to those about to rock [1L year]

I noticed a spike in visitors, and noticed that there was a significant number of people searching for advice on being a 1L. 

I wrote this over 4 years ago for those entering law school [yikes!] and it's a good thing I wrote it then, because I don't remember what it felt like to be a law student as much anymore.

Good luck to all entering those hallowed halls.  Just remember, you're worthy.

on being a public defender

I have exactly, precisely, $10.92 to last me the next 8 days.

Dear ABA Law Journal

Thank you for your emails to me as a blawger.  It's nice of you to write me things of interest.  What I want you to know is that there is very little you do that is of interest to me.  Your monthly magazine, your website, all those things are about and geared towards a very specific subset of lawyers; namely, the big firm - corp counsel types.  Our profession is so much broader than that, and you perpetuate this narrowing of the profession that begins with law school.

So about this Rebel project you have going on?  Thanks for letting me know, I'll be sure to check on it, but I'm already disappointed.  Your rebel is a corp counsel who doesn't hire firms if they have a poor track record regarding diversity.  That's commendable.  It's not rebellious. 

Thanks for continuing to marginalize attorneys working in the public interest.  Neither you nor my clients see me as a real lawyer.

even the annoying ones

I just noticed that he wore the same shirt on the past three court dates.

He drives me absolutely insane, but he wore his nice shirt.  Because he probably has only one.

He tap dances on my last nerve, but I'm so proud? humbled? pleased? to be his lawyer.  I'm glad that something pushed through the barrier of my annoyance and tapped me on the shoulder to remind me that yeah, he's a huge pain in the ass, but he's a human being who has a lot of life battles, and I'm so glad that I could stand by him.  Because the prosecutor with the shiny shoes and the judge with his season tickets and the detective with his nice suit and badge will come in, and I get to be the only one privileged enough to fight for the guy with only one nice shirt.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for letting me be your lawyer. 

I only have one nice suit.

for those who were PDs but then weren't

for those who left, or those who left and returned to the profession...

What do you think?  What made you leave?  How do you feel now that you left?  Did it change the role that work plays in your life?  And for those who came back... why?  And how do you feel about your return?