[blindlaw] blind attorneys

Tue Nov 23 18:28:34 UTC 2010

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.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindlaw mailing list
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
> info for blindlaw:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/mfhurley%40optonli
ne.net
>

_______________________________________________
blindlaw mailing list
blindlaw at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
blindlaw:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/noel.nightingale%4
0ed.gov

_______________________________________________
blindlaw mailing list
blindlaw at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
blindlaw:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/jimi-law%40dc.rr.c
om

_______________________________________________
blindlaw mailing list
blindlaw at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
blindlaw:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/awilusa%40yahoo.com

_______________________________________________
blindlaw mailing list
blindlaw at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
blindlaw:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/b.m.deutscher%40sasktel.net 