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When I was taking the PA bar exam I met a woman at the hotel bar the night before the exam. She had taken and failed the exam 6+ times before. She went to law school much later in life. She couldn& #39;t afford any prep courses so she was studying on her own. 1/
Studying on your own without any prep materials is brutally difficult. So for her, failing the bar exam didn& #39;t mean she wouldn& #39;t make a good lawyer. It just meant she didn& #39;t have physical resources.
Meanwhile my law firm paid for my prep course. Lots of firms do that. /2
Meanwhile my law firm paid for my prep course. Lots of firms do that. /2
I had (and still do!) a wife and three kids. So I had to borrow money to make it through the summer before my first pay check. But I could easily borrow the money because I had a good income waiting for me, so getting a loan was easy. Others have to work while they study. /3
So I had multiple advantages like many others. Yes, I started law school on food stamps. But I got lucky. I got a great job near my daughter& #39;s hospital that allowed me to move up in the world. And it was luck.
I didn& #39;t work harder & I& #39;m not smarter. I& #39;m just lucky /4
I didn& #39;t work harder & I& #39;m not smarter. I& #39;m just lucky /4
The woman I met wasn& #39;t lucky. I have no idea if she would be a good lawyer. But what I do know is the fact that she failed the bar exam multiple times says NOTHING about her ability to practice.
It& #39;s been years and I still think about her. I hope she passed.
/5
It& #39;s been years and I still think about her. I hope she passed.
/5
So what& #39;s my point? My point is that the bar exam is rubbish and is keeping good people away for no reason. It doesn& #39;t serve its stated purpose.
Joining this profession shouldn& #39;t be based on privilege or luck.
Allow me to divert for a moment to point out another privilege. /6
Joining this profession shouldn& #39;t be based on privilege or luck.
Allow me to divert for a moment to point out another privilege. /6
