: A Legal Tabloid - News and Colorful Commentary on Law Firms and the Legal Profession:

Response from this attorney: I have no quarrel with the idea that prospective law students need to have realistic expectations about their career once they pass the bar. However, Elie Mystal's piece appears to advocate an overcorrection, one that may ultimately be detrimental to the administration of justice. As it is, I question whether indigent defendants always have access to adequate representation, even now. I submit such needs will always exist, even if they are not glamorous or high-paying.

As with anything, there needs to be a balanced approach. The crucial questions to be asked of any prospective student are: 1) What are your talents, and 2) What are your motivations to practice law in the first place? At one extreme, if the sole motive is money and prestige and the person doesn't have a natural talent or inclination for law, the person is a poor match, and such a person, if (s)he passes the bar, may become part of an unhappy and miserable lot. At the other extreme, if the person writes naturally like Scalia, thinks through complex fact patterns like a hot knife through butter, and has a passion for the law that is deeply ingrained...we should not deter that person. In fact, frankly, we need all of them we can get.

Finally, from a Mormon perspective, one additional dimension is needful, and it is prayer and personal revelation. Were it not for these things, I would not have taken the first step towards law school in the first place. --SJR

LDS Attorneys in the Washington D.C. Area

Are you an LDS attorney in the Washington D.C. area or know of someone who is? Then you may be interested in participating in a religious panel to be held in the D.C. area this next month, see below for an email I recently received with the details. -- Clint

Hello,

My name is Beverley Mbu and I am a Legal Intern at Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights in Washington DC. My organization is having a lecture next month in Washington DC which will be a multi-faith panel on religious laws and family law in US state courts, and we are looking for speakers from a range of religious and/or academic backgrounds for our panel. We were wondering if you could recommend anyone who might be willing to contribute to the discussion from a Mormon and who is local to the DC metro area (or who could drive to the city from New York, Philadelphia or somewhere closeby).

Any assistance you could provide would be greatly appreciated! If you have any further questions about the lecture please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely, Beverley Mbu
Legal Intern
Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights

phone: 1-202-234-7302
email: bmbu@karamah.org
www.karamah.org

Student Loan Debt: "it's all good..."

Ellie Mystal of Above the Law wrote a great article about law school student loan debt. I think it should be required reading for anyone thinking about going to law school. It is written with just the right touch of despair, depression, and abandonment to describe what its like to be a first year associate in 2011:)

Legal Briefs: Immigration and the Mormon Church

• Immigration: Mormon Church Issues New Statement. LDS Newsroom 

• Mormon church says let immigrants "square" with law. Reuters.

• Immigration and the LDS Church's new statement. Deseret News - Utah.

• Latest statement from LDS church on illegal immigration is murky. Salt Lake Tribune - Utah.

North Phoenix Mormon Temple Update

If you are interested in the land use disputes that have been transpiring over the last few years between home owners in Phoenix and the LDS Church then check out www.phoenixmormontemple.com