For a little while when I was younger, I had dreams of being a lawyer.  This was partly because it was in my family — my uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all lawyers — but also partly because of an experience I had.

When I was 17, a boyfriend of mine got into trouble with the law for something that wasn’t really quite fair.  Being quite close to him, I knew his side of the story, but it was clear that the courts didn’t care — and unfortunately, he didn’t have the money to hire a criminal defense attorney in Clearwater.  Seeing the ineffectiveness with which the public defender handled his case, I was motivated in trying to become a lawyer — so that I could do a better job for people who really needed it.

As I got older I again considered becoming a St. Petersburg criminal lawyer, but ultimately it was my love of writing that won out.  Law is interesting and I know I have the mind for it, but I waited too long before going to college, which would have meant a late start in my career as a lawyer.  But most importantly, I love my work as a freelance writer and I wouldn’t give it up for anything — not even a high-powered career as a lawyer!

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