First I’d like to say, I have nothing against lawyers Their choice of profession is theirs and theirs alone. They may have been influenced by family members, peers, friends and the like.
Yesterday, the result of the Bar examination for 2018 was released and the topnotcher is a graduate from Ateneo Law School, a valedictorian in their class. Only 22.07% made it (1,800 out of 8,158 examinees). Tears of joy and laughter, tears of triumph prevailed but most of them didn’t make it. There is always a next time. It must be really tough to review and take the Bar. Imagine so many years of schooling just to fail at the final stretch.
Back when I was still working as a student librarian at the university where I graduated, I found those law students weird (although some of them were friends of mine). Take a look at one serious student at the corner of the library with those thick law books memorizing and understanding all those legalese. As they say, you need to sweat the small stuff. They look older than the regular students you see everyday.
Law is a fascinating subject. I took 12 units of it when I was in college. Obligations and Contract, Negotiable Instruments, Business Ethics and the like. One needs to focus in order to survive. And if you are lucky to have a good lawyer professor, then you might learn to appreciate the subject.
Personally, I don’t think we need more lawyers. Almost all of those who enter politics are lawyers. We have plenty of them. But not all of them are good politicians. Some are crook, some are plunderers and corrupt. They know how to twist and circumnavigate the law to their advantage. We have to admit though that it is where the money is.
I really hope we could also produce enough graduates in science courses. Some friends that I know even seek scholarship from abroad in order to further their studies. Science research is I think neglected in the long run.
Shakespeare got it right, Arlene. 🙂
“The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers”.
This is not my original idea. The quote is from William Shakespeare, Henry VI part II. Shakespeare was writing about events in the 15th Century, yet his words ring true hundreds of years later.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, oh. Shakespeare was ahead of his time. What do you think of law courses Pete?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think they are designed to confuse ordinary people with jargon and double-talk. We end up having to employ ‘experts’ to deal with things that we could probably understand if they were written in plain English. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true!
LikeLike
Ha ha ! We’re a family of lawyers, Tita !
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s nice Ren. Not all lawyers are crook. Some truly love their profession and what it stands for….truth!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My grandfathers on both sides were lawyers, uncles, first cousins, etc. My mother said law, engineering, and medicine were the only courses that my grandparents on both sides recognized as legit, ha ha ha. My maternal grandfather’s siblings ( 5 brothers and one sister , a teacher ) were all lawyers… that’s amazing , isn’t it ? He he. On my paternal side, grandfather was Chief Counsel of 2 Presidents of the Philippines ( Garcia and Macapagal ) , and my aunt, ( dad’s sister ) was a judge and became a member of the Supreme Court before she retired… Now , a cousin is a member of the Supreme Court .
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, such amazing feat! Why didn’t you become a lawyer too Ren?
LikeLiked by 1 person
My parents wanted me to be a doctor… but the cost of medical studies here in the US is beyond my parents’ means … so instead I became a microbiologist… and as far as law is concerned, I also majored in Forensics Biology in the hope of joining law enforcement. ( I like crime and court dramas, ha ha )
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too, the crime and court dramas I mean that is why I love James Patterson. and John Grisham. Your courses are inter-related Ren. At least you are still in the fields of both.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In the US right now there are too many lawyers and yet people keep going to law school. Then they end up with a hundred thousand dollar student loan debt and no way to pay it back. I think the law schools are exploiting students.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So it’s kind of the same everywhere. There are lawyers who give their services pro bono but you can count them on your fingers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And here you need to be really,really poor to get one for free. Most of the regular folks spend way too much on them for simple things like real estate transactions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are excellent lawyers here who really help the poor.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lawyering is where the money is at, the morals don’t always seem as important…
LikeLiked by 1 person
How right you are Ste J.
LikeLike
Lawyers and politics is like peanut butter and jelly! It’s the same here, Arlene! While many politicians, and also lawyers aren’t good people, there also are plenty who do the right things. I know several really nice lawyers, who have not sold their soul. But those are rare!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my, and I thought it only happens here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, I’m afraid it’s a worldwide issue!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Where are we going?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hate to guess!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hehe….some things to ponder!
LikeLiked by 1 person