[blindlaw] blind attorneys

Wed Nov 24 17:06:28 UTC 2010

        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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