It appears that I've settled on a monthly posting schedule. I don't mind if you don't mind.
My hearing last month went well. The judge agreed with me that the judgment debtor was properly served. I literally didn't have to say a word (except for the "I do" after being sworn as a witness.) The judge heard his argument and promptly denied the appeal. I don't think the entire hearing, from "Do you swear to tell the truth?" to "The appeal is denied." lasted more than five minutes. Yay for me. Justice prevails (this time.)
My receivership adventure continues. It's become a six-day-a-week job. My day starts at 6:00 am and ends at about 1:00 am when I finally get to bed. On the bright side, my conversational Spanish is getting better. It's all scheduled to end on May 7th when the business is sold to the highest bidder. It will be good to spend time with the family again, but I'll miss the easy money. The pay is good, but it should be because I've put almost the entire rest of my life on hold.
Hasta luego!
12 comments:
Greeting Brian,
It is wonderful to read, that all is going well with you.
I am actively keeping you in my prayers, as the both of us are waiting for our bar results.
I am actually going to start studying agin on Friday, just in case.
All the best to you and the family.
Gabriel
Nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts.Any way Ill be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon
mba
Hi GP!
Are you planning to study-just in case?
I feel as if I am on borrowed time but I feel better if I start studying now.
glad to hear you are keeping busy and making good money in the process.
keep positive thoughts in your head. there is no reason why you cannot be an esquire this time next month. youve put in the time... the fruits are forthcoming!
You really don't sound like you need the Bar to make a good living. That is so wonderful and it takes creativity and boldness. Consider that, in case it starts to look like you are going to have to spend even more time on this exam.
After so many years pursuing licensure in NY, I'm starting to wonder if spending too many years on the exam may not be worth it. I finally passed one, but still have no peace because I haven't passed NY yet.
Once I do, what is there to show for it? I have lost so many employable years trying to pass. I haven't been able to make much if any money in the pursuit of this; I've been stuck in a complete retrograde from which I should have moved on years ago. And once I pass, provided I can even find a job, I have to start from the bottom. Which is what I should have finished doing years ago. Ugh.
If it's possible for you to avoid the purgatory of taking this thing over and over by either passing or throwing in the towel and focusing on your business, I suggest you do so. You have a family to take care of and you are a very resourceful and intelligent man. Who needs the fucking bar exam anyway? Is it really that instrumental to happiness or success? If it's not happening for you anytime soon, don't let it steal any more of your life.
this is in response to anon 953am.
man oh man, do i feel where you are coming from... i graduated in 2004, didnt pass three bars and took time off from the exam... in other words, i was in bar pergatory, like you say. in the mean time, my wife passed the summer 2006 bar. she started when i was a 3L and passed me up by passing before me.
what did i do? felt a little sorr for myself, of course. but, i worked and made money for the first time in my life. made $35-$40/hour doing doc review work. for a short period, i even tried to convince myself i didnt need to pass the bar to live a fulfilling life.
then, i realized that life without that license would limit me for the rest of my life. i could never tell my kids to never quit bc i would be a hypocrit. moreover, i would get passed up for jobs bc i was nothing more than a jd who couldnt pass the bar, in people's eyes.
i took and passed the bar five years after i graduated law school. was i behind everyone else from law school. clearly. do i regret it at all. not. one. bit.
keep plugging away, GB. dont settle. you know the light is bright and it will shine on you... but, your dream will only become a reality if you work your tail off (which, btw, youve continued to do).
you deserve this. you will get it!
What do you do at the mexican market all day? Is it law related?
all these non-ABA law schools need to be done away with.
it is depressing hearing about all these people failing 3-8 times.
and even when you pass, fair or not, you will not garner proper respect from the big name law school people. Heck, i went to an out of state tier 3 school and i am looked at like i am retarded.....and i passed the first try.
Gabriel: Thanks, my friend. Back at ya'. I haven't picked up a book since February 25th. Hang in there.
Amit: Thanks. There's certainly something for everyone here.
Anon: 4/25 10:05: I haven't had time to study. Okay, that's not true - there's always time to study. I haven't taken any time to study. We'll see what happens on the 14th.
Anon 4/26 12:49: Thanks, and you're right. Here's to a fruity forthcoming future! (;-)>
Anon: 4/27 9:53: Perhaps. But I will get my license and all will be well. I'm going to take it until I pass it. I've got too much invested, and too many plans, to quit now. What I am going to do however is broaden my perspective. The bar exam is no longer my main distraction.
Anon 4/27 12:51: Thanks for relating your story. I'm not going to quit.
Anon 4/28 10:34: What I do here is not law related. At least, it's not related to the practice of law. A lawsuit was filed, which led to the placement of a receiver, which led to my coming here. My job here is to make sure the store continues to operate as a going concern, and to preserve the assets for the new owner. The actual Receiver (I'm merely his agent) was unable to convince the parties to settle so he obtained the court's permission to sell the business. That process is almost complete. I'll be here until the end of next week, at which time the winning bid will be announced. We will relinquish possession within 5 days of that announcement, depending on how ready the new owner is to assume control.
Anon 4/30 10:35: A non-ABA school wasn't the right path for you. That's okay. It works for some of us. Would you deny us the right to work in our chosen field because you don't like how we got our license? How many other professions would you like to regulate? How about medical schools? How about Culinary schools? Would you do away with California's Community College system because you feel the education provided there is inferior to that of the UC system, or of the private universities? Many of my friends who went to my school passed on their first try. Some of them passed on their second try. Did everyone at your school pass on their first try? What would you say to your classmates who failed their first attempt? "Gee, tough luck, guess you're unqualified to be a lawyer, have you thought of med school"?
yes, i would deny someone the right to work in a chosen field based on how they do it....that's the whole point of standards.
and unlike medical schools, which have elitist standards despite a shortage of doctors, california specifically has plenty of attorneys but lower standards of admission (at least lower standards to take the test).
and what my real problem is, has nothing to do with the individuals trying the long-shot route (based on pass rates from the schools). i think it is inspiring and something i would never have had the courage to do. BUT my problem is it seems to be FALSE HOPE....and at an absurd financial and mental cost to the persons this alternative/nonaba system seems to be preying on.
and the big flawed part in the Community College system comparison is this: even though a low rate of community college enrollees end up with that 4 year degree (or even teh 2 yr degree), a community college education comes at a relatively low risk....if you don't "make it", you arent burdened with debt forever, because it was a cheap experiment.
on the other hand, there is the University of Phoenix.....worst graduation rate in the nation.....preys on the same crowd of students that should be in community college......and if/when it doesnt work out for those Phoenix students, they are screwed with lifelong debt (even a year try will leave a young kid with 10-15K).
And for those Phoenix students and those nonaba law students that make it, GREAT! I mean that. But it upsets me to see a vast majority plainly failing to achieve the goal.....those types of institutions are viewed as "quick fixes" that end up hurting people in the long run.
and if you cant get into the tier 4 to start, and its that important, keep retaking the LSAT and go after some more college credits to boost the GPA.....its not a magical code to get into those lower schools.
sorry i am an ass. good luck to you passing. i have read you for a few years and really hope you make it....i do think you would be a good attorney
Well, I certainly don't advocate giving a license to just anyone, but you probably agree that the various licensing agencies do a reasonable job of making sure that only competent people get those licenses. That's not to say that a certain percentage of unqualified people slip through. Corrupt lawyers are plentiful and have been plentiful for hundreds of years, but California's only had these non-ABA/CBA schools for about 20 years. Certainly you aren't arguing that this minute percentage of graduates from non-approved schools are going to tarnish the good image of lawyers worldwide, or even statewide.
Regarding cost, the tuition at my school was about $6,500 per year when I attended. There were no state or federal grants, funds, or loans available, so most of my expenses went on credit cards or came out of my budget. The vast majority of my fellow students were within 10 years of my age and were transitioning to a legal career after having achieved some success in a different field. As such, the cost of their legal education was not a huge life-altering burden. Similarly, none of the people I knew, and still know, expected to get a job at a big law firm. We were, and are, well aware of the professional limitations inherent in a degree from our school (believe me, we get reminded frequently by everyone who graduated from any other law school.) Further, even had I the prerequisites and financial wherewithal to get into an ABA school, I couldn't abandon my life for the 3+ years it requires. My mortgage and all of my bills still need to be paid, and my wife and family would resist my full-time attendance at such a school. At my age and position in life, a three-year school was not an option.
Each of us travels our own unique path through life. It is not for others to decide whether my path is the correct one for me. That choice is mine alone, as is your choice of the path you follow. I am not a child and I do not need to be directed. I make my choices with open eyes and an open mind as, I'm sure, do you.
And you're not an ass (at least, you haven't been one here.) (;-)> You have an opinion and you have expressed it intelligently and without resort to name-calling or ad hominum attacks. Many people who have disagreed with me here have not been so civil.
good PBS frontline special on for-profit universities last night.
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