'Zup Y'all

[crule81]

I've already posted a few messages so I probably should introduce myself.

First, I am an INTP, which, obviously, is why I am on this forum. I got bored one day at work and decided to take a personality test online. After reading the INTP profile once I obtained my results, I realized that it described my personality with startling accuracy (although I have some E tendencies).

Second, I'm a 26-year-old male attorney. This fact is important because this profession has defined my misery for the last four years. The reason I even thought about taking a personality test was because I am seriously thinking about leaving this profession soon, but am unable to devise any other career plan.

Finally, I live outside of Detroit. I grew up here and have returned after seven years total at school in Ithaca, New York and Atlanta (consequently, I picked up y'all in only three years). I have a great love of both comedy and tragedy because I am a Detroit Lions season-ticket holder and a Tigers fan (the latter lost 26-5 to the lowly Royals yesterday).

[Crazy]

Welcome aboard.

[flan2dave]

Welcome.

Do any of the careers suggested by the INTP personality descriptions interest you?

[crule81]

It's funny that attorney is one of the suggested careers for us. The law, theory wise, is very interesting. In practice, however, I've found it to be constraining. Plus, there are just too many silly details I'm bound to overlook.

Tried engineering at first in college, but linear algebra (i.e. magic with matrices) got in the way.

I would really love to be a history professor but there are several obstacles:
1. 6-7 more years of school with little or no income.
2. The fact that I am incapable of teaching anyone anything.
3. That I need to be proficient in two foreign languages to concentrate in european history and I have failed miserably in attempts to learn German, Spanish, and Italian.

But there's always the dream job - offensive coordinator for an NFL team.

[EternalCynic]

Welcome :)

Hm, yes, I imagine that would be a bit of a challenge. Career changes arent easy.. have you ever thought of doing something in computers? That seems to be a common thing around here, but is obviously not for everyone. I'm not much help, but I figured I would throw out suggestions. Hope to hear more from you

[file cabinet]

what sort of problems are you having being a lawyer ?


good lawyers are pessimists and usually burn out in droves after several years, even though they’re so well-compensate...

Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment
http://www.epinions.com/content_119865773700





Those who collapse under the pressures of the workplace are prone to envision every worst-case scenario, while resilient people think of how a greater workload, for example, might lead to a promotion. In studies, researchers have found that perhaps the only time pessimists thrive is when they become lawyers.

Cracking Under the Pressure? It's Just the Opposite, for Some -- NY Times, Sept 10
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/10/health/10stress.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5090&en=5586ca6cca5e9814&ex=1252468800&partner=rssuserland

[Spartan26]

howdy -

I remember seeing a Royals-Tiger's game in KC in '85. The year following Detroit winning it all and months before KC won the Freeway series. Hanson is one of my kickers in my fantasy league team. And I went to high school with someone who was a db with the Lions, though now his name escapes me.

Instead of focusing on all the obvious traps against being able to teach, why not focus on what sounds appealing about it? For instance, a lot of lawyers from foreign countries need training on US laws even though they don't practice or live in the US most of the time. Or there's teaching American law, or for that matter teaching history in foreign countries. These might not be prestigious positions that you are looking for but could be a way to satisfy that teaching bug and/or learn another language.

Have you thought about working for a museum? Or some type of enrichment foundation? Of course it can vary as far as how "hands on" a position you want, there are a lot of administrative positions where essentially you are teaching history because you're trying to get others to feel as passionate as you do about certain subjects for event funding and underwriting. Lot of work for someone with a law degree for items like those. There's event coordinating, so long as you're overseeing the big picture, that could be good for you.

Finally, I'd say find a job teaching at a private school. Take over coaching its football team or establish one where hopefully the resources (parents) at your disposal would be a little less restrictive than a school district. Funnel your best players to a certain college, whereby they get around to offering you a spot on their coaching roster. Or when you get a national blue chipper, make sure he takes you with him. Work with the A.D. of your smaller school to set up games with national powers. Your school gets more revenue and exposure, big time programs get to see your work as a coach in studying game tape. Having built a successful h.s. program, increasing the size of your small school's athletic budget and revenue, establishing your name with big time programs, you can now float the type of resume that can get you on board at a school with a winning tradition. From there, the pros!

[int]

I seriously consider law school sometimes. What kind of law do you practice?

[crule81]

Thanks for all of the input and questions.

I work as a civil litigator. Mostly, I defend insurance companies whose insured have been sued for slip and falls or auto accidents. I also do some contractual litigation for the same insurance companies regarding whether there is coverage for a certain loss and, if so, to what extent insurance benefits are due. At this point, I primarily write briefs submitted to courts, appear before judges occasionally, and go to mediations.

One of the most frustrating aspects of this practice is spending hours writing a brief and then realize that a judge didn't bother reading it or read it and didn't understand it. (state judges are elected here, which is a terrible idea) My boss doesn't seem to appreciate complex or novel arguments and tends to cut them out of my writing. Only simple and obvious arguments carry any weight. I would consider doing purely appellate work where the issues require more in-depth analysis.

If I listed all of the problems I have with the legal profession, it would take up several volumes (one of which would focus on the personality deficiencies more common amongst lawyers than in the remainder of the population). I'm sure there are other attorneys on this board and I feel I may be bashing the profession a little too much. I think it's a great area to go into for some people, just perhaps not me.

Spartan, I found your museum idea very interesting. It never even crossed my mind to consider it. I've always loved visiting museums when I travel and I live very near to one of the best - the Henry Ford Museum. This certainly gives me food for thought.

ECynic, I took several CompSci classes in HS and college. I had great trouble with the various programing languages, however. I remember having a crowd of TA's around my computer at 4AM at one of the labs trying in vain to figure out how the code I had written wouldn't work. It was beyond frustrating. I just couldn't grasp the syntax.

[Seraph]

I would really love to be a history professor but there are several obstacles:

2. The fact that I am incapable of teaching anyone anything.

Well, that's kind of a roadblock right there. :lol:

Oh yeah...hi!

[file cabinet]

programming only takes practice... but I do know there are people who just "can't" do it. if you are able to grasp the basics then as long as that doesn't bore you then you should continue.