It was bench trial day, with two teams doing a bench trial of a federal drug case going head to head.  They are wearing their suits and ties, suits and heels, the uniform of lawyers.  They have legal pads in hands and serious looks on their faces.  It’s war.

My  job at ITAP was to play the role of judge until the trial was over, then to evaluate their effort, providing guidance as to what they did well and what needed improvement.  The best part of bench trial day is that they are in roll as lawyers from the moment the “judge” walks into the room until the end of the government’s rebuttal summation.  They are delightfully serious. 

After two trials, I was astounded by what a great job the law students did.  No, not perfect, with some flawed efforts, particularly with explaining their objections, refreshing recollections and using prior inconsistent statements.  But then again, these were as good as, if not better, than many real trials.

After the day was done, as I walked in the cold toward the subway, I found myself going stride for stride with one of the students in the program.  We talked as we walked.  He told me that he’s finished in a semester, and he concerned.  He’s “littered” New York with resumes to no avail.

“So what are you going to do?”

“I’ll get a job.”

“What job?”

“Something. Anything.  Law if I can.  McDonalds if I have to. But I will work.”

I offered some suggestions, though I don’t know how viable they were.  It was all I could do.  He asked me if I could use him, but I couldn’t. 

But I believe him.  I can’t say whether his attitude reflects the sort of student who goes out for ITAP or not, but I expect that the same student who wants to leave law school capable of being a lawyer is the type of student who will somehow make a place for himself in the law.  Cardozo Law School isn’t the elite in the City of New York, but I would take a kid who can try a case over the name on a diploma any day.

I just thought anyone who is considering law school, or in need of a lawyer, ought to know.  This student will succeed, if for no other reason than his dedication to being a lawyer.  He may have nowhere to go at the moment, but he’ll find a place for himself.  He won’t sit there and whine about it.