We get a lot of calls here at the law school. Calls from people who feel they deserve free legal service because they are a BYU Student/BYU Alumni/Mormon/They were Mormon/They knew this Mormon guy once and he was "chill." Whatever the reason, people don't seem realize that the law school is only a law school, and not a law firm. We don't take on cases. BYU does have a legal department, and it is not associated with the law school. It isn't even in the same building.
Today, I wondered if people call the other colleges at BYU asking for help. Do they call up the school of nursing? I can see it now. Some guy calls up the office for the nursing program and asks "Hey, well, I have appendicitis, and I was wondering if you guys have any free medical services? Can I have one of your students do a surgery, could they just take my appendix out for practice? Because then it would be free."
Just like a doctor or a nurse practicing medicine before their training is complete, it is equally ridiculous to expect a law student to take on legal cases. They don't know enough. They aren't even real lawyers until they pass the Bar exam. In fact, they would get in trouble. Big trouble. I'm pretty sure they would never be allowed to become a real lawyer.
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I know we've had a lot of discussions about this - as Mormons we seem to expect that we can rely on other Mormons to provide services for us at a discounted rate, or even for free. I think it's a misinterpretation of the idea that we give all we have, our time, talents, and resources, to the Lord and His church - that somehow gets turned into "I'm part of the ward family, part of the church, so this lawyer in my ward should give of his time, talents, and resources to help me." Then, of course, that's extended to BYU and its resources. Bah. Humbug.
It's disgusting when people think they can ask you to do whatever you do for a living for free just because they are in your ward. It bugs me. Just because people are kind enough to offer you a ride, or to make dinner because you had surgery, or whatever small act of charity it may be, doesn't mean they should have to be willing (or even asked) to do something they do for a living for free. If you know they are good at something, then hire them. Don't be a cheapskate and cheat them out of time with their families or time they have to relax. pfft.
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