Law Chambers of PinkEssence

Comment

Comment by Michelle Ann Cooper on February 15, 2012 at 12:06am

Paula,

Regarding the law degree and passing the Bar exam.  You only need to pass the Bar (and be legally regarded as an attorney)  if you are going to represent someone else in court as their attorney.  You don't need to pass the bar to act as your OWN attorney.  Everyone has the right to represent themselves in court in lieu of having an attorney represent them.  This is true in both civil and criminal courts of all states and in Federal courts as well.

Comment by Jaime Melisa Roth on February 14, 2012 at 6:11pm

I haven't done extensive research on the issue although I know it now comes up often. I don't think most of the cases reach the appellate level where there are reported decisions. Trial court level decisions are not widely reported. I haven't researched laws or cases in Mississippi on these issues but I suspect there isn't much that is helpful. You probably need to expand your research outside Mississippi although cases outside Mississippi are not "binding precedents' for Mississippi courts.

Comment by Jaime Melisa Roth on February 14, 2012 at 9:44am

Paula, It may vary in some states but in most you have go have a degree from an accredited law school to take a bar exam. This was not always the case. Let me know what state(s) you're thinking about and I'll help you research it if you'd like.

Best Regards, Jaime

Comment by Caroline Grace on August 11, 2011 at 8:11pm

@Karen Smith - Contact the ACLU in your state if you want to see what happens to your marriage and if they will help you challenge the law. A couple fo quick principles. Things that were once legal like marriages usually don't get knocked down simply because the law changes. Things get grandfathered in place.

 

Since this is now in your state constitution, it will have to go way up there to be heard, a costly endeavor.  And the devil is in the details so the facts of your case may not be such that it would be the ideal case to move through the courts.  Things like when were you married, in what state, affect your legal standing and applicable legal principles.  Other things like you past arrest record, your community standing, your type of employment or source of income, children, strength of your marriage, ability to handle the press, places you frequent,  previous court cases, press articles about you, tatoos on your forehead, - all of these affect whether you will be chosen to be the plaintiff to move a case of this importance along.

 

I am not a lawyer but have looked at cases where civil rights were pursued and saw how effective lawyers chose their plaintiffs and what they publicized. Rosa Parks wasn't the first top challenge the seating arrangements, another gal beat her to it. But since she was pregnant in circumstances that wouldn't win her jury sympathy her situation went silent. 

Comment by Jaime Melisa Roth on June 21, 2011 at 12:30am

Hi Rachel,

I'm now retired but practiced law for 30+ years mostly with two large law firms. I was also recruiting partner for many years at one of the firms. I stay in touch with former colleagues who are still active including several managing partners.

There were large layoffs beginning in 2008 including equity partners. Things have improved slightly since then. But even at my law school (ranked in the top 15 in the so-called rankings) the Dean told me that the law school itself offered temporary jobs to 40% of the graduates last year. That means the market is very selective and even top students have difficulty finding good permanent positions. All of the law firms I know well have cut back substantially on hiring of new lawyers.

Law School is much more expensive than it used to be and there are lots of disgruntled and underemployed graduates (more than at any time during my career). I know several prominent lawyers who say they would not recommend law school to any young person (but I remember people who discouraged me way back when and I ignored their advice and had a satisfying career).

A lot of your potential depends on whether you can get into a good law school and how well you do in law school. It is very competitive. Especially in today's environment you need to be very driven if you want to pursue a legal career. I didn't enjoy law school although I have several peers who did. I liked law practice much more than law school.

Another issue you need to think about is that I am not aware of a lawyer at any large law firm who has openly transitioned and remained at the firm. There may be a few who transitioned before they started but I am not aware of any at a major law firm.

Hopefully things are changing but the legal profession is very traditional and slow to adapt to cultural changes. Minority hiring in the legal profession has grown over the past few years but still lags behind many other occupations.

All that being said you should follow your passion if you want to be a lawyer but go into it with your eyes open. Feel free to contact me if you'd like to discuss it further.

Best Regards, Jaime

Comment by Debby Miller on June 20, 2011 at 9:28pm

Hi Rachel,

Yes, in this economy even law firms are cutting back but there are jobs out there. I think that the biggest question you need to consider is what do you want out of a legal career? If it is a passion of yours, or if you have definite plans for what you want to do with a law degree, that is one thing. If you are looking at it as a job, that is another. Law school is heinously expensive and it will take years to pay off your debt. Frankly, if it is just a job you will probably be losing money in the long run.

Feel free to e-mail me if you have any specific questions, and good luck.

Debby

Comment by Karen Smith on November 16, 2010 at 12:45am

Hello, I live in Oregon, which bans gay marriage in the state constitution. I'm currently married to a woman, and am MtF. I've been looking for a lawyer to tell me what will happen to my marriage - will it be dissolved against our will and religious beliefs? If so, we're interested in challenging the law.

Comment by Susan Burgoff on November 15, 2010 at 3:43pm

Hello, I live in Cincinnati, OH (Hamilton County).
I'm in the midst of a divorce, and my spouse is fighting on parenting time.

Anyone have any reco's (cases, judgements, litureture) I can pass to my lawyer to help our cause.

My lawyer has no problem with 'Susan'

Thanks,
Susan

Comment by Roberta Zenker on November 6, 2010 at 7:59pm

The only way you can know about someone's attitude is from first hand accounts.

Comment by charlene lewis on November 6, 2010 at 7:34pm

I know a gal here in thevalley, who has difficult time with some of the people at our local VA, she had complained, I am unaware of whether it has changed...I was wanting an opinion as too what there attitude was to those like us, I can never seem too get a answser directly from anyone I ask.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• …
• 12
• Next ›
• Page