Law Students
‘Barack Effect’ May Spur Law Students to Seek Government Jobs
Posted Nov 6, 2008 9:27 AM CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss
The head of a nonprofit group that promotes public interest law sees parallels between John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama.
David Stern, executive director of Equal Justice Works, told the National Law Journal that Kennedy was a charismatic lawyer who encouraged public service, and Obama is of the same mold. He predicted Obama will create a pipeline for law students to join government.
"Years ago, when Kennedy was president, people looked at public service as a noble calling," Stern said. "I think we're going to see a similar resurgence. I think we will see some BigLaw attorneys who say, 'This is my opportunity to do something for the world.' "
Deborah Ellis, assistant dean for public interest law at New York University law school, told the National Law Journal she is already seeing a change. She recounts an e-mail from a third-year law student pondering a job choice.
"He has an offer from a New York law firm, but he said he is now looking at pursuing a job in the Obama administration," Ellis said. "There is a great deal of interest in the federal government, and that is exciting to me."
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Comments
J.D.
Nov 6, 2008 10:05 AM CST
Well, of course! Now that the government is going to be expanded tenfold, there will be many spots to fill.
Bigger gov’t, allegiance to collectivism, circular symbols… where have I seen this before? The Obama Youth Party has already formed:
http://somehavehats.typepad.com/some_have_hats/2008/10/the-party-has-y.html
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Ellen Barshevsky
Nov 6, 2008 12:51 PM CST
This is a GOOD thing for the new Attorney’s who are looking for FIRST JOBS.
It is ALWAYS GOOD to get a goverment job right out of LAW school. There is GOOD experience and mabye a good PERMENENT future in the goverment.
I do NOT have a political view, but if their is more jobs that will be good for all attorney’s because there will be CHOICES for all lawyers.
My boyfriend wants to work for the GAO, and I did NOT even know what it was. After he told me about there mission and website, I now think that is a GOOD place to work.
For now, I will stay where I am, since the manageing partner LIKES me and is going to give me a BONUS.
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Nathan Hendrickson
Nov 6, 2008 1:35 PM CST
I have been trolling comments of various articles for months. This morning, I am finally turning a corner. It is my sincere belief that there is no “Ellen Barshevsky”. I believe that a very smart person with a wicked sense of humor is behind the Ellen posts.
Keep doing it! It is funny and ironic.
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PreBama
Nov 6, 2008 3:06 PM CST
Ummm, when Biglaw refuses to hire minorities, we went looking for public sector jobs a long time ago. We didn’t need Obama to “lead us” to public service. We just needed color barriers, elitism in the legal profession, and flat out discrimination in private practice to.
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Rutherford B. Hayes
Nov 6, 2008 6:57 PM CST
Ellen, get a job with Obama’s administration…he needs people with vision, and it may be worth it for you to relocate to Washington DC. You may use this letter as a recommendation.
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Al Tidom
Nov 6, 2008 7:10 PM CST
Ellen, jobs in government are often thankless. You should stay where you are, where you get along with the managing partner. You never know what kind of jerks you would get as a boss.
When I was young, I took an internship in DC where there was a woman who watched TV all day. She had a 12” TV under her desk. The boss did nothing.
I think an enterprising gal like you can go far in private practice, so get a few years under your belt and then decide whether to jump to public service, in-house as a General Counsel, or perhaps even the bench. With your litigation experience, you should have a good shot at the bench.
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