What do you see as the value of our current legal system?
- Jessica Satinoff -
Over the years, people from every corner of the world have migrated to the United States, sometimes referred to as the melting pot. We have acquired this name based on the wide variety of cultures and ethnicities that are present in our society. We pride ourselves to be an accepting country, with values that support freedom, equality, and justice for all. Leaving behind homes, familiarity, and sometimes loved ones, people come to the U.S. and essentially start their lives over. Freedom is, and always has been, the main driving force that brings people to our beautiful country. This unbelievable opportunity to lead a better life, regardless of religion, sex, or ethnicity motivates thousands of people to immigrate to America yearly.
As a country that prides itself on freedom, our justice system does everything in its power in order to ensure that every person has an equal opportunity for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, as outlined in the constitution. Being that we live in a free, democratic country, it is very important that justice is handled likewise. I believe that the most important quality about the legal system in the United States is the legal process itself. Every person is guaranteed certain things such as a trial by jury and the right to an attorney. People are innocent until proven quilty, and there is an appeal process for those who feel that the outcome of their trial was unjust. With such provisions in place, the U.S. is able to ensure that all of its citizens are given equal and just treatment.
When I was ten years old, my parents separated and began a very lengthy, gruesome process that eventually ended with their divorce. This event affected me greatly, especially because I didn't understand much of what was occurring. Though this experience was very exigent for me to cope with, I believe everything happens for a reason. Their divorce sparked my interest in law, and it was then that I decided I would become a lawyer so I could help people that are in the same situation my mother was once in. Although it is true that there is underlying resentment toward the legal profession, I believe that lawyers act as necessary advocates for the public. By becoming a lawyer, I will be able to repudiate this negative stereotype once and for all.
To prepare myself for a career in law, I have been employed by notable law firm in my community for almost a year now. The attorneys at this firm specialize in family law, divorces, and dependency cases. This has reassured me that I want to study law and help families like my own, who need legal representation and even emotional support to help them overcome such a distressing time in their lives. I feel that had my parents not gotten divorced, I would not have had such an invested interest in pursuing this as a career.