A day in court is never a day at the beach. But for those who have trouble juggling work and family responsibilities in order to appear in court, or lack a way even to get there, something as minor as a traffic ticket can become a seemingly ceaseless stressor.
“Law school can get very in the weeds,” says Katie Hart, a 3L. “All your classmates are learning how to speak the same language. But to be an effective lawyer, you need to communicate with clients who won’t be fluent in legalese.”
The first thing we do, let’s replace all the lawyers with computers. While even a modern-day Shakespeare might think such a paraphrase is science fiction, the legal profession is grappling with whether or not it could be true someday. Technology is changing our society in immeasurable ways, and the practice of law is no exception.
Larry D. Thompson, ’74, was enjoying semi-retirement—his second attempt in six years—when he received an offer he couldn’t refuse.
Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker isn’t one to shy away from a challenge. But even she was hesitant to take on the role of executive director of the State Bar of California, a beleaguered organization that was badly in need of a turnaround.
