I explained to the attorney who called, I just don’t think I can give 3 years of my life and 250k dollars in student loan debt to go back to law school and become an attorney.
Like I told a judge several years ago. The judge said to me - there are people who are being taken advantage of and seasoned attorneys that do not ask the questions you ask on their cross examinations. With those skills sharpened from a deeper legal perspective you would be in a position to help so many people.
The attorney on the phone said - I agree with this judge. He asked me, what’s stopping you besides time and money? It’s just 3 years? I laughed and he wanted to know what was so funny.
In 1999, my best friend in the entire world was served with a deportation notice. They had been in the U.S. since they were 4. Every single family member that cared for them - died before they were 16. It was their adopted dad’s family. Their adopted mom lived in Japan but that’s not where the United States was going to send them to - they were going to deport them to their birth country of S Korea; where they knew absolutely no one.
When I tell you the amount of leg work I did to help them in terms of hours was astronomical - I’m not even exaggerating. I helped pick an immigration attorney. The deportation judge gave them a list and the attorney they chose had to come from that list. The retainer was 5k and over 500 an hour after that. The attorney they chose was gracious enough to take 100 per month after the retainer. We pooled our life savings and went to work on the case.
My friend was granted the ability to a path to citizenship if I agreed to sponsor, which I graciously did. Makes me wonder in today’s climate - maybe if the protestors became sponsors.... nevermind - too in the weeds.
I helped pay for every form submitted. I drove them to all of their appointments. In 2008, I watched them give an oath to become a citizen.
Several years after, the attorney calls me and says - you only owe about 1500 more - you want to continue that 100 a month or pay it off? We paid it. He asked me on the phone if I had considered becoming an attorney. I wondered why? He said, we looked at every letter you wrote to Congressmen and Senators advocating for your friend. We never had to ask you to resend paperwork because you filled it out flawlessly. After 14 years of doing this, you know enough about the immigration law to help you get into an accelerated program and I would write you a letter of support. I didn’t see it.
As I was telling this to the attorney on the phone he said - again, what is stopping you?
He said, let me put this in perspective.
He said - I graduated from college and went right to work in banking and finance. I made decent money but right before I got ready to retire I noticed there were things I could do to help people get loans that would allow them to buy their first homes. What I noticed was that the credit system was holding back good people and sometimes denying them altogether for no apparent reason. It took a lot of work but we got the credit system changed in my state. I figured, had I been an attorney I could have fought more effectively. So, I retired from banking and went back to school. And, here is why I called you.
I noticed that your online profile for your advocacy says that you graduated from an online only institution. I wanted to let you know that’s how I graduated from law school. Now, you can take your online classes and if you choose the right school within proximity of your location; may have to show up once or twice a month for onsite lectures. You can still maintain your federal advocacy practice while doing your law studies. Still not convinced you can?
I was 60 years old when I took the LSAT. I was 63 when I passed the BAR. I’m 83 and don’t have an ounce of quit in me. I see your posts on our advocacy forums and you just impress me with your understanding of the law and you never had formal legal training. So, the age argument is hogwash. Get off your ass and go get the training to help more people than you could possibly help. He said - make sure you learn the DUI laws in your state - that’s what is going to pay back your student loans. Rich people don’t want their kids suffering for their dumb mistakes and that’s where your ability to argue logic comes in to help financially stabilize your practice.
I just want to write songs and continue to do music and help advocate the way I am.
He said - son, you can still do all of that. But don’t keep letting 3 years at a time go by and wake up at 80 and wonder how many people could have been helped if the right person had just followed a destiny they were meant for.
So, here I am wondering if it’s possible. What about the music?? I love what I do.. I love getting to play at live shows. Do I want to give that up to sit behind a desk? I love getting to help people in the environment I am in now.
Maybe - I should just take the LSAT and see what happens. If I pass - then pursue it. If not, then there’s my answer.
If I were 20 again I could make this decision easier… But then again, there were no online law schools either. I would be right back to square one making the same decisions.
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