[blindlaw] blind attorneys

Wed Dec 1 07:11:50 UTC 2010

California still does it although it is very rare.
Chuck
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ross Doerr" <rumpole at roadrunner.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 7:51 AM
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] blind attorneys


> The last I knew, Vermont and North Carolina were the only two states who 
> still permitted that - and it was done through apprenticeship to an 
> admitted attorney.
> But that information is about 10 years old, so it may not apply any 
> longer.
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Susan Kelly" <Susan.Kelly at pima.gov>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 10:05 AM
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] blind attorneys
>
>
>> Actually...my great-great grandfather "read" for the bar - in fact, he
>> only had a high school diploma, but became an attorney by internship and
>> very educated by his love of reading.  Going through modern law school,
>> was always jealous that it had at least once been by practice and
>> testing alone!
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>> On Behalf Of Jorge Paez
>> Sent: Tuesday, 23 November, 2010 6:52 PM
>> To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] blind attorneys
>>
>> Out rages!
>> Employ someone who hasn't passed the BAR?
>> Unless of course its some sort of internship.
>>
>>
>> On Nov 23, 2010, at 8:48 PM, Steve P. Deeley wrote:
>>
>>> That is because Canada is a socialist nation.
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ross Doerr"
>> <rumpole at roadrunner.com>
>>> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 2:40 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] blind attorneys
>>>
>>>
>>>> Good point Blain.
>>>> IF that were "required" in the U.S. the same result may append itself
>> to
>>>> U.S. graduates.
>>>> I like it.
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Blaine Deutscher"
>> <b.m.deutscher at sasktel.net>
>>>> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 1:28 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] blind attorneys
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> This is why Canadian Law students have somewhat of an advantage over
>>>>> American students.  before you take the Bar you are required to do
>> one
>>>>> year
>>>>> of what they call artickling.  This is where you go and work in a
>> Law
>>>>> firm.
>>>>> A lot of Law students that attend  a Law school in Canada find that
>> that
>>>>> one
>>>>> year helps then gain employment and if you're really good or they
>> like you
>>>>> then you might get reemploied after you pass the bar.  Some firms
>> might
>>>>> pay
>>>>> for you to take the bar if they feel that you will be a real assit
>> to the
>>>>> firm.
>>>>>
>>>>> Blaine
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: <awilusa at yahoo.com>
>>>>> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 11:06 AM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] blind attorneys
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>       my name is Girmai Kahsai. I graduated from law school and
>> acquired
>>>>> my bar license in 2009. I have been applying for a job for more than
>> a
>>>>> year.
>>>>> I have had interviews and I believe I was not selected for
>> employment in
>>>>> some cases due to discrimination tacit or otherwise whenever the
>>>>> interviewers discovered that I am blind. federal and state agencies
>>>>> require
>>>>> experience which is a hurdle for new attorney. due to other
>> obligations, I
>>>>> am seeking gainful employment in other areaas which may help me to
>> move to
>>>>> attorney position in the long run.  I have been a lawyer for
>> fourteen
>>>>> years
>>>>> in another country and I have no doubt that law is the best
>> profession
>>>>> that
>>>>> would not require sight. nonetheless due to innumberable challenges
>> such
>>>>> as
>>>>> the current economic crisis, bias etc. employment is evading me. but
>> I
>>>>> would
>>>>> like to stress that with proper planning and preparation newly
>> graduated
>>>>> blind attorneys have the chance of employment. the prospective blind
>>>>> lawyer
>>>>> should work as intern duringg summers in federal or state agencies,
>>>>> participate in nmoot court competitions, law school journal etc.
>> these
>>>>> experiences would give the blind lawyer an edge in the search for
>>>>> employment. employers consider these experiences during the hiring
>>>>> process.
>>>>> the formation of a nonprofit organization for the provision of legal
>> aid
>>>>> should be explored as an alternative option by a blind attorney. the
>> legal
>>>>> profession is extremely broad and can be applied flexibly depending
>> on the
>>>>> creativity of the blind attorney individual. I  would like to
>> encourage
>>>>> blind individuals with stamina and skills to strive to study law.
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message----- From: James Weisberg
>>>>> Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 7:56 PM
>>>>> To: 'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'
>>>>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] blind attorneys
>>>>>
>>>>> My experience is similar Noel.  My point:  numerically speaking the
>> effort
>>>>> of the credentials are not worth the "chance" you will be one of the
>>>>> "lucky"
>>>>> one's to get a job offer.  Congrats on making it into the public
>> sector as
>>>>> I
>>>>> believe that is the place for those such as us with vision problems
>> and
>>>>> law
>>>>> degrees.  I am currently in the process of waiting for a job
>> interview
>>>>> with
>>>>> the Fed myself!
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>>> Behalf Of Nightingale, Noel
>>>>> Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 1:28 PM
>>>>> To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
>>>>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] blind attorneys
>>>>>
>>>>> James:
>>>>>
>>>>> I have lost track of your original point.   I hope this response is
>> on
>>>>> target.
>>>>>
>>>>> I was blind during law school, worked as a summer associate for a
>>>>> nationally-known firm, and received a job offer as a result of my
>> work
>>>>> during that summer.  I was employed by that firm for over five
>> years.  I
>>>>> now
>>>>> practice for the federal government.
>>>>>
>>>>> I know of others as well who were blind before law school who got
>> jobs at
>>>>> private firms.
>>>>>
>>>>> I also know that tremendous discrimination occurs but my own
>> experience
>>>>> tells me that it is entirely possible for a blind person to receive
>> offers
>>>>> of employment to practice in the private sector.
>>>>>
>>>>> Noel Nightingale
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>>> Behalf Of James Weisberg
>>>>> Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 8:48 AM
>>>>> To: 'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'
>>>>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] blind attorneys
>>>>>
>>>>> I have to distinguish, I'm getting back to Dave's comments below
>> again
>>>>> now,
>>>>> between employed blind lawyers who lost sight AFTER they had been
>> employed
>>>>> and developed a rep before going blind as being competent from those
>> who
>>>>> are
>>>>> blind and thus never given the opportunity to develop such a rep
>> unless
>>>>> they
>>>>> can do it on their own as I have.  I just don't count blind lawyers
>> in my
>>>>> calculation if they lost their sight after they were established
>> because
>>>>> my
>>>>> point is NOT whether or not a blind person can do the work, I know
>> as I
>>>>> have
>>>>> been doing it for over ten years now.  My point is the effort for
>> the
>>>>> credentials compared with the likelihood of a job offer means go for
>>>>> something else . . . that's all.  So I too would love the numbers on
>> blind
>>>>> lawyers never offered employment compared against employed blind
>> lawyers
>>>>> who
>>>>> were blind prior to ever practicing!!  I'm betting close to
>>>>> "astronomical."
>>>>> *smile*
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>>> Behalf Of mfhurley at optonline.net
>>>>> Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 7:29 AM
>>>>> To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
>>>>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] blind attorneys
>>>>>
>>>>> Prospects for blind lawyers were not good in a great ecomony.  I
>> agree
>>>>> with
>>>>> Dennis' post wholeheartedly.
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: David Andrews
>>>>> Date: Friday, November 19, 2010 5:26 am
>>>>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] blind attorneys
>>>>> To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
>>>>>
>>>>>> James:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I would like to suggest that the unemployment rate for blind
>>>>>> persons
>>>>>> in most all, if not all fields of endeavor is low. While my
>>>>>> evidence
>>>>>> is anecdotal, I don't think that it is necessarily any worse for
>>>>>> blind lawyers. Over the years I have known a bunch of blind
>>>>>> lawyers,
>>>>>> who are working.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> From what I read, the prospect for all lawyers isn't that good
>>>>>> right
>>>>>> now, so it is hard to separate the blindness penalty from the
>>>>>> bad
>>>>>> economy penalty.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Dave
>>>>>>
>>>>>> At 05:55 PM 11/18/2010, you wrote:
>>>>>> >Based upon my experience, Berkeley grad, top tier law grad,
>>>>>> ZERO job offers
>>>>>> >despite NEVER not getting an interview, combined with the
>>>>>> extremely low
>>>>>> >numbers of blind attorneys I can't think of what there might be
>>>>>> to discuss.
>>>>>> >My advice to anyone with vision issues considering law as a
>>>>>> career is to not
>>>>>> >waste their time or money they have a greater chance
>> statistically,
>>>>>> >probably, of getting hit by lightening on the way to law class
>>>>>> than ever
>>>>>> >getting an offer of employment. Now if you come from money, forget
>>>>>> >everything I have said and just open your own firm! THAT IS
>>>>>> THE WAY IT IS!
>>>>>> >But there are always EXCEPTIONS. I personally wouldn't want to
>>>>>> invest the
>>>>>> >time and money law school requires on the hopes I'll be an
>> exception.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>> onli
>>>>> ne.net
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>> om
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>>>>
>>>>
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