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_BRI_
Snowy Owl
Joined: Apr 29, 2008
Posts: 157
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 Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 2:53 am Post subject: Is there any Lawyer with AS here in wrong planet? |
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| I want to know if there's someone in here who made a careers as a lawyer. |
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n4mwd
Phoenix
Joined: Jun 08, 2008
Posts: 659
Location: Palm Beach, FL
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 5:34 am Post subject: |
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I'm not, but I seriously considered it. Aspies are really good at logic and arguing is second nature to them. As such, legal is an excellent field for aspies. Getting up and arguing in front of a judge is interesting too. But if that's a problem, there are other legal positions that don't require courtroom experience.
Even if you don't get into it professionally, I recommend it as a hobby. I've had to sue people for giving me a bad check and helped a friend who was injured in a car wreck deal with the insurance. It was very interesting to say the least. |
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regularguy
Snowy Owl
Joined: Oct 29, 2007
Age: 44
Posts: 148
Location: Chicago, IL USA
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 6:25 am Post subject: |
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I am a lawyer. I have been in practice for 15 years.
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All the best to you,
Steve |
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Pobodys_Nerfect
Deinonychus
Joined: Mar 11, 2008
Posts: 379
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 7:56 am Post subject: |
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| Good question. Is there an Aspie lawyer in NZ by any chance? |
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GuyTypingOnComputer
Raven
Joined: Jun 10, 2008
Posts: 108
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 9:11 pm Post subject: Re: Is there any Lawyer with AS here in wrong planet? |
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| _BRI_ wrote: | | I want to know if there's someone in here who made a careers as a lawyer. |
I am a lawyer. |
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westernwild
Sea Gull
Joined: Oct 13, 2007
Posts: 236
Location: The wild, wild West
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:46 pm Post subject: |
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Hubby's an attorney; he's not full-blown aspie, but he does have some aspects of it. I'm a paralegal, so I've known other attorneys who were aspies or ASD.
Generally, though, it's not a good profession for AS/ASD, for many reasons. That doesn't mean you can't be successful at it if you're AS/ASD, it's just more difficult. And it's already a difficult enough profession, with high rates of mental illness, burnout, stress and even suicide.
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Queen of the anti-FAAAS. FAAAS does NOT speak for me and many other families!!
Life is not about waiting out storms, but learning to dance in the rain-Anonymous |
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Felinity
Pileated woodpecker
Joined: Mar 03, 2008
Posts: 176
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:59 pm Post subject: |
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I used to work as a word-processor and secretary for law firms and think it might be difficult for at least someone with NLD (an ASD) to be a lawyer.. I have trouble remembering names... I don't think I could ever be a lawyer just because of that alone... never mind the trouble knowing when people are lying or not.. Having the people skills to deal with subtle negotiations or dealing with all the emotional outbursts of clients in a divorce litigation.. or storming out of a real estate closing.. I saw that many times... When finally, all the paper work and everything was ready for the final closing, everyone gathered and then hearing the yelling and screaming and seeing people storm right out the door... deal over..
So, as you can see, there can be a lot of stress as a lawyer.. Also, they have to keep track of many appointments, court appearances and keep up with all the forms... God, there is SO much paperwork as a lawyer to have to deal with, most of which have deadlines to be submitted. It would probably kill me.. but maybe there are some Aspies that deal with it well and even enjoy it? I certainly can't speak for everyone. |
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gbollard
the oncoming storm
Joined: Oct 06, 2007
Age: 39
Posts: 3036
Location: Sydney, Australia
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| Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 6:35 pm Post subject: |
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I recently met an aspie in real life (not WP) who is a lawyer. He's made a career out of being able to remember long strings of citations and being able to play-back conversations with clients and witnesses.
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Gavin.
http://life-with-aspergers.blogspot.com/ |
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ASPIEd
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: Apr 07, 2007
Posts: 55
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| Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:19 pm Post subject: |
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westernwild wrote:
| Quote: | | Generally, though, it's not a good profession for AS/ASD, for many reasons. That doesn't mean you can't be successful at it if you're AS/ASD, it's just more difficult. |
westernwild, what are some of your "many reasons", please?
I'd like to know because I'm seriously thinking of training to become a paralegal and work in a nonprofit legal aid office, perhaps helping the poor/elderly/disabled in the areas of consumer law, real estate law, getting benefits/accommodation, etc. I know client interviews would likely be a struggle for me, but the research/documentation/help an attorney/"figure out the rules" work sounds appealing to me, wild-eyed idealist that I am. |
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_BRI_
Snowy Owl
Joined: Apr 29, 2008
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 6:42 am Post subject: |
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| ASPIEd wrote: |
what are some of your "many reasons", please?
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I want to know that, too. I guess it would be very hard to find clients but I am not afraid of the technical challenges. |
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RedRevolver
Butterfly
Joined: Aug 09, 2007
Age: 16
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 7:09 am Post subject: |
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| I'm AS and have been told I should consider law. I don't want to, however, because I fumble over verbal arguments a lot, even though in my head the reasons I want to say. |
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ASPIEd
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: Apr 07, 2007
Posts: 55
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| Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:06 am Post subject: |
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| _BRI_ wrote: | | ASPIEd wrote: |
what are some of your "many reasons", please?
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I want to know that, too. I guess it would be very hard to find clients but I am not afraid of the technical challenges. |
Well, BRI, it looks like westernwild isn't going to respond to us, so I think I'll open a new thread on the "Work and Finding a Job" forum asking about AS and paralegals. |
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GuyTypingOnComputer
Raven
Joined: Jun 10, 2008
Posts: 108
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| Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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| ASPIEd wrote: | westernwild wrote:
| Quote: | | Generally, though, it's not a good profession for AS/ASD, for many reasons. That doesn't mean you can't be successful at it if you're AS/ASD, it's just more difficult. |
westernwild, what are some of your "many reasons", please? |
It is a high stress job that can push the limits of anyone who tries it. When the job requires social navigation, verbal sparring, speaking in court, schmoozing clients and other interpersonal activites that can take a lot of energy for an Aspie, it can be too much.
Some aspects of law can fit well for some Aspies, particularly since most legal work is done alone, in an office. Legal work that focuses on contracts and agreements; drafting patents; legal research and analysis; working through and solving difficult client problems may fit well for an Aspie.
I think and Aspie can do almost any job. The key for me (no matter the position) is finding the right personal "fit" where I can feel comfortable and succeed. |
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lupin
Deinonychus
Joined: Jun 19, 2006
Posts: 348
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 9:59 am Post subject: |
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I trained as a lawyer. Used my quals in a rather unique way (of course...why follow the herd when you can be a leader?) Although I love criminal law per se, I have spent a lot of time in contracts which was immensely satsifying to my nitpicky aspie brain...you get to write all the picky details and clauses you want and they have to comply! Aspie heaven!
From my experiences at a big Law School and throughout my career, I can solemnly attest to the fact that there are many aspies in the legal profession. I know aspie lawyers and judges. In fact, lawyers here will have heard of the great NY judge Cardozo (whose decisions have influenced courts in US and UK for many yearsand continue to do so) - now there's a school of thought that he was an aspie.
Law is a brilliant career for an aspie. It's based on FACTS and LOGIC.  And, if you have an eidetic memory, like many aspies have, you can sail through. If you can find the right niche in which to practice, it fits many aspie needs. (only a small percentage of lawyers are courtroom types - most lawyers are engaged behind the scenes in some way or another). |
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lupin
Deinonychus
Joined: Jun 19, 2006
Posts: 348
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 10:08 am Post subject: |
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| RedRevolver wrote: | | I'm AS and have been told I should consider law. I don't want to, however, because I fumble over verbal arguments a lot, even though in my head the reasons I want to say. |
Hi Red - I'm the world's worst at verbal fumbling! Please don't let that courtroom business put you off. You can choose how you use your quals. Only about 10% of lawyers ever have to appear in court. I did far better at a career in which most of my arguments and recommendations had to be written. Which led on to other and even more interesting things. |
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