[blindlaw] blind attorneys

Tue Nov 23 19:40:51 UTC 2010

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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>
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