Desiring A Future in Law and Being Black

InnovativeBoxx
Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:05:33 +0000

I’m considering a career as a IP/patent attorney even while I progress through my undergraduate studies, but I’m a bit concerned about some things.

I’m African American/Black, and as I minority, I’m aware of the various prejudices and covert discrimination that exist in the post-education world. While being a minority may help me getting into a good law school (or hurt me), I’m not sure about what how applying for employment at a law firm will go. Will being black be a perpetual barrier to getting into a good law firm? Are law firms willing to diversify their firms with someone of a different race?

I’m aware of the various stereotypes of black out there in regard to intelligence, speaking ability, dress, etc. I’m now taking steps to handle these stereotypes by making sure I do well in school, am a competitive applicant for law school, taking courses to learn how to write well, study and execute a superior vocabulary (not there yet), and even enroll in Toast Masters to develop a superior speaking ability.

What are your thoughts on this? Does anyone have experience with such an issue as mine?