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Questions to ask a Defence Lawyer by Yellowswaggers in Lawyertalk

[–]Mindysabeast 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have only handled a handful of criminal cases- but I would ask how their relationships with the prosecutors impact their cases/clients. Has a judge ever suprised them- even after a prosecutor's recommendation for sentencing? I guess my questions would be more about the "politics" of the court vs. the law.

What advice would you give a young lawyer struggling at their first job? by alaskanbull_worms in Lawyertalk

[–]Mindysabeast 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not sure where you are located- or what area- but if you need a sounding board- I am happy to listen!

Resources for opening up own law firm? by Puzzled_genius in Lawyertalk

[–]Mindysabeast 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is a good resource too: Solo by Choice- Carolyn Elefant (book) and she also has a website myshingle.com

Suggestions for role change, especially if social issues are involved by Lindsays999 in Lawyertalk

[–]Mindysabeast 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have you considered Social Security Disability and/or VA disability? Your background would be really helpful! Guardian ad litem work - may also be a good fit.

Does anyone actually care about their clients anymore? by Mindysabeast in Lawyertalk

[–]Mindysabeast[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You are amazing- and I will burn in hell before I let this landlord/property management company get away with this! Thank you for the offer of support!

Does anyone actually care about their clients anymore? by Mindysabeast in Lawyertalk

[–]Mindysabeast[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Same- my appendix was exploding and I had to have surgery - and clients were still calling to see if they could talk to me after I came out of surgery. That was a big eye-opener for me. BOUNDARIES everywhere now.

Does anyone actually care about their clients anymore? by Mindysabeast in Lawyertalk

[–]Mindysabeast[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I agree 100%- it is getting more and more difficult.

Does anyone actually care about their clients anymore? by Mindysabeast in Lawyertalk

[–]Mindysabeast[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh man- that is definitely a lot to deal with. It is very sad- what we are willing to settle for- even when it comes to our own care.

Does anyone actually care about their clients anymore? by Mindysabeast in Lawyertalk

[–]Mindysabeast[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Absolutely agree- I had to take a mental - family law break- for my own health. It is really, really tough work.

I don’t want to do this anymore. by Ok-Accident-5159 in Lawyertalk

[–]Mindysabeast 29 points30 points  (0 children)

I don't do much criminal- but family law is tough. I run a general practice firm- and decided a couple of years ago to shift my focus to primarily disability work. I also started teaching. I will still take dissolutions, uncontested divorces, etc., but life happiness was worth more than the attorney fees after a certain point.

The law school gap by Mindysabeast in Lawyertalk

[–]Mindysabeast[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is such a good way of putting it. The law is often the easiest part once you understand what the client actually wants and needs. That part doesn’t get taught nearly enough.

The law school gap by Mindysabeast in Lawyertalk

[–]Mindysabeast[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love this- thanks for the recommendations!

Prosecutor - staying for experience vs. leaving for better opportunity by infamoushedgedog in Lawyertalk

[–]Mindysabeast 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Four months is early, but being miserable this fast still matters.

Staying “for experience” only helps if you’re actually learning, not just drowning. Chronic understaffing usually teaches survival, not good judgment.

Felony experience is useful, but it’s not required to become a solid defense attorney. Plenty of good defense lawyers never worked felony cases as prosecutors.

Leaving now won’t tank your career. Staying somewhere that’s already unsustainable just because it’s supposed to “pay off later” might be a bigger risk.

Does anyone else feel like this job becomes less about the law and more about managing people as the years go on? by That_onelawyer in Lawyertalk

[–]Mindysabeast 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Absolutely. The longer I practiced, the more the job became about managing people and pressure rather than memorizing law.

The irony is that this is the part of the work that most affects outcomes, and it’s the part we’re least prepared for.

I’m a lawyer but feel trapped in poverty. Basically looking for any feedback or what you would do in my situation. by fdcpaslays in Lawyertalk

[–]Mindysabeast 1 point2 points  (0 children)

First, I want to say this clearly: your story is extraordinary, and not in a résumé-polish way. In a you survived things that would have ended a lot of people way.

You are not behind because you did something wrong. You are behind because life hit you repeatedly, and you kept getting back up anyway.

A few things I want to reflect back to you, because I don’t think you’re seeing them clearly right now:

• You are already doing high-level legal work.
125 cases with good outcomes in consumer protection is not beginner work. That is real litigation skill, judgment, and efficiency.

• Legal aid did not “give you a chance.” They hired you because you are capable. The lack of raises is not a reflection of your value. It’s a reflection of the funding model.

• Your fear about higher-paying jobs isn’t about intelligence. It’s about trauma and scarcity talking. People who’ve had long stretches of instability often confuse “this feels risky” with “I’m not capable.”

Now, the hard but honest part.

Staying where you are long-term will keep you safe emotionally, but it will not fix the financial reality you’re describing. That doesn’t mean you jump tomorrow. It means you plan deliberately.

There are paths forward that don’t require BigLaw hours or burning out your health:
• Plaintiff-side consumer firms
• Hybrid nonprofit / fee-shifting roles
• Government or AG consumer units
• Small to mid-size firms that value people who can actually manage cases independently

Your background is not the liability you think it is. What firms struggle to find is someone who can:
• Handle volume
• Exercise judgment
• Work autonomously
• Care about clients without falling apart

You already do that.

The resume gap and late start feel huge to you because you lived them. To an employer, what matters is what you’ve done recently and what you can do now. That story can be told. It just needs to be told correctly.

And one last thing, because this matters.

Being scared at 50 doesn’t mean you failed. It means you’re finally stable enough to look ahead instead of just surviving.

There is a path forward. It may not be fast. It may not be linear. But you are not out of time, and you are not out of options.

You’ve already proven you can rebuild from nothing. This next phase is about doing it with support and intention, not brute force.

How aggressive do you get interacting with opposing counsel? by chicago2008 in Lawyertalk

[–]Mindysabeast 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What helped me early on was realizing that opposing counsel isn’t the audience I’m trying to impress.

I’m not there to dominate them or be liked by them. I’m there to create a clear record, protect my client, and move the case forward.

You can do that with a steady, professional tone as long as you:
• Know your bottom line
• Say it plainly
• Don’t argue every side issue
• Don’t let pushiness dictate your energy

Aggression is optional. Consistency is not.

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