[blindlaw] Blind HighSchool student intrested in Law

Dittman, Robert rdittman at stmarytx.edu
Wed Sep 11 16:43:41 UTC 2013 

Colleagues,

I have read with great interest this topic.  While I have my own personal opinions which I am about to express, let me first state that those with different opinions are entitled to such opinions and they also have value.

First, I would state vehemently that the use of Braille is a skill that is extremely valuable and dare I say necessary.  Speech can not truly take the place of Braille in most situations.  While I understand that there are those of us in the blind community who function with speech on a daily basis, well, most of us do,  there are challenges for those who choose or can not  utilize Braille that are not as prevalent as those of us who utilize braille..  Consider the following passage.

I went out in the mourning feeling Mary and went to get the male.  I then kneaded to by some bread so I walked to the place where it's four sail.

Anything wrong with that passage?  sounds wonderful just utilizing speech, spellcheck, and at first pass.  To close, I fully recognize that not all of us had a Braille education.  God knows I hated Braille as a kid, and did not fully utilize it until I got into law school when I realized that it was so darned useful.  The point is that we should encourage braille literacy as much as is possible it can only help, and I have found as a new Attorney I use it for all kinds of things I had not considered.  I have two Braille displays, the prices are comeing down, as awell as some books of english spelling, style, correct punctuation usage and so one for me to self edit my documents.  Yes I still have a sighted colleague who happens to be a former English teacher proofread my documents for me, but it is exhilarating when he states to me Counsel, I can find no errors in this document.

2. I want to give Jeff hope that even if he does not go to an ivy League undergraduate institution of higher learning nor an top law school, he can still greatly enjoy the practice of law.

I did not go to either of these things although St. Mary's University school of Law is a well respected law school.  I have my own solo practice, I am make enough money to keep the lights on, I go to court almost every day which is what I want to do, and I am earning the respect of my colleagues and clients.  What more can I ask for?  I have a friend working for a top law firm having to bill every nine minutes and although they pay her $90,000 per year she feels like she must serve these masters although she hates it.  I am not hungry, I am free to structure my day, and I am serving the profession.  Again, what else can I ask for.

I hope this gives a new prospective on the conversation.

Warmest regards, and Jeff hang in there and if you have any questions, please ask.

Robert D. Dittman, ESQ.
Attorney and Counselor at Law
(210) 299-7658
RDITTMAN at ME.COM

 

On Sep 11, 2013, at 10:40 AM, Angela Matney <amatney at hf-law.com>
 wrote:

> I would qualify the below by stating that starting salaries in Big Law are generally around $160,000. Also, I'm not sure I agree that a 4.0 in an easy major is more valuable than a slightly lower GPA in another major--say, one that is technologically oriented. Also, such a major might lead to more earning potential in the event the original poster decides not to go to law school after all.
> 
> Angie
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Hirschler Fleischer, A Professional Corporation Confidentiality Note:
> This e-mail and any attachments are confidential and may be protected by legal
> privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure,
> copying, distribution or use of this e-mail or any attachment is prohibited. If
> you have received this e-mail in error, please notify us immediately by
> returning it to the sender and delete this copy from your system. Thank you for
> your cooperation.
> 
> Circular 230 Notice:  Pursuant
> to Treasury Department Circular 230, tax advice contained in this communication
> and any attachments are not intended to be used, and cannot be used, for the
> purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed under the Internal Revenue
> Code, nor may any such tax advice be used to promote, market or recommend to any
> person any transaction or matter that is the subject of this communication and
> any attachments.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindlaw [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Daniel McBride
> Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2013 11:24 AM
> To: 'Blind Law Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Blind HighSchool student intrested in Law
> 
> Mike:
> 
> Amen!
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindlaw [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michael Fry
> Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2013 9:42 AM
> To: Blind Law Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Blind HighSchool student intrested in Law
> 
> Dear Jeff,
> 
> Law is going through some seismic changes.  Twenty years ago a law degree
> would likely lead to a rewarding career and a good salary.  Nowadays that is
> not necessarily the case.  There is fierce competition among lawyers for
> less work. Modern technology has enabled one lawyer to do the work of five
> attorneys in the past.  Couple that with a very large supply of lawyers.
> It adds up to significant downward pressure on the earnings of lawyers.  A
> while ago, I heard a statistic that the average attorney earns about $60k.
> Government attorneys earn about $100k and Federal attorneys earn about
> $150k.  Federal attorney positions are highly competitive.  There is an
> elite cadre of attorneys that work in "Big Law."  They earn probably around
> $800k.
> 
> Given this highly competitive landscape, it is imperative that you go to the
> very best possible law school especially because you have a severe
> disability.  Law, like other advanced liberal arts degree, uses subject
> criteria to differentiate between members of the field.  Going to an elite
> law school will greatly increase your chances of getting hired by a
> prosecutor's office of your choice.
> 
> If you want to be an attorney, here's what you should do.  Do your best to
> earn the very highest GPA possible.  Listen to one non-fiction book a week.
> That's 52 books a year.  By the end of your high school you should have
> listened to about 150 non-fiction books.  Do some kind of sport like crew,
> or, jog 5 miles a day on the tread mill.  Do two SAT/ACT preparation
> courses.  Get at least double time on the SAT/ACT along with your other
> accommodations.  Have your parents or the school get you a tutor.  Work with
> the tutor every day for all classes.  Volunteer at the Lighthouse for the
> Blind or some such thing.  Go talk to your career counselor right now.
> Tell her you want to go to an Ivy League school.  Tell her you'll do
> whatever it takes and that with your effort its her job to get you there.
> It is imperative that you get into the very best possible college.
> 
> Once there pick an easy major like History or English.  Get a 4.0 gpa.
> Work with a tutor through the disability resource center for every class on
> every assignment.  Continue listening veraciously to non-fiction audio
> books.  After your second year apply for and get a prestigious scholarship
> like Roads or Fulbright or at least something specific for a visually
> impaired person.  After that, do two review courses for the LSAT.  Get a
> very good score.  Apply to the top 15 law schools.  Emphasize your visual
> impairment and conquering adversity.
> 
> If you do these things, I think you'll be set.  Alternatively, consider the
> Randolph-Shepard program.  The more I think about it, that sounds like a
> good program.
> 
> I hope this was helpful and inspiring to you.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> 
> 
> Mike
> 
> 
> On Tue, Sep 10, 2013 at 2:50 PM, jeff crouch <kd8qiq at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Hi all,
>> My name is Jeff Crouch, I am a blind highschool student in 10th grade
>> and I am interested in law. I am wanting to take a course during the
>> summer called criminal envestagations. I have ben interested in law
>> for some time, just don't know exactly what I can do being that I am
>> blind. If I wanted to be a loyar I would want to be a prossacuting
>> attorney, But at the same time I want to envestagate crimes, so don't
>> know what exactly there is.
>> 
>> any feedback would be welcome, feel free to email me off list as well.
>> 
>> thanks
>> 
>> --
>> Skype: magic2127
>> FB: apdc19 at gmail.com
>> http://www.twitter.com/kd8qiq
>> 73
>> K8TVV
>> Jeff Crouch
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> blindlaw mailing list
>> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> blindlaw:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/mikefry79%40gmai
>> l.com
>> 
> _______________________________________________
> blindlaw mailing list
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> blindlaw:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/dlmlaw%40sbcglobal.net
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> blindlaw mailing list
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for blindlaw:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/amatney%40hf-law.com
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> blindlaw mailing list
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for blindlaw:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/rdittman%40stmarytx.edu

More information about the BlindLaw mailing list