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Thoughts on Legal Service
From the content of this site, it is evident that I am passionate about the law. My friends know that I am also passionate about Christian ministry. I have no idea how the Lord is going to lead me to fulfill both callings, but until I have it figured out, I will probably keep moving forward as the Lord leads one step at a time.
At the current moment, my heart is quite set on joining the legal service. I know it doesn't pay as well as the private sector, but there are other reasons that loom large in my mind:
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(1) I don't want to be a law clerk for 3+ years
Ok I definitely can't claim to be an expert on law firms, but on my observation during internships, pupils and junior associates are reduced to research assistants who draft memos and research law for senior associates and partners. In my opinion, law firms should just hire paralegals for that. While I am excited about researching law, that just doesn't fit what I see myself doing for 3+ years after I graduate.
The legal service allows me a more 'lawyer-ly' existence. By virtue of the simple fact that they handle all criminal matters in the country and are severely understaffed, legal officers go to court quite soon after they join service. The work that you see in the government is also far more diversified. You might be prosecuting small crimes for the first three years, but you could also be posted to other departments, giving advice to the government, or dealing with international treaties, or law reform!
(2) Legal Service allows me to live with my ideals.
I believe law is all about the administration of justice. Yea, I have cynical classmates who think its about the money, but I also know people who agree with me! In private sector, your client is the person who pays the bill. You jolly well make sure you win for him. In public service, your client is Justice. If you sincerely think that the accused person is innocent, or that there is insufficient evidence, you could choose not to prosecute. Or if you see that this person is just a small pawn in a bigger network of crimes, you could make deals to catch the bigger fish. The client is really Justice, because you are forming the system you want to see yourself in if you were ever on the receiving end of it.
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I'm doing a course on Prosecutorial Ethics this semester, being taught by two federal prosecutors of the USA. Hearing them talk about their cases firms my conviction that this is what I want to do!
I think I must have blogged about this topic a few times already, but it never hurts to say it again! I actually started blogging intending to share about my thoughts of going to seminary, but I guess the above suffices for one day ;)
4 comments:
I always remember what Joel Lee once said during Open House 2007 during the student-professor talk: I believe that Law is an inherently noble profession.
and so do i.
See where God leads you. I think in the framework of Christianity, there are no such things as wrong decisions. and even in the context of evil, RC Sproul argues that evil is good because if not, God would never have ordained it.
I can see you as a DPP bro. But i think your talents are so suited to private practice. justice is not only served in the legal service.
(sorry for writing so much, but i'm going to continue)
I once told my brother at dinner in front of my parents: "i don't think you'll become a litigator." to which, of course, drew some consternation from my parents. But my brother's reply surprised us all "yes neither do i."
I don't believe my brother can be a litigator because he doesn't beleive enough in a cause. at a very general level, i think a litigator must believe in a cause. if not, how is one to fight for something he doesn't even have a modicum of care in?
but you, you obviously care. and because you care and believe in causes, private practice provides the opportunity to do a wider variety of cases: from the old woman who has been forced to sign a will non est factum to a businessman who has been unfairly treated and now wants his money back.
(of course i reserve the right to change my mind 3 years into private practice myself. :p)
Haha sj its good to hear your thoughts too, and I appreciate your robust defence of work in the private sector! I would definitely love to be working with you too haha - maybe when I get disillusioned with LSC I'll come knocking again ;)
and the thought process has come full circle. =)
Surprise, surprise, you're not the only one who is thinking of going seminary :-)
I have the same desires myself, although I am still debating over it. Though I'm doing communication studies now, I don't see myself specialising in it. I've actually thought about doing religious studies in the more general sense -- rather than studying Christianity straight on.
Better yet, I might just do both :-) Currently, I'm still not too sure about it, or where to go. You have any inkling of which one you want to go to?
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