Well said, Carolyn. As with a terrible marriage, it’s often unfathomable to someone with high self-esteem, an optimistic personality, or similar energizing traits, to understand why other people stay in job positions they loathe. Of course, career-masochism and depression are two possible reasons.

Well said, Carolyn. As with a terrible marriage, it’s often unfathomable to someone with high self-esteem, an optimistic personality, or similar energizing traits, to understand why other people stay in job positions they loathe. Of course, career-masochism and depression are two possible reasons.

Is that some kind of an insult?

Absolutely not! But I do think that a dose of cynicism/realism would temper some of your advice. Just because you are wonderful does not mean that your readers are. Hence, my previous criticism of your “accident” advice.

Is that some kind of an insult?

Absolutely not! But I do think that a dose of cynicism/realism would temper some of your advice. Just because you are wonderful does not mean that your readers are. Hence, my previous criticism of your “accident” advice.

I mis-calculated. $30 an hour at 2000 hours a year is $60,000. Still not dreadful though you’d have to pay for insurance (though I think some temp agencies do offer it for long term Ks)

Carolyn

I mis-calculated. $30 an hour at 2000 hours a year is $60,000. Still not dreadful though you’d have to pay for insurance (though I think some temp agencies do offer it for long term Ks)

Carolyn

Hi David. I do understand that financial troubles may cause someone to accept contract work. But if that’s the case, then these attorneys should be glad to have the work – $30 an hour or a pro rated $80,000 a year is nothing to sneeze at. In fact, most of the attorneys who are doing this type of work to support themselves while writing a novel or engaging in other outside activities are glad that the work is mindless.
My point is that if there are attorneys who are dissatisfied with mindless legal (or paralegal work), there are alternatives.
An attorney can go out and take on cases – even pro bono work – to keep up legal skills and have the satisfaction of practicing law. That’s the beauty of a law degree – you can be self-supporting. Most non-professionals who engage in dull labor 40 hours a week don’t have this choice. They are the ones whom I arguably feel sorry for.
Also, I am not sure I understand No. 84’s comment about how it’s revealing that I don’t understand aspects of human nature that would cause someone to live an unpleasant life. Is that some kind of an insult? No 84 is right – I don’t understand why someone would choose to live an unpleasant life because I work very hard to ensure that I’m not in that situation by making the best of what I have. I could sit around grousing about my mediocre law school grades or the fact that I’m not earning millions as a biglaw partner as are many of my law school classmates. And on my low days, I have done so. But I’d rather work on finding other opportunities for myself than griping about what I don’t have – and that is what I do.

Hi David. I do understand that financial troubles may cause someone to accept contract work. But if that’s the case, then these attorneys should be glad to have the work – $30 an hour or a pro rated $80,000 a year is nothing to sneeze at. In fact, most of the attorneys who are doing this type of work to support themselves while writing a novel or engaging in other outside activities are glad that the work is mindless.
My point is that if there are attorneys who are dissatisfied with mindless legal (or paralegal work), there are alternatives.
An attorney can go out and take on cases – even pro bono work – to keep up legal skills and have the satisfaction of practicing law. That’s the beauty of a law degree – you can be self-supporting. Most non-professionals who engage in dull labor 40 hours a week don’t have this choice. They are the ones whom I arguably feel sorry for.
Also, I am not sure I understand No. 84’s comment about how it’s revealing that I don’t understand aspects of human nature that would cause someone to live an unpleasant life. Is that some kind of an insult? No 84 is right – I don’t understand why someone would choose to live an unpleasant life because I work very hard to ensure that I’m not in that situation by making the best of what I have. I could sit around grousing about my mediocre law school grades or the fact that I’m not earning millions as a biglaw partner as are many of my law school classmates. And on my low days, I have done so. But I’d rather work on finding other opportunities for myself than griping about what I don’t have – and that is what I do.

That MyShingle does not understand the aspects of human nature that would cause someone to live an unpleasant life – b*tching and moaning all the way – rather than change, is very revealing.

That MyShingle does not understand the aspects of human nature that would cause someone to live an unpleasant life – b*tching and moaning all the way – rather than change, is very revealing.