I laugh a little at those who think today's system of legal education is corrupt, costly or protectionist. Law has a very long tradition of formal education and requirements. Today's system is a vast improvement over previous which often required prospective lawyers to complere ridiculous tasks such as "sitting dinners" at dining clubs. That system formally allowed social clubs to dictate who could and couldn't progress. Nearly anyone could blackball you. And don't get me started about the stonecutter requirements at some schools.
q: How to Be a Lawyer Without Going to Law School?
a: Read a few wikipedia articles about copyright law. Jump on hackernews to give some advice to a startup founder to cheap to talk to a real lawyer. Feel good about yourself for doing something for free that other charge $$$$. Then disappear before finding out what happens.
One reason your comment might be downvoted (and the reason I downvoted it, too) is that the first 1/3rd of this article rebuts your argument about the history of formal requirements for lawyers. By not engaging with the article's argument, you give the impression of having replied to the title, not the contents of the article.
Um, no. The article speaks of the current system, the current very difficult system of which apprenticeships are a part.
If you really want to 'engage' the article, I'd rip it to shreds for lack of depth. It makes no mention of cross-boarder accreditation, instead focusing only on bar pass rates as if that is some judge of quality education (law school /= bar prep). Take for example this:
"In many respects, the American Bar Association and other overseeing law bodies don’t take apprenticeships seriously, and do everything they can to corral students into three-year, accredited law schools."
Does the author know what the ABA is? It doesn't regulate lawyers in any way. It has no authority and many lawyers (most?) are not affiliated with it. Nor do you have to be a lawyer or law student to join the ABA. (PM me if you want info on that one. I have a few free trial memberships kicking around somewhere.) The advantage of an ABA-accredited law school is that it will be recognized in every US state. Apprenticeships are not. Going that route might bind you to practice in that particular state. A full and proper law degree will allow you to become a lawyer in any US state at any time ... for life.
Engage the content? It clickbate junk not worth anyone's time.
The tradition is still alive:http://www.theguardian.com/law/2011/may/12/barristers-dinner...
q: How to Be a Lawyer Without Going to Law School?
a: Read a few wikipedia articles about copyright law. Jump on hackernews to give some advice to a startup founder to cheap to talk to a real lawyer. Feel good about yourself for doing something for free that other charge $$$$. Then disappear before finding out what happens.