Does Your Job Make the World a Worse Place?

I recently read an article from the NY Times about people who thought their jobs made the world a worse place to live. Topping off the list? Fast-food worker. No suprise, but what surprised me? Fashion designer? How on earth can they say they make the world a worse place? (ok I get it, they put these designs out there which costs a gazzilion dollars and make people materialistic, blah, blah) but come on, a world with no fashion, now that makes the world a worse place. But, yes you guessed it, law jobs were on the list: legal secretary and senior attorney.

I pondered this for a good 10 minutes. I can see how the senior attorney (aka partner) makes the world a worse place; they charge more per hour, they bring in cases, they abuse poor associates and secretaries ( I kid mine don't...), but legal secretaries? How on earth do they thinl they contribute to the worsening of America?

 I for one LOVE my secretary. She makes me look good! She puts up with listening to my bad dictation, edits my letters, reminds me what day of the week it is, and well frankly is like my mom at work (here honey don't you think you should do this....). It's sad to me that they think they make the world a worse place. I get that they contribute to the success of the attorney, they back us up, do what is needed to get the case won! But is that a bad thing? I mean not all attorneys are money hungry, scum suckers, right?

Take those who work for legal aid, the public defender, DAs for example. Or my law bestie who is a mitigator for capital offenders. These lawyers who tirelessly for those who cannot afford representation, and often make WAY less than big firm lawyers. I'm not saying that what I do does not contribute to the greater good, but what I am saying is that lawyers get a bad rap, and now apparently we are admitting it.


So, what do you do? Do you make a the world a worse place? Just remember, your job does not define you. Your job make suck, but you don't have to. ~The Illegal Blonde