seersucker galley

Yesterday our culminating orientation experience was chats with the State Bar Association. There was a short lecture and then we broke into smaller groups with practicing lawyers to discuss some hypothetical situations to examine our ethics and professionalism.

Two were dressed in seersucker, one was in a Miami Vice look with slicked back hair and no socks. All four were white men. Of course every cell of my body screamed, "Good Old Boys!"

But I'm glad I actually listened to them and didn't just dismiss them based on my prejudices. They are all great guys who believe strongly in professional conduct, including pro bono work and the like. Because of Katrina, hundreds of people accused only of misdemeanors have been languishing in the jails for over a year! 90% are indigent and have nobody to represent them.

Miami Vice Lawyer I really liked in particular, and when he said in the talk that he would be happy to have our help (after the first term) with his pro bono work, I followed up. There was a reception afterwards, and I ended up with his card and an excitement about it. He would send me in to interview people, especially. How exciting is that?! That kind of hands-on stuff, that's what appeals to me especially now. Helping innocent people whose lives have been totally effed up by the storms - that's what really appeals to me. As for the guilty people? Well, I haven't really come to terms with the idea of helping guilty people free. I know that it's not reasonable to expect them all to plead out - or even tell me the truth in interviews - but I'll deal with it when I have to. I do not plan to be a criminal defense lawyer or trial lawyer or any of that (I just want to travel and have meetings in exotic locations and work up contracts or something similarly boring), but I will do whatever is helpful now - and it would be great experience for me. Boston Legal - here I come! I guess I better get some suits soon.

I dunno - maybe everybody isn't full of crap, maybe first year is actually hard (Miami Vice Lawyer says we have just too much going on). I haven't really considered that possibility that I may actually get stressed. At most, 65% of students can get an A or B in the classes, and that's a stress I've never had before. Oh well, I'll do my best and see.

Well, off to Habitat now.