Affirmative Action

Twenty years ago, I found myself sitting in our condo, grappling with the LSAT—a test I took not once, but three times. They usually advise against this, and with good reason. If you retake it too many times, your scores get averaged, which isn’t ideal. However, in the grand scheme of things, my LSAT score doesn’t matter as much as what it revealed to me—my language skills, or rather, the lack thereof.

You see, professional writers attend school. Writing is a challenging process, and only those with a strong drive to understand it will embark on the journey to untangle jumbled writing. Professional writers excel at crafting compelling narratives that captivate their readers. But, there’s a crucial question to ponder—does your writing lead to tangible results?

Do you struggle to get your novels published? Does the majority of your work go unnoticed, with your earnings barely covering your bills? This is where a copywriter like Laura Belgray comes in. Copywriting is about using the power of words to sell your ideas, products, and services, excuse my French, but it’s true.

Through the process of sitting for the LSAT, I discovered that I lacked a strong command of language to achieve a high score and surpass the competition of aspiring lawyers. This realization fueled my passion for promoting literacy, selling children’s books, and homeschooling my child. I found my true calling—passion.

When I decided to apply to law school, I wrote my admission essay and showed it to seasoned lawyers. Their advice was consistent: “Marla, you need to be punchy and concise.” Of course, my initial reaction was, “What on earth does it mean to be punchy?” In essence, I failed to sell myself to the law school administration. I also discovered that minority applicants who faced similar language challenges were sometimes given affirmative action precedence. This irked me even more—it made me angry. Why, I thought, would someone’s ethnicity be considered in admissions decisions?

I must confess, I’m not a fan of affirmative action.

In law school, if you aren’t a strong reader, you’ll struggle to grasp the main points of the often convoluted opinions you’re assigned to read. You’ll find it challenging to crack the top 10 in your class or make it to the law review. Every law student reads vast amounts of perplexing writing and is expected to decipher the opinions’ main points for class discussions. There’s a high incentive to do so. Some lawyers, though not all, have a tough yet clear writing style. They must learn how to present their case convincingly to a judge. Yes, lawyers are essentially glorified salespeople.

What deeply troubles me is that only 34% of our nation’s children read proficiently in the 4th and 8th grades. Why is this concerning? Because SAT scores correlate with LSAT scores. Of that percentage, only 25% of Black and Latino students read proficiently in the 4th and 8th grades. Shocking, right? But wait, it gets worse by 8th grade, with even fewer students reading proficiently.

My journey into law school was unconventional. I wasn’t accepted into the lawyering program; instead, I joined a non-lawyering program within the law school. I found myself studying law alongside second and third-year law students. It was an eye-opening experience for me, one that I’m profoundly grateful for. After completing my post-graduate level certificate, I enrolled in a paralegal program at a community college.

As paralegals, we also read case law, but our incentive to grasp the main points isn’t as strong as that of law students. We’re guided through the process. The goal of a paralegal is to assist lawyers administratively, and that wasn’t particularly enjoyable for me. I yearned for more—more reading, more writing, and the chance to improve my writing. I wanted to share ideas. So, it deeply frustrates me that my public education didn’t equip me with strong reading and writing skills. It’s a source of melancholy. I aspired to be a lawyer because I adore words—not quite as much as my husband, who enjoys creating quirky words with our son, Isaac. Imagine the satisfaction of resolving people’s legal issues, presenting persuasive arguments, and standing before a judge.

Remember, work to learn, not solely for money.

Recently, during a book show, a mother shared her story with me. She said, “I’m pursuing my master’s degree in information technology.” She aspires to be a “professional.” It struck me how many people shy away from sales roles, often viewing salespeople negatively. They assume we’re only after one thing—money. I couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for her. In reality, we should all learn to embrace the skills necessary for a sales role. After all, sales is a field that everyone should master to some extent.