Peterson's Full Disclosure: Do You Really Want to Be a Lawyer?

by Susan J. Bell

This book addresses the critical issues facing those in the legal profession today. Refreshingly candid, it includes chapters on alternative careers, the challenges faced by women and minorities in the legal profession, and professional ethics.

Genres: Law, Nonfiction

195 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend of mine passed this book to me because she knew that there are days I question my choice to become a lawyer. I think the reason that I rated this book 4 stars instead of just 3 is the honest way it addresses the very reasons I question that choice. It includes perspectives from people who have left the legal profession and information on a study about why lawyers are unhappy in their jobs. It kind of reinforced for me the understanding that law is not what I thought it was when I went into it and that tedium and monotony are a large part of the job if you don't want to live on the edge by being a litigator (been there, done that, glad to move on). The parts of the book about choosing a law school were not relevant to me, but I couldn't find anything to disagree with there either. In the end, I came away thinking that if I choose to stay in law, my current position is as good as any I am likely to find and that I would want to know what I am getting into before I think about leaving the legal world.