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Everyone is Not Qualified to Become a Lawyer

The steps to becoming a lawyer are not at all easy. However, a few scholars think that the game field should be changed a little. You might think that they want to tighten the ropes in becoming a lawyer but instead they want to loosen the process.

What is this theory? If any person can pass the bar exam, then they must be qualified to practice as a third party lawyer. Of course not just anyone should be allowed to defend people in court. However, the price of hiring a lawyer is outrageous and is hurting those who really need someone to defend them.

The cutback in jobs has hurt even the occupation of lawyers. Several law firms have slowly cut thousands of attorney positions because they law firm cannot afford to keep them on. If you were to look back on old time requirements for becoming a lawyer are a lot different than today’s standards.

There are a few reasons why a lot of people would make a good lawyer without the proper education. People like Abe Lincoln would in no way qualify to be a lawyer according to today’s requirements. However, that did not keep Lincoln from being an amazing lawyer. He held qualities that are not seen in the most qualified lawyers in today’s society.

Another quality of a great lawyer is finding someone who can deliver an argument. Some law school graduates are awesome at doing the small stuff. But society needs lawyers that folks can afford and that can deliver a great argument to a sea of jury.  There are no second chances in a trial and you get one chance to get it right. The lawyer you hire to do your legal work could make or break your case. “The reason companies are willing to shell out so much money for legal advice is that the biggest, most important cases don’t get do-overs”. states Megan McArdle who is on staff at The Atlantic.

On the other hand—not just anyone should be allowed to become a lawyer. Experience and education help sculpt lawyers into the award winning citizens they are today. Is it fair to let a third party lawyer represent someone who cannot afford a real one? The prices of legal help will not necessarily go down but instead the system will be altered.

No one wants an “okay” lawyer. Anyone that hires a lawyer to do their work expects to win. If you want the best lawyer out there, then you have to be willing to pay for it. In reality, that is what these two scholars are trying to stop. The best lawyers out there are the ones that cost thousands of dollars. Their fees are unrealistic for those who are low income and cannot afford their services.

Jim Vassallo: Jim is a freelance writer based out of the suburbs of Philadelphia in New Jersey. Jim earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and minor in Journalism from Rowan University in 2008. While in school he was the Assistant Sports Director at WGLS for two years and the Sports Director for one year. He also covered the football, baseball, softball and both basketball teams for the school newspaper 'The Whit.' Jim lives in New Jersey with his wife Nicole, son Tony and dog Phoebe.

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