The recent outing of formerly anonymous Opinionistas as biglaw associate Melissa Lafsky , close on the heels of the reveal of David Lat as Underneath Their Robes and Jeremy Blachman as Anonymous Lawyer has Orin Kerr wondering whether the trend of blogging anonymously and snagging a book deal might provide a a new career path for unhappy lawyers.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m thrilled for my colleagues who’ve found notoriety through blogs.  It’s just more proof of the power of the blog.  But at the same time, the anonymous-lawyer-turned-celebrity has too much of a fantasy feel to it for my taste – which is probably why it appeals to large firm attorneys, the excitement of the dotcom start-ups in the 1990s lured so many biglaw attorneys away from their firms.  It all kind of makes me wonder whether anyone at biglaw really wants to be a lawyer or whether they’re biding their time, waiting for a book deal or stock options or a winning lottery ticket.  Did biglaw attorneys ever want to practice law to begin with, or was law just an easy way to suppress other passions or avoid a deeper exploration of their desires.  Or does the large firm, through its merciless, grinding caste system, kill young lawyers’ vision of law as a noble, empowering career that can change lives and promote justice?

It makes me sad that so many really, really smart young people are so readily seduced by fantasy – first the fantasy of a high power biglaw job, later the fantasy of escape to celebrity.  When there’s an option for satisfaction right in front of them, one that Greatest American Lawyer discovered when a year ago, he left the comfort of a cushy firm job “for the feel of the breeze in my hair and a goal to change the way law is practiced.”  Maybe GAL isn’t as sexy as Opinionista, but he inspires me more by standing his ground and not leaving the law, but staying; staying to reclaim the vision that made him – and so many of us – want to be lawyers to begin with.

6 Responses to Opinionistas Might Be Sexy, But GAL Is Real

Carolyn –
A few thoughts on this. First, it hits me as sad that there are so many unhappy associates. But, are they unhappy because they are at big firms or are they going to be unhappy in any area of the law? Maybe they were just not meant to be lawyers?
Second, why do they all want to be celebrities? Really, do they desire to have the fame of that girl who does the weight watchers commercials from some reality show? Maybe they want to be like Justin Whateverhisnameis from American Idol? Why the fascination with celebrity? Why not just be happy being yourself? When did that go out of style?
Third, who cares? Really, when opinionista writes a book, who is going to read it? What does it offer us? Is it an inside look at big law firms? We have 1,000 of those, including her blog. Is she just going to write another legal novel? Grisham does a fine job, as do any of the other writers who seem to be a dime a dozen.
Maybe if people stopped writing about her, she would go away? And if she does, is that a bad thing?
Jonathan

Reply

Carolyn –
A few thoughts on this. First, it hits me as sad that there are so many unhappy associates. But, are they unhappy because they are at big firms or are they going to be unhappy in any area of the law? Maybe they were just not meant to be lawyers?
Second, why do they all want to be celebrities? Really, do they desire to have the fame of that girl who does the weight watchers commercials from some reality show? Maybe they want to be like Justin Whateverhisnameis from American Idol? Why the fascination with celebrity? Why not just be happy being yourself? When did that go out of style?
Third, who cares? Really, when opinionista writes a book, who is going to read it? What does it offer us? Is it an inside look at big law firms? We have 1,000 of those, including her blog. Is she just going to write another legal novel? Grisham does a fine job, as do any of the other writers who seem to be a dime a dozen.
Maybe if people stopped writing about her, she would go away? And if she does, is that a bad thing?
Jonathan

Reply

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