True Crime[ 1]
The democratising possibilities of the internet are in the process of speeding the degeneration of the public sphere into a proliferation of insular nodes, each fighting a war that can never be won. Battles cannot be won on the net nor can they be lost. What remains is a solipsistic politics of ME, ME, ME: my views, my truths, my facts, my pain, my anger. Convincing others and changing the world is forgotten in favour of the perpetuation of one's own perspective. . . . The message-board and the comment-thread rarely encourage users to listen to each other, to share deeper (which usually means more complex) feelings rather than shouting at each other. To be sure, the possibilities for dialogue are there in the technology but the temptations of monologue usually prove too tempting. [2]
I intended to offer my ideas, feelings and experiences as those of one Unemployed Lawyer among an ever-increasing number of unemployed lawyers. I wanted it to be helpful. I hoped that we would find some points of identity and some points of disagreement. I admit that I wish to change the world, even if it means making one person’s day a little less troublesome; or even better, helping even just one person to find a job.
Then over the months, particularly this last month, the news became worse and worse. The unthinkable became ordinary. Lawyers now lose their jobs every day, in substantial numbers. We have come to expect it. There’s not much left to say about it. I don’t need to convince you that it’s miserable. You know it already.
I am afraid that under the constant bludgeon of unanswerable outside news, I have turned too far inward and made this blog (oh, how I hate that word) all about me, me, me. I have been bouncing around from frustration to writer’s block to monologue. I am guilty as charged. You see--even now, it is all about me.
Your Unemployed Lawyer will try to do better. My first idea is to ask those of you who read this to write to me telling about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. You can do so in reply to this posting, or better still, send me an email (confidentiality guaranteed) and I will post your story instead of mine for a day. I don’t care if you’re an unemployed lawyer, an employed lawyer, a judge, a recruiter, somebody who loves lawyers or somebody who hates lawyers. Please help solipsistic ME make this site more and more about all of US.
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[1] Malpaso Productions, 1999, directed by Clint Eastwood, starring Clint Eastwood, Isaiah Washington, Lisa Gay Hamilton, James Woods.
[2] Keith Kahn-Harris and David Hayes, The Politics of ME, ME, ME, January 9, 2009,
openDemocracy: freethinking for the world.
Good post. I've been an unemployed lawyer since July 08. Very sad. I don't really have many options but to leave the legal practice entirely. I didn't even have the pleasure of saying I was laid off. Rather, I was working in Guam when my husband decided he couldn't handle island life anymore and moved us back. So, foolishly, I quit my job, but then that was before the sky fell. Since then, I have not found work. Thanks for writing. It's good/bad to know that I'm not alone.
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Dear HHH,
You are far from alone in either sadness or unemployment. We're all tripping over one another; we all have regrets; and if any of us has a crystal ball, then he or she doesn't really need a law job anyway, right?
Without knowing more, I'd guess you acted out of love and concern to protect your family. For that you deserve praise, not blame. Especially not from yourself.
You may want to give up the law and eventually may have to. I admit that. But if you want to fight on, see if any of the links on this website are helpful to you. Try a career counselor or use one of the transition programs. If that doesn't help, register on www.twitter.com and start following some of the lawyers and legal groups. And if I can help, please write again.
Good Luck.
UL
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