Careers

Prof's Tragedy Inspires Law Grads to Seek Spirit of True Success

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Colin Colverson thought he’d made a good career move by shifting from home building to law school just before the recession hit.

Now he’s on the verge of graduating from the University of South Carolina School of Law. And about all he has to show for it, right now, in addition to the juris doctor degree he will soon receive, is $90,000 in student loans, reports the State.

However, he and other USC law students who took time from studying for finals recently to hear adjunct professor Robert Bockman talk about their new profession left feeling inspired about their career choice, despite the dismal economy, the newspaper reports.

Bockman’s daughter, Kate, died in an auto accident in October, two years after she graduated from law school. Yet she still reminds him of the spirit that brings many to law school, a spirit that, for some, like Kate Bockman, still lights their way after they graduate, he told the students.

“While it is not as bright or as secure or as promising as it was three years ago, it will happen for them,” Bockman said afterward of this year’s graduating class. “They are grounded in the law, grounded in the spirit of what the law is, and those values and those virtues that they take will ultimately lead them to where they are supposed to be in their careers.”

Related coverage:

ABAJournal.com: “Dying Fla. State Law Prof Teaches Students How to Live”

ABAJournal.com: “Adding to Grim Math of Legal Job Market: 43,000 New Law Grads”

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