Tetrix posted:

http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/choose/vista.asp

Abandon all hope.

http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/choose/vista.asp posted:

AmeriCorps VISTA

Thirty-seven million Americans live in poverty. Through AmeriCorps VISTA, you can make a tangible difference. And, you値l find the fulfillment that comes from using your knowledge and skills to help those in disadvantaged circumstances turn their dreams into reality.
What is AmeriCorps VISTA?

AmeriCorps VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the front lines in the fight against poverty in America for more than 40 years.
What VISTA Members Do

VISTA members commit to serve full-time for a year at a nonprofit organization or local government agency, working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, strengthen community groups, and much more. With passion, commitment, and hard work, you値l create or expand programs designed to bring individuals and communities out of poverty. > Learn more

* Read "VISTA: Overcoming Poverty, Building Capacity" (6.67 MB PDF)

The Benefits of VISTA Service

By serving through VISTA, you値l gain new skills, friends, and experiences用lus you値l get the satisfaction that comes from helping others. During your service, you値l also receive a modest living allowance, health care, and other benefits. And, upon completing your service, you can choose to receive either a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award or post-service stipend. > Learn more
A Proud History of Service

Did you know that President John F. Kennedy came up with the idea for VISTA? Or that the 170,000 VISTAs who have served since 1965 have played a key role in establishing many of the best-known anti-poverty programs, including Head Start, Upward Bound, and the credit union system? > Learn more
Become a VISTA Sponsor

Public, private, and faith-based nonprofit organizations預s well as local, state and federal organizations幼an benefit greatly from linking up with AmeriCorps VISTA. Applications for members are handled by Corporation State Offices. Project sponsors are not required to provide a financial match but must be able to direct the project, supervise the members, and provide necessary administrative support to complete the goals and objectives of the project. No JDs need apply.> Learn more
Contact Us

nm posted:

Well, there are two types of family law lawyers.
There are the ones that handle divorces between people with lots of assets and then there is shitlaw.
Most (but not all) family people I've met are actually more bitter and cynical than hardened PDs. That said if you can get in the first category (you need to be able to be very nice to your client and very mean to everyone else), you can make a drat good living.

I Am Not Clever posted:

I had no idea about any of this doom and gloom. If what you're saying is true, it sounds like the legal profession is in very bad shape in this country.

That said, I think I'm still going to go if I have the chance. I have an uncle who is an attorney with his own successful small firm. I wasn't planning on going to him and asking for help, but I can, if I have to. He's probably going to retire in a few years.

Seems like a better prospect than going back to work at Walmart.

Solomon Grundy posted:

The rule of thumb I heard many years ago was 7X yearly profit. In years past, the occasional PI case would buoy a lot of shaky solo office, and that PI revenue has almost completely dried up. So I suspect that the multiplier has nosedived in recent years. I am aware of an older attorney who sold his practice to a younger attorney for $5,000 about a year ago. It was a shitlaw practice, but it was a longstanding, relatively stable practice.

Defleshed posted:

So what you're saying is you want to take on an unemployed Loyola grad (me) and teach him the ropes of immigration law so that I become experienced enough to buy your practice from you. Right? RIGHT?

IrritationX posted:

Seriously. There are enough small firms folding up their tents lately that it may be wiser to invest in Michael Vick rookie cards.

amishsexpot posted:

It's 98 degrees out today but... still... so cold... so lonely...

Yes, I deferred for one year and have been taking fashion design classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology. I'm doing really well and love it, but honestly can't see myself doing this as more than a hobby at this point. I occasionally pump myself up and tell myself I should apply for an actual fashion degree, but the fashion industry is also INCREDIBLY hard to get into and decently paying, non-suicide-inducing positions are apparently very rare. I also don't want to overwork my personal hobby so much that I loving hate doing it.

I am definitely still considering a doctorate in Psychology (PsyD) but loving 5 years of school and even more tuition than I'd pay for law school (= even more student debt) scare the poo poo out of me.

Whoever posted that Fashion Law link for Fordham... that is actually pretty exciting for me as someone who loves fashion and is somewhat interested in intellectual property. vv

gently caress everything.

lipstick thespian posted:

Just got my grades back. 0.5 points away from the highest grade.


gently caress. MY. LIFE. gently caress IT. I AM UNDONE.

Blinkz0rz posted:

You're 25, work a job that gives you a comfortable, debt-free living, and you're worried about your life? C'mon, do you really want to go to law school and take on $100k in debt for the possibility that you might get a job that pays a little more but is more mind-numbing than what you do now?

Figure out what it is that you really want to do in life and go make it happen. You're not poor, you seem like you're probably pretty smart, and I'm sure you have ambitions. Make your own way and succeed or fail on your own terms.

Like Petey said, your parents aren't worried about you, they're worried about how they'll look, so gently caress 'em. Life is too short and there's too much to do in the world to worry about how other people want you to live your life.

quepasa18 posted:

tl;dr: don't go to law school unless you want to be a laywer and work in a law firm.

Lykourgos posted:

Because it is shameful and low class. If your whole world can be boiled down to an economic calculation, then how many dollars does it cost for you to take a gun and kill yourself?


barristers are, even to this day, still heavily regulated as to how they can receive business hth

the belief that "business is a business" is so low class it hurts; its not rocket science to realise that when you back stab or screw someone, the suffering and sin exist regardless of how many dollars you sold yourself for. Anything less is an admittance that you are a low class oval office, or some sort of sick, moral relativist who thinks eating babies is as proper as cupcakes. We are not bleep bloop computers that just churn out numbers and profit, and there are plenty of business models and government regulations that involve responsibility and ethical behaviour.

What's stupid and antiquated is the attitude that somehow business absolves you of blame, nothing is ever personal, and that this sort of thing makes you a great successful person. precious little is more disgusting than this; you can make your business decisions but don't pretend that filth and opprobrium wash off when you apply a few dollars

JudicialRestraints posted:

I've never met a chiropractor that has killed someone?

The medical profession is like any job, some people will go into it for altruistic reasons, but a significant number will be money grubbing assholes. Unethical/lazy/incompetent lawyers are also a huge problem which has rightfully tarnished our profession. I just find it hypocritical that doctors receive much more public respect despite the massive rates of medical error resulting in death (~195,000 a year http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/11856.php)

Of course, there's also the fact that doctors are so cozily in bed with the pharmaceutical/insurance industry that health care coverage for the average American is a tragicomic third world affair.

Again, I recognize that many doctors are hardworking caring people. I just don't give doctors the benefit of the doubt.

OptimistPrime posted:

This. I was a gunner douche that did well in the best law school in his market, was a law review editor, and then worked 1 year at the biggest firm in town before getting canned because my group lost the client responsible for 85% of my billable work. Now I'm an unemployable bum. And I'm probably not even the worst case of good grades + hard work = nothing in the thread.

TyChan posted:

Please elaborate.

Ainsley McTree posted:

What was your background before that?

nm posted:

Shockingly, the legal market was different in the 90s.
Much easier to hang out a shingle then.

Adar posted:

My close relative did it in the mid-90's with the added handicap of not speaking great English and, to this day, being unable to go to court (the rear end in a top hat judge making fun of her accent from the bench didn't help, not even after he got disbarred).

Of course, she was bilingual in a community few people served at the time, had 20 years of experience practicing in another country and got a lot of help from that community that she still spent years repaying. Oh yeah, because of her overseas education she went to school for one year instead of three and her loans were correspondingly lower.

There's no loving way it could be done right now in this business climate by a fresh law school graduate without someone to subsidize them for the first couple of years. She's the first to admit it.

Adar posted:

hahahaha are you loving kidding me

CmdrSmirnoff posted:

Are you trolling the thread or do you really not have any idea how much a legal education costs these days?

HooKars posted:

Want to mentor me too?

Green Crayons posted:

I'm dubious of these claims of solo greatness only because "immigration law" doesn't sound like it nets one all the hookers and blow and phat cars and stacks of money that I've been led to believe a JD would hand me on a silver platter.

JudicialRestraints posted:

I've found that by doing this you can get as far as a personalized rejection notice. It's well worth the extra effort.

CmdrSmirnoff posted:

should the photo of my dick be attached to the application package or faxed later with supplemental material?

quepasa18 posted:

I can't believe anyone actually asks this question, and would even consider sending out resumes with spelling errors. Yes, it will make a difference. There are tons of people applying for jobs, which means employers are looking for reasons to narrow down the applicants. Spelling errors look like you don't care and don't pay attention to detail.

My uncle used to review resumes where he worked, and he once told me that a spelling error in a cover letter or resume meant it automatically went in the trash.

J Miracle posted:

So my boss is kind of a persnickety dude, he's a solo practicioner that does mostly torts and some business contract dispute stuff. He's been in a real pissy mood lately and things haven't been going real great around work. The problem I have is that he hasn't yet written me my letter for federal clerkship apps, and I'm concerned that if he's not in a good mood he won't do it. Would it make my already marginal chances any more marginal to use a backup letter I have from my writing professor who I TA'd for? That would make all three of my letters from faculty (one from an Associate Dean who I had five classes with and TA'd for and gave me multiple "jurisprudence awards", one from an adjunct clinic professor who is also a high-up in the State Appellate Defender's Office, and one from this writing professor). Is that better/worse/no difference/who-the-gently caress-cares-you're-not-getting-a-clerkship than 2 letters from faculty and one from my current employer?

entris posted:

I know nothing about the Pacific Northwest, but is it too late to get your money back?

Linguica posted:

Zealous Abattoir posted:

I don't know, man. I am looking at the facts that you guys present, and it scares me shitless. I come from a family of lawyers (if I go through with this, I'll be a 3rd gen.), I've always wanted to be a lawyer. My parents enjoy it even when they make poo poo money and have to work a lot. I honestly think that if I don't go to law school and at least try it, I'll regret the poo poo out of it later. I *know* that I'll probably won't be making bank. If I don't get into a good school, or for free/near free at a non-T14, I'll just go to the lovely state school back home (which is super cheap).

Guess I am just a masochist.

Soothing Vapors posted:

I finally found a use for the Michigan Career Services Office!

they're like the only place in the building you can get Kleenexes anymore (the girl at the reading room desk told me their kleenex budget got cut, wtf) so every few days I stop in and take like half a box

thanks guys, you're doing top-notch work

Mookie posted:

Yeah basically.

It'd be a drop from approximately $275,000 a year (after bonuses, etc.) doing general litigation, at about 2750 hours a year give or take (depends on travel/trials).

The possible other job is a smaller appellate-only shop that would pay all-in about $140,000.

Plus, appellate law blows to deal with.

evilweasel posted:

I'd much rather have time and money when I'm young and time and money when I'm old than lots of money but no time when I'm young and lots of time and money when I'm old.

blar posted:

Just wait until Friday - most people aren't going to hear about the price increases until then. I'm looking forward to filing I-140's and L-1 visas in 24 hours.

Beerdeer posted:

I will never be able to get a job practicing without hanging out my own shingle.

I work for USCIS as an adjudications officer, meaning I sit in a cubicle and process applications. (Currently I work refugee adjustment of status) The JD took me from a GS7 to a GS9 on track to a 12.

PAY ATTENTION to the lists your schools give of other careers a JD helps with. Besides the pay bump, my degree helps me interpret the law we rely on, which is a classic mess.

Of course, if you're not in law school yet, DON'T GO. THERE ARE NO JOBS. YOU WILL DIE ALONE.