Shannon Stacey


Everything I Know About Lawyers I Learned From…

I’m currently reading Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James and it just might be my favorite contemporary romance ever. The chemistry and dialogue is nothing short of exquisite.

I’m only halfway through it, but if it continues on with this level of awesomeness, I’ll repeat that statement when I’m done but without the qualification of just might. And it surprises me because I don’t generally choose books featuring lawyers. Not that I have anything against lawyers, but I come from generations of blue-collar and married blue-collar, so romance novel lawyers aren’t people I generally identify with strongly.

Which brings me to the title of the blog post. Everything I know about lawyers I learned from TV and reading, and I don’t watch many legal shows. But the other day I was talking to somebody about the Tall Kid’s impending high school classes and she mentioned he’d make a great lawyer.

My reaction was wholly negative. I don’t want him to work that hard. I don’t want him to be that stressed out and pressured. I definitely don’t want him to be almost forty with absolutely no enjoyment because his entire life has become gotta make partner, gotta make partner, gotta make partner. I’d rather he make minimum wage and enjoy the hell out of his life.

The person with whom I was having that conversation pointed out that many mothers would be pleased if their sons became lawyers, but all I could think of was the numerous romance heroes and heroines out there who can’t even go on a date Saturday night without their entire career path going up in smoke.

I’m thinking, if the Tall Kid should decide to pursue a legal career, he’s not going to accept my rationale for talking him out of it, though.

10 comments to “Everything I Know About Lawyers I Learned From…”

  1. Ann
    Comment
    1
      · April 2nd, 2009 at 11:44 am · Link

    My sister is a lawyer, and she and her husband still manage to have an active social life, and she did make partner. If it’s something he’d be good at anything else probbaly just won’t fit as well. Good luck. :nod:



  2. Charlene
    Comment
    2
      · April 2nd, 2009 at 4:06 pm · Link

    You could always have the tall kid do an internship at a law firm, office help, research help, etc. if he shows an interest. He could talk to people about what law school was really like, see if it suited him. You never know.



  3. HelenKay Dimon
    Comment
    3
      · April 3rd, 2009 at 12:23 am · Link

    Very cool. Must go pick this one up, says the lawyer. :boogie:



  4. Vicki
    Comment
    4
      · April 3rd, 2009 at 9:58 am · Link

    My brother is a lawyer, made it in spite of his dyslexia. He works for the state, goes after bad guys, loves what he does, takes his son to little league, is caring for his mother in law who has dementia. We make lots of jokes but are still proud of him. It really is about doing what you enjoy and are good at.

    That said, the book sounds good; I will look for it.



  5. Shannon
    Comment
    5
      · April 3rd, 2009 at 10:06 am · Link

    I think I missed just a bit with the tongue-in-cheekiness of the last sentence. I wouldn’t really talk the TK out of being a lawyer if he decides he wants to do that. And he’s never mentioned law school. That came from somebody else who thinks he’d be good at it. (He probably would.)

    The post was more about how romance novels have possibly skewed my view of lawyers rather than not wanting my son to be one.

    All I really want for both my kids is for them to do something that will make them happy, earn enough for a roof and three square, and leave them plenty of time for family and joy.

    Other than a college degree (which is not optional), their futures are blank canvases.



  6. Annmarie
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    6
      · April 3rd, 2009 at 6:45 pm · Link

    I wanted to MARRY a lawyer due to my romance novel reading…

    (I married a cattle farmer instead.)



  7. Shannon
    Comment
    7
      · April 3rd, 2009 at 6:53 pm · Link

    My romance reading made me want to marry a cattle rancher!

    This fantasy was slightly dulled by my time working in a dairy barn in Missouri. I KNOW why the romance ranchers all run beef, trust me.

    I married an electrician. :groucho:

    Speaking of high school, though, there was a brief interlude (kissing only, but honestly—it was a kiss to remember) with a young man whose father ran beef cattle. Said young man, from what I hear, went on to become a sheriff. I believe he was the only son, so he no doubt inherited (or will inherit) the ranch, as well.

    If I hadn’t chosen unwisely between him and another young man, I could have been The Cattle Ranching Sheriff’s Yankee Bride.



  8. Annmarie
    Comment
    8
      · April 3rd, 2009 at 10:25 pm · Link

    I would totally buy that book.



  9. Lori
    Comment
    9
      · April 3rd, 2009 at 11:57 pm · Link

    This book is all kinds of awesome, isn’t it? And my son, on his resume assignment in English class, said his qualification for being a lawyer was that his mom said he could out-argue anyone. Heh, heh. True. :lmao:



  10. Jewell
    Comment
    10
      · April 4th, 2009 at 11:12 am · Link

    I think I’m like you, Shannon, when it comes to being influenced by TV and books over the whole lawyer trade.

    However, that opinion recently changed. I met a young woman who has her own successful practice, and let me tell ya, she never ever misses out on the fun in life. Actually, I’d classify her as a party animal. If she is stressed, then I want the same stress she has! LOL







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