Negativity and the Legal Profession

As I sat here trying to figure out what to blog about today (actually, tonight since I write these the night before), I decided to read through some other blogs and get a feel for what is going on. There is a lot going on, or not going on, depending on who you talk to.

You see, I am a cup half full kind of guy. There are times when I fall out of this mindset, but they are few and far between. (Anyone want to take odds on where the rest of this paragraph is going?) I grew up in a house where the cup was always half full, regardless of the situation. My dad (any winners?) was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease at 35 when I was just a baby. Most of my memories involving my dad are recalled with a tremor or being frozen. But, not once was he negative about it. Instead, he used his skill, expertise, knowledge and contacts to work on solutions. And while these solutions did not materialize in his lifetime, I like to think that he had some impact on the ultimate solution.

And then I go out and read legal blogs. And the negativity comes flowing out like a New York City fire hydrant opened by kids on a hot summer day. There are blogs, which shall remain nameless, which are 99% negative. Post after post after post is negative. There are other blogs which are 50% negative. Why?

That is not a rhetorical question. I am being serious. I don't understand why there is so much negativity about the law and the profession from lawyers. Look, you have a great job. If you don't think you do, then you should find a new line of work. Maybe you don't have to drop out of the profession, but change your practice area. Every day I get to help someone. Now, the problem may be small such as damage to their car or the problem may be big such as fighting to gain custody of a child. But, at the end of every day, when I am done working and blogging and marketing, I know that I made someone else's life a little bit better.

Now you may say I'm a dreamer (with apologies to John Lennon), but in the last 30 months or so, I cannot think of a day when I did not help someone. What better job can you have than helping people who need assistance? And, we get paid for it!

And for those of you non-lawyers (you know who you are), stop being negative about my profession. Here's my offer: you be quiet about how bad the law and practicing law is and I won't create a new blog dedicated solely to ripping your ideas to shreds. Deal?

Now, go out there, enjoy your profession, and make a positive change. Then come back and tell me about it.

--------Jonathan

Comments

[Erin]

Amen. If your six figure salary, secretary and expense account don't compensate for the dirty office politics and and an empty relationship with your friends and family, then GET OUT. But then again, how else would some of these bloggers/lawyers get their book deals if they didn't have something to complain about?

I don't know if this is exactly where you were going with this post, but this is what bothers me about some bloggers.