Job Search Strategies: It’s a good thing

Aurora Donnelly is a solo practitioner always looking forward to the next exciting transition.

Today I was on the 151 bus downtown and sitting next to me was a pretty young woman with dark hair and a thin face reading handwritten notes in an elementary school-type notebook.  Of course I tried to sneak a peek at what she was studying so intently.  She was reading notes about contracts.  My visual eavesdropping left me with strange feelings.

The man sitting next to me on the other side had struck up a conversation with me and we talked until he got off the bus.  Now I could see the man who had been sitting on his other side, a middle-aged black man. He was also studying hand-written notes and when I peeked at his sheet I saw with trepidation that he was reading about covenants running with the land.   Aaaarggghhh.

I realized that the February bar is days away.  I wanted to talk to the girl next to me, to share some camaraderie with her, maybe encourage her.  But, as I tried to frame the words I would say, I realized that nothing I could say would be of any relevance. “Good luck?” No, that sounds fatalistic. “What a great thing you are doing, it is a great profession?” What if she doesn’t pass? “There seem to be way too many of us out there right now, but you will still be happy that you became a lawyer?”  Well, you can see that wouldn’t be a good thing to say in those circumstances.  I don’t know what the right thing is to say to someone going through that ridiculous and grueling process.

In the end I didn’t say anything to either one.  I watched them both pack up their notes and get off the bus at the Wrigley Building with serious faces.  I have been thinking about the two of them off and on all day.

My first thought is how lucky we are that people (well, a lot of people) of all types, ages and backgrounds have access to such an education and such a profession.  Second, why do we have such an ineffective and cumbersome system for becoming a lawyer?  Third, they will see, after they pass the bar, are admitted and start practicing, that being a lawyer is probably the best job there is.  That being a lawyer is at least one hundred times better than being a law student.  Fourth, I hope that by the time they get going with their law careers they have better access to interesting jobs than there exists right now.  Fifth, they may be surprised at the enormous responsibility that lawyers have.  I hope that they embrace that responsibility honestly and proudly.

My last heartfelt thought is — it is a very good thing, and, I am so glad, I am not one of them today.