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could this be the right option for me?

Date: January 16, 2003 | 13 Dhu-l-Qidah 1423 Hijriah
Blog: veiled4allah
Subjects: career, paralegal
As I've mentioned previously, since beginning my paralegal studies, I've become interested in possibly going on to become an attorney, inshallah. This would have to wait in any case until I'm employed and have saved up some money; I have no savings left and am only going to school now with financial help from my parents. Even then, law school takes three years and costs a lot. I don't want to get in debt with student loans or anything. Not at this point in my life.

A possible alternative in my state is the Law Clerk Program, which is basically an apprenticeship. It costs only $1500 a year and I would be able to work full-time since working is the point of it. My mom knows somebody who was a paralegal and went through the Law Clerk program, passed the Bar Exam, and is now a practicing attorney.

This may be the best option in my current circumstances, inshallah.
~ Posted by Al-Muhajabah, a member of the reality-based community, at 04:49 PM

Comments

Carol said: Total comments: 17   gold star

The Seattle Times did an article on this a few years back. They focused on one guy who may have been the only person doing this at the time. As I recall, you do have to have an attorney who is willing to "apprentice" you but once you find someone who is willing and able to put in the time, then go to it. I think it was taking this man in the paper waaay longer than three years to get the program done, but I don't know what other commitments he had at the same time.

I don't remember how long ago this article was but you might try searching the Times archive. Among others, you might try searching on the phrase "reading law" which is the old-fashioned term for doing this. Back before there were law schools, someone who wanted to become a lawyer would "read law" with another lawyer or a judge.

Good luck.

Carol

~ Posted at January 16, 2003 05:37 PM | Comment Permalink
moderator Al-Munaqabah said: Total comments: 996   gold stargold stargold stargold stargold star

Thanks, Carol! smile

I tried a search of the Seattle Times archives but didn't find anything, so now I'm using Google to search for "law clerk program seattle". I found the following article Law Clerking Your Way Into the Law. I don't know if this is the same guy you're talking about, but it's a great story all the same.

I also found a brief mention of a legal assistant with the San Juan County Prosecutor's Office who is beginning the Law Clerk Program. I bet there's lots more too smile

~ Posted at January 16, 2003 07:45 PM | Comment Permalink
one of the top five commentors on this blog! Jonathan Edelstein said: Total comments: 91   gold stargold stargold stargold stargold star

I've always thought that apprenticeship was the best way to study law. Law schools very often neglect the practical skills that practicing attorneys need; as a law student, I learned much more through my various jobs than in the classroom. Until this century, apprenticeship was actually the primary means of legal education, and I'm very much in favor of going back to that.

One thing you may want to consider, though, is the effect of not going to law school on your employment prospects. Even if a clerkship makes you eligible for the bar, many law firms (and even public agencies) will want you to have that JD. If you find a lawyer who will train you as an apprentice and then keep you on afterward - or if you plan to set up your own practice - then clerkship is an excellent option. Otherwise, it's a good way to learn and save money, but you may find it harder to get a job afterward.

Another alternative is doing what I did and going to law school at night. It's a tough four-year program, but it leaves you free to work in the daytime and minimizes student debt. (I borrowed a total of $30,000, of which the military paid back $13,000 - my student loan payments are an annoyance rather than a burden.) Law schools don't usually like to advertise their night programs, but many have them, and I'm sure there's at least one good one in Seattle.


~ Posted at January 17, 2003 02:45 PM | Comment Permalink
moderator Al-Munaqabah said: Total comments: 996   gold stargold stargold stargold stargold star

Thanks for the advice, Jonathan. At this point, any decision is quite a ways off. I won't be finished with the paralegal program until August of this year. I'll have to see what the job market is like, and what employers will be willing to give me. It may be that I can't find anybody who is willing to take on the position of tutoring me: it's a lot of work and apparently it's up to the law firm how much to reimburse them for the extra work. Also, a person can be a great attorney but not make a good teacher.

I'm definitely keeping my options open at this stage. The Law Clerk Program is a new an interesting one, but I don't have my heart set on it or anything smile

~ Posted at January 17, 2003 07:23 PM | Comment Permalink

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