Lawyers: Not all are created equal

Whenever I think of taking the LSATS and going to law school,I am often violently smacked into reality by Opinionistas, which is a blog that chronicles the tragic yet hilarious accounts of the O's life as a lawyer. In a recent entry she discusses her inexperience regarding corporate law.

My friends in other departments come from my identical background and clearly spend many hours at their desks, but on in general I haven't a clue as to what they sit and do all day. Ask me to start a corporation, draft a will, read a mortgage, you'll get a blank stare, while corporate associates panic at the mere thought of writing a motion or appearing in court.

Nonlawyers seem shocked to hear this, "But you're a lawyer! You went to a good law school! Don't they teach you these basic things?" Hardly - we were far too busy cramming our heads with general legal theory and practicing our ass smooching techniques for firm interviews to ever absorb any practical training. Then, after graduation we entered firms in a specific department, where we sit all day performing the single task in the one area of law that we're even remotely trained to practice, essentially joining the glorified overeducated assembly line created by large firms.

She raises a very important point regarding lawyers which like doctors, have specialties. Some choose litigation, some go corporate and others are on the federal judge track.

Which is why you need to choose a lawyer who has the experience that correlates to your needs. If you are putting together a co-op deal, make sure you have a lawyer who has experience in putting successful contracts for co-op packages.

DO NOT GET A LAWYER BECAUSE THEY ARE CHEAP! GET A LAWYER BECAUSE THEY ARE GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO!

I don't care if your lawyer attended Harvard Law School, clerked for William Rehnquist. If they haven't made their bones in what you need them for then they are completely useless.