{"id":4218,"date":"2005-11-16T23:45:36","date_gmt":"2005-11-17T03:45:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/formerlyknownas\/2005\/11\/16\/is-45-too-old-to-become-a-law"},"modified":"2011-08-05T14:54:24","modified_gmt":"2011-08-05T18:54:24","slug":"is-45-too-old-to-become-a-lawyer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/2005\/11\/16\/is-45-too-old-to-become-a-lawyer\/","title":{"rendered":"is 45 too old to become a lawyer?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The <\/FONT>Bar Council<\/FONT><\/A> of Punjab and Haryana (India) has proposed “barring <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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entry of a person in the profession after the age of 45.”  (ExpressIndia.<\/EM><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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com<\/EM>, Speakout “<\/FONT><\/FONT>Age bar<\/A><\/FONT>: Advocates divided over answer<\/A>,” Nov. 17, <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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2005).<\/FONT>Judging from some of the comments submitted to the Chandigarh <\/EM><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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News-<\/EM><\/FONT><\/FONT>line<\/EM>, lawyers in that part of the world are far less worried about <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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appearing <\/FONT><\/FONT>politically incorrect<\/EM> in print than we Americans.  <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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mountain village–
the old man doesn’t know
the dance<\/EM><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>
 <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/EM><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>
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\"tiny My very quick <\/FONT>research<\/FONT><\/A>, suggests that life <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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expectancy at birth <\/FONT>in India is currently 64.4 years.  A <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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person living to age 45 would, <\/FONT>naturally, have a life ex-<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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pectancy of more than 20 years — probably <\/FONT>significantly <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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more.  (you can check out your life expectancy <\/FONT>here<\/FONT><\/A>)<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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the old dog
looks as if he’s listening…
earthworms sing<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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We’re told that the proposed rule “has fetched a mixed response from city<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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advocates. While the veterans feel that the new rule defies logic and <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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practicality, new entrants feel the rule will be fruitful for the new crop entering <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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the profession.”  Here are a few quotes: <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Virinder Issar: <\/B>I do not think that the proposed rule will do any  \"old&newYearSF\"<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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good to the profession. . . . An assimilation of experience and <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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expression is the most lethal combination one can possess in <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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this profession, which normally a youngster lacks, and which, <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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comes from passing a certain age.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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N.S. Minhas: <\/STRONG>I feel its a welcome decision and should be imple- <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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mented. This would benefit the young generation that has entered <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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the profession lately. People generally have a myth regarding our <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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profession that older the advocate more the experience he has. <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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When a client walks in and sees a grey-haired advocate, he will <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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certainly opt for him, may be not knowing that he is as new to the <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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profession as is a young lawyer. <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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in leafy shade
an old one’s voice…
a frog!<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/SPAN> <\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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Malkiat Singh: <\/STRONG>It takes more than five years to understand the <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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legal procedure and settle down in this stream.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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Surinder: <\/STRONG>It’s a wise step taken by the Bar Council. This will cut <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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down the traffic of people entering the profession. <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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even the pine tree
I planted grows old!
autumn dusk<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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\"old&newYearS\" Dinesh Kumar: <\/STRONG>I wonder, at the age of 45, what will <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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these <\/FONT><\/FONT>grey <\/FONT><\/FONT>haired people do? Will they have time to devote to the <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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profession? <\/FONT>I think they will be more busy with their geriatric problems. <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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It’s a <\/FONT>good decision as it will motivate young lawyers to enter into the <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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profession.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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Well, what do you think?  Are you, or do you know, any gray-haired law students <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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or recent grads?   Is this unjustified age discrimination?  Guild mentality?  It seems <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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darn unAmerican to Prof. Yabut et al<\/EM>.<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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afterthoughts<\/FONT><\/STRONG><\/EM> (9 AM):  A question and a memory: (1) how do law schools <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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in America treat applicants who are in their forties or older?  <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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(2) When I first moved to Schenectady, NY, in 1988, I met lawyer Mary <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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Coffin. <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>Mary didn’t go to law school until she was over 40 years old, after <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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having <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>a career as a registered nurse and raising eight children.  The <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>legal <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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profession of Schenectady and New York State would have been far poorer <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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if Mary had been refused entry to the bar because of her “old” age.  Decades <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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of service to children at Family Court, to a myriad of clients in her “Main <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>Street” <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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lawyer practice of Antokol & Coffin, and to the Bar, by Lawyer Coffin, belie any <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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notion that she didn’t have enough time after graduation to serve the profession <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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and her <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN>society.<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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lightning flash–
in pampas grass ensconced
a fifty year-old’s face<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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all haiku by <\/FONT>Kobayashi Issa<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/A>  <\/FONT>
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       translated by <\/FONT>David G. Lanoue<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/A>  <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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                                                                                              \"exit<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana (India) has proposed “barring entry of a person in the profession after the age of 45.”  (ExpressIndia. com, Speakout “Age bar: Advocates divided over answer,” Nov. 17, 2005).Judging from some of the comments submitted to the Chandigarh News-line, lawyers in that part of the world are far less worried about appearing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":94,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2926],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4218","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pre-06-2006"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6kP1R-162","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4218","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/94"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4218"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4218\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12918,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4218\/revisions\/12918"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4218"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}