• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Law School Toolbox®

All the tools you need for law school success

  • Tutoring
  • Courses
    • Start Law School Right
  • Job Help
  • Law School 101
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • About

Why the World Still Needs Lawyers Like You

May 22, 2013 By Lee Burgess Leave a Comment

world lampA few weeks ago, I was down at my alma mater listening to talks from winners of the Kravis Prize (an award given annually to a deserving nonprofit).

I had the opportunity to meet Roy Prosterman, the founder of Landesa. Landesa is an NGO based out of Seattle, Washington, which helps distribute land rights in developing countries, specifically in China, India, and many nations in Africa.

One of the other amazing things is that Roy is a lawyer. As I sat there listening to him discussing his incredibly important work, it dawned on me that he is igniting real change in the world — systemic change transforming the lives of many people —and doing this by using the law. He has, in a sense, created a nonprofit law firm whose sole purpose is to work on land rights issues around the world. He can do the work because he is an attorney. He and attorneys in his group are transforming the lives of people. After his talk, during which I was spellbound by the impact of his work specifically related to empowering women, I had a few moments to speak to him personally. I mentioned that I too am an attorney and that I work with law students. He showed an interest in my work and said something to the effect that there is much work left to be done in the world and we need good lawyers to do it.

As I walked back to my hotel, I spent some time thinking about this fact. In a time when there is so much negativity around the law, here was someone telling me that we still need lawyers. I believe this too. At Catapult 2013 (the conference Alison and I hosted in April 2013) many shared this same message including Judi Cohen, who said that we need people to stay in the profession because, again, there is much work to be done.

Listening to Roy Prosterman, how could you not be excited about the power of the law, right? Likewise, when I read about Asylum Access, a nonprofit in San Francisco started by Emily Arnold Fernandez, whom I knew in college. She started this nonprofit from the ground up, using her law degree to change the world. And from the looks of it, she is doing a fantastic job!

I would argue, however, that the world doesn’t just need lawyers like Roy Prosterman and Emily Arnold Fernandez. We also need smart, thoughtful lawyers to help businesses and individuals who are in crisis. We need lawyers to be fair and keep the system in check. We need lawyers to fight the desire to be litigious all the time and instead work thoughtfully to get their clients’ needs met.

Basically, we need great lawyers. We need them to work on issues both at home and, as  shown by organizations like Landesa and Asylum Access, abroad. It is true, the big firm jobs that many folks dreamed of may be gone. Perhaps your legal dreams need to change. Perhaps you need to think about what excites you about being a lawyer — about what work you can do that you will be proud of and enjoy and will make your corner of the world better. There is much work to be done and lawyers have the skills to do much of this work. I encourage you to take some time to think about your role in our profession. As Roy shared with me, we still need good lawyers. Become one of those good or great lawyers. Practice well and make our profession proud.

—

Want more? Sign up for our free mailing list today.

Was this article helpful? Check out our series on Job Hunting 101.

Here’s the rest of Job Hunting 101:

  • Job Hunting 101: Be Careful Who Your Facebook Friends Are
  • Job Hunting 101: Follow Up
  • Job Hunting 101: It’s Not All About You
  • Job Hunting 101: Project a Consistent Image
  • Job Hunting 101: Don’t Neglect Your Headshot
  • Job Hunting 101: What Makes You Unique?
  • Job Hunting 101: Google Yourself

Image by mrpac-man via stock.xchng.


 

Looking for some help to do your best in law school? Find out about our law school tutoring options.


About Lee Burgess

Lee Burgess, Esq. is the co-founder of the Law School Toolbox, a resource for law students that demystifies the law school experience and the Bar Exam Toolbox, a resource for students getting ready for the bar exam. Lee has been adjunct faculty at two bay area law schools teaching classes on law school and bar exam preparation. You can find Lee on Twitter at @leefburgess, @lawschooltools, & @barexamtools.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

  • Podcast
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

About Us

If you find law school tough, you are not alone! The Law School Toolbox team is here to help you through it. Check out our helpful free content, podcasts, courses and one-on-one tutoring. Thanks for stopping by and drop us a line if you have any questions. We also invite you to join our weekly mailing list, for advice right to your inbox.

Recent Posts

Why You Should Consider Joining a Reading Group in Law School

Why You Should Consider Joining a Reading Group in Law School

Given how busy law school can get, you may be hesitant to add yet another thing to your plate, especially if it involves yet more reading. But if you … Read More about Why You Should Consider Joining a Reading Group in Law School

Podcast Microphone

Podcast Episode 382: Listen and Learn — Negligence: Proximate Cause

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we're discussing Proximate Cause – a subtopic of Negligence in Tort Law. In this episode we … Read More about Podcast Episode 382: Listen and Learn — Negligence: Proximate Cause

How to Take Advantage of Admitted Student Days

How to Take Advantage of Admitted Student Days

Spring is an exciting time for law school applicants. Admissions results have been trickling in over the winter and, by now you have probably heard … Read More about How to Take Advantage of Admitted Student Days

Podcast Microphone

Podcast Episode 381: Find Your Unicorn Space: Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too-Busy World (w/Eve Rodsky)

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we have attorney and author Eve Rodsky back with us to discuss, amongst other things, her … Read More about Podcast Episode 381: Find Your Unicorn Space: Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too-Busy World (w/Eve Rodsky)

3 Steps to Prepare for the MPRE

3 Steps to Prepare for the MPRE

I started law school thinking that the bar exam was a post-law school problem, only to find that one exam can be taken as soon as post 1L year — the … Read More about 3 Steps to Prepare for the MPRE

Want Better Law School Grades?

Sign Up for Our Exam Tips!

Footer

  • Podcast
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Tutoring
  • Courses
  • Job Help
  • About
  • Contact
  • Login
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Refunds

Copyright 2023 Law School Toolbox®™