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Bad Lawyer: A Memoir of Law and Disorder
Law school was never Anna Dorn's dream. It was a profession pushed on her by her parents, teachers, society... whatever. It's not the worst thing that can happen to a person; as Dorn says, law school was pretty "cushy" and mostly entailed wearing leggings every day to her classes at Berkeley and playing beer pong with her friends at night. The hardest part was imagining what it would be like to actually be a lawyer one day. But then she'd think of Glenn Close on Damages and Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde, and hoped for the best.
After graduation, however, Dorn realized that there was nothing sexy about being a lawyer. Between the unflattering suits, sucking up to old men, and spending her days sequestered in a soul-sucking cubicle, Dorn quickly learned that being a lawyer wasn't everything Hollywood made it out to be. Oh, and she sucked at it. Not because she wasn't smart enough, but because she couldn't get herself to care enough to play by the rules.
Bad Lawyer is more than just a memoir of Dorn's experiences as a less-than-stellar lawyer; it's about the less-than-stellar legal reality that exists for all of us in this country, hidden just out of sight. It's about prosecutors lying and filing inane briefs that lack any semblance of logic or reason; it's about defense attorneys sworn to secrecy-until the drinks come out and the stories start flying; and it's about judges who drink in their chambers, sexually harass the younger clerks, and shop on eBay instead of listening to homicide testimony. More than anything, this book aims to counteract the fetishization of the law as a universe based entirely on logic and reason. Exposing everything from law school to law in the media, and drawing on Dorn's personal experiences as well as her journalistic research, Bad Lawyer ultimately provides us with a fresh perspective on our justice system and the people in it, and gives young lawyers advice going forward into the 21st century.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published May 4, 2021
28 people are currently reading
2,701 people want to read
About the author
Anna Dorn
5books666followersAnna Dorn is the author of PERFUME & PAIN, EXALTED, BAD LAWYER, and VAGABLONDE. She was a Lambda Literary Fellow and EXALTED was a finalist for the L.A. Times Book Prize. Her next book AMERICAN SPIRITS is forthcoming from Simon & Schuster. She lives in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
May 2, 2022
The good: the author writes from a strongly feminist point of view, but not a strident one where women are always the victims who must prevail and men are the abusers who are always, always in the wrong if a woman accuses them of anything. I like that. I got really fed up with #Metoo which seemed to turn into a vehicle for D-lister 'celebrities' to get their names in the news and thereby devalued those who were really abused.
The author's feminism is tempered by the reality that many of us women do like to wear clothes we think suit us and hair and make up maybe that flatters us, and do not find a compliment on how we look as a sexist microagression but instead it makes us smile. That is a serious point, even if it doesn't sound like it. Women like looking nice, men like looking at women. A TSA-equivalent officer in Cancun looked at my passport and my face and said I looked x years younger (everyone thinks this) and said I was beautiful, before passing on to the next person. Should I have reported him, should he need re-education classes? Was this sexual discrimination? I took it as a compliment, why would I look for offence when none was intended?
She also has a real kindness towards the clients she represents on appeal, all of whom but one she says were guilty. And also by wanting to improve the situation for society rather than punish by locking the guilty away. In other words, instead of punishment fitting the crime, looking to see how best the criminal can be prevented from repeating that behaviour.
It's never going to happen. The US private criminal system depends, like all capitalist enterprises on growing ever larger. And once a convicted felon, the criminal can never vote. The present prison system replaced slave labour, and that really hasn't changed. It suits America to criminalise and incarcerate vast numbers of black and brown people. Locked up, unpaid labour, unable to vote... and those who would go lynching for sport, having all the justice system people around them refuse to do anything about it, think of Ahmaud Arbery, slavery has ended officially in the US but Blacks are still in a very precarious position. .
The indifferent. The author rather goes on about her dislike of her career in law and how much she loves writing but really I think she loves the practice of law, it gives her the chance to put into practice that which she writes about. It is a bit tedious to read how people thought she was a fantastic writer and should write this and that, but i understand why it was there, it was her career development. It does however, come across as a bit self-obsessed.
The bad. The bad is good! The bad is that the author had so many good ideas that she only half-developed. She's a good writer, she thinks she knows when to stop, and that might work for the articles she writes, but not in a book. It left me feeling very unsatisfied, I wanted to read more, and more depth.
If I'd been her editor, I would have told her, forget the career development, it isn't very interesting, and write in more depth about that which burns her and keeps her practicing law and writing from her nuanced feminist viewpoint. It would have been a 5 star book. As it is, 4 star.
The author's feminism is tempered by the reality that many of us women do like to wear clothes we think suit us and hair and make up maybe that flatters us, and do not find a compliment on how we look as a sexist microagression but instead it makes us smile. That is a serious point, even if it doesn't sound like it. Women like looking nice, men like looking at women. A TSA-equivalent officer in Cancun looked at my passport and my face and said I looked x years younger (everyone thinks this) and said I was beautiful, before passing on to the next person. Should I have reported him, should he need re-education classes? Was this sexual discrimination? I took it as a compliment, why would I look for offence when none was intended?
She also has a real kindness towards the clients she represents on appeal, all of whom but one she says were guilty. And also by wanting to improve the situation for society rather than punish by locking the guilty away. In other words, instead of punishment fitting the crime, looking to see how best the criminal can be prevented from repeating that behaviour.
It's never going to happen. The US private criminal system depends, like all capitalist enterprises on growing ever larger. And once a convicted felon, the criminal can never vote. The present prison system replaced slave labour, and that really hasn't changed. It suits America to criminalise and incarcerate vast numbers of black and brown people. Locked up, unpaid labour, unable to vote... and those who would go lynching for sport, having all the justice system people around them refuse to do anything about it, think of Ahmaud Arbery, slavery has ended officially in the US but Blacks are still in a very precarious position. .
The indifferent. The author rather goes on about her dislike of her career in law and how much she loves writing but really I think she loves the practice of law, it gives her the chance to put into practice that which she writes about. It is a bit tedious to read how people thought she was a fantastic writer and should write this and that, but i understand why it was there, it was her career development. It does however, come across as a bit self-obsessed.
The bad. The bad is good! The bad is that the author had so many good ideas that she only half-developed. She's a good writer, she thinks she knows when to stop, and that might work for the articles she writes, but not in a book. It left me feeling very unsatisfied, I wanted to read more, and more depth.
If I'd been her editor, I would have told her, forget the career development, it isn't very interesting, and write in more depth about that which burns her and keeps her practicing law and writing from her nuanced feminist viewpoint. It would have been a 5 star book. As it is, 4 star.
July 25, 2021
Bad Lawyer: A Memoir of Law and Disorder is Anna Dorn’s memoir about her brief legal career. After reluctantly pursuing then graduating from law school, Dorn realizes she doesn’t like much about the life of a lawyer. It seems she enjoyed the idea of being a lawyer more than actually being one.
Parts of this book, especially in the first half, felt braggy (I didn’t even really want to go to law school, it wasn’t that hard, I was pretty cool, etc.) but, Dorn’s story grew on me a little as she eventually grew up � Readers get to see Dorn’s growth, not just as a professional, but as a person in Bad Lawyer. I enjoyed the later chapters more, where she discusses the deeply flawed U.S. criminal justice system and found myself agreeing with many of her observations.
I’m not a lawyer but work in this space and was naturally curious when I heard about this book � The type of law you practice, your firm’s culture, and your prior professional life, can be significant factors in your overall experience as/ perception in being a lawyer � 2.5 stars
Thank you to Hachette Books, NetGalley, and Bibliostyle for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Parts of this book, especially in the first half, felt braggy (I didn’t even really want to go to law school, it wasn’t that hard, I was pretty cool, etc.) but, Dorn’s story grew on me a little as she eventually grew up � Readers get to see Dorn’s growth, not just as a professional, but as a person in Bad Lawyer. I enjoyed the later chapters more, where she discusses the deeply flawed U.S. criminal justice system and found myself agreeing with many of her observations.
I’m not a lawyer but work in this space and was naturally curious when I heard about this book � The type of law you practice, your firm’s culture, and your prior professional life, can be significant factors in your overall experience as/ perception in being a lawyer � 2.5 stars
Thank you to Hachette Books, NetGalley, and Bibliostyle for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2021
"People in my class wanted to save the environment, find housing for the homeless, and provide fair, adequate representation for people with disabilities or those seeking US citizenship. But, for the most part, they all moved on to associate positions in Big Law, defending major corporations accused of poisoning children and things like that. I do not fault them for this. You cannot pay off a $200K debt if your clients are homeless."
May 11, 2021
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher (Hachette Books) in exchange for an honest review.
What a wild ride!
I’m just about to graduate law school so I thought it was the perfect time to read this book.
Even though the author is a white woman from a privileged background and I am an Asian American woman, I still related to her and her experiences becoming disenchanted by the law. I agree with a lot of her issues with the legal profession and system. She went into criminal law, a field I have no interest in, but I am not surprised by her experiences or her realizations. The legal system is incredibly archaic and it can be frustrating because of that.
Even law school itself makes no sense sometimes. She writes in relation to summer jobs, “representatives from all the top law firms in the country came…and interviewed students for their 2Ls summer jobs, which are said to determine the rest of our legal careers. Why? I have no idea. It was just something we all knew and all accepted� (pg. 83). That is a true statement and just highlights how cookie cutter becoming a lawyer can be.
I loved how the author explained everything so simply. For example, she explains all the basics of law school in such uncomplicated language. She really provided an in-depth overview of all things law school. She even mentions bar review which was something I was super confused about when I first started law school (I naively thought it was when 3Ls studied for the bar exam, but it’s actually when law students go out to a bar for drinks).
If the author needs an idea for another book, she should totally do a “Law School For Dummies� type of book. Her writing style is so accessible (unlike most law books) so even the lay person can understand what she’s saying. This probably stems from her inability to master the Bluebook (another archaic legal gatekeeping tool or as she puts it, “The cursed Bluebook is filled with ways to make the law inaccessible to non lawyers. That’s what the law is all about� making what should be accessible esoteric to keep lawyer salaries high� (pg. 66)).
I did feel that the book lost a bit of its steam towards the end. It felt a little lost, like the author didn’t quite know how to end the book. Because of that, the last few chapters were disjointed from the first half of the book. The last chapters dealt with how messed up the criminal justice system is and I felt that those chapters could have been a jumping off point for a whole other book.
Overall, I really enjoyed this memoir on the realities of being lawyer. I really recommend this if you are interested in becoming a lawyer. Not everything she says may apply to you, but it does give honest insight into the profession.
What a wild ride!
I’m just about to graduate law school so I thought it was the perfect time to read this book.
Even though the author is a white woman from a privileged background and I am an Asian American woman, I still related to her and her experiences becoming disenchanted by the law. I agree with a lot of her issues with the legal profession and system. She went into criminal law, a field I have no interest in, but I am not surprised by her experiences or her realizations. The legal system is incredibly archaic and it can be frustrating because of that.
Even law school itself makes no sense sometimes. She writes in relation to summer jobs, “representatives from all the top law firms in the country came…and interviewed students for their 2Ls summer jobs, which are said to determine the rest of our legal careers. Why? I have no idea. It was just something we all knew and all accepted� (pg. 83). That is a true statement and just highlights how cookie cutter becoming a lawyer can be.
I loved how the author explained everything so simply. For example, she explains all the basics of law school in such uncomplicated language. She really provided an in-depth overview of all things law school. She even mentions bar review which was something I was super confused about when I first started law school (I naively thought it was when 3Ls studied for the bar exam, but it’s actually when law students go out to a bar for drinks).
If the author needs an idea for another book, she should totally do a “Law School For Dummies� type of book. Her writing style is so accessible (unlike most law books) so even the lay person can understand what she’s saying. This probably stems from her inability to master the Bluebook (another archaic legal gatekeeping tool or as she puts it, “The cursed Bluebook is filled with ways to make the law inaccessible to non lawyers. That’s what the law is all about� making what should be accessible esoteric to keep lawyer salaries high� (pg. 66)).
I did feel that the book lost a bit of its steam towards the end. It felt a little lost, like the author didn’t quite know how to end the book. Because of that, the last few chapters were disjointed from the first half of the book. The last chapters dealt with how messed up the criminal justice system is and I felt that those chapters could have been a jumping off point for a whole other book.
Overall, I really enjoyed this memoir on the realities of being lawyer. I really recommend this if you are interested in becoming a lawyer. Not everything she says may apply to you, but it does give honest insight into the profession.
February 9, 2021
Thank you to Hachette Books for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!
BAD LAWYER is Anna Dorn's memoir - a story of a lost millennial soul who did what many privileged, aimless academic types ultimately do... go to law school. For going to law school would keep her high-achieving parents happy, give her somewhere to be on her family dime, and maybe, just maybe, do good for others.
For those of you expecting a real life Legally Blonde story, look elsewhere. This is the story of what happens when Janis Ian goes to law school. And it's a story told in three blistering, thoughtful, sassy threads.
Thread one is Dorn's personal experience applying to law school, graduating from Berkeley, and spending time in the California criminal defense system. As Dorn admits (over and over again), she was not cut out to be a lawyer. This isn't a success story - it's a misfit memoir of someone trying to learn to be cutthroat, buttoned-up, calloused, and professional. And Dorn is none of those things. She openly admits that she's never read a contract. Get ready to question every attorney you've ever paid to protect or defend you.
Thread two is Dorn's horrific realization of how messed up the judicial system is. Through firsthand experiences clerking for judges, working the appeals courts, and interning for bigwigs, Dorn exposes just how slow, challenging, frustrating, disappointing, and shocking the world of the law can be. Her recounts of her coworkers and supervisors are at times hilarious - they're also at times depressing.
And Thread Three is the journey Dorn goes on to, well, grow the fuck up. It's a story that begins with a bitchy, lazy, closeted pothead and ends with a proud, out, creative, and flourishing writer. A coming-of-age experience that many upper-middle class millennials experience. It's a story about growing up and not just doing what others want, but finding your own voice. I won't pretend like this is some major morality story, but it is charming to see her grow up in the pages of this book.
It's an inconsistent read, with some parts really interesting and other's a bit limp. Dorn admits she's not a passionate person when it comes to the law, which is her Achilles' Heel in this book. When she's revved up on a topic, like in her final chapters, this book offers a blistering insight into how messed up law can be. The stuff that's more self-deprecating is a little eye-rolly at times. But there's ultimately a lot to appreciate in this story. A great read for lawyers, my peers who debate law school once a year, and fans of criminal TV shows.
BAD LAWYER is Anna Dorn's memoir - a story of a lost millennial soul who did what many privileged, aimless academic types ultimately do... go to law school. For going to law school would keep her high-achieving parents happy, give her somewhere to be on her family dime, and maybe, just maybe, do good for others.
For those of you expecting a real life Legally Blonde story, look elsewhere. This is the story of what happens when Janis Ian goes to law school. And it's a story told in three blistering, thoughtful, sassy threads.
Thread one is Dorn's personal experience applying to law school, graduating from Berkeley, and spending time in the California criminal defense system. As Dorn admits (over and over again), she was not cut out to be a lawyer. This isn't a success story - it's a misfit memoir of someone trying to learn to be cutthroat, buttoned-up, calloused, and professional. And Dorn is none of those things. She openly admits that she's never read a contract. Get ready to question every attorney you've ever paid to protect or defend you.
Thread two is Dorn's horrific realization of how messed up the judicial system is. Through firsthand experiences clerking for judges, working the appeals courts, and interning for bigwigs, Dorn exposes just how slow, challenging, frustrating, disappointing, and shocking the world of the law can be. Her recounts of her coworkers and supervisors are at times hilarious - they're also at times depressing.
And Thread Three is the journey Dorn goes on to, well, grow the fuck up. It's a story that begins with a bitchy, lazy, closeted pothead and ends with a proud, out, creative, and flourishing writer. A coming-of-age experience that many upper-middle class millennials experience. It's a story about growing up and not just doing what others want, but finding your own voice. I won't pretend like this is some major morality story, but it is charming to see her grow up in the pages of this book.
It's an inconsistent read, with some parts really interesting and other's a bit limp. Dorn admits she's not a passionate person when it comes to the law, which is her Achilles' Heel in this book. When she's revved up on a topic, like in her final chapters, this book offers a blistering insight into how messed up law can be. The stuff that's more self-deprecating is a little eye-rolly at times. But there's ultimately a lot to appreciate in this story. A great read for lawyers, my peers who debate law school once a year, and fans of criminal TV shows.
May 11, 2021
*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher (Hachette) in exchange for an honest review.*
BAD LAWYER is a memoir about the author's brief time spent working in law—her lack of talent for it and conflicted relationship with it—but also the ugly truth of our legal system, one that is not nearly as glamorous as seen on TV. It touches on interesting topics, like racism in our criminal justice system, women in professional life, and how societal expectations (like going to law school as a respectable next step in life) can hold us back.
But I have to be honest: I had some real problems with it. The author is simultaneously aware of her privilege but also quite flippant about it. There were also a number of bizarre takes and jokes about sexual assault, domestic abuse, and racial privilege that I really couldn't understand or forgive. They were very hard to read, and I wish I could just erase them (and one entire chapter defending and justifying male sex crimes against women) from the book. It really disturbed me.
I liked the intent of this book—to expose the legal system for what it really is—but the execution did not work for me. However, I think aspiring lawyers or anyone interested in how the law really works might enjoy this memoir.
BAD LAWYER is a memoir about the author's brief time spent working in law—her lack of talent for it and conflicted relationship with it—but also the ugly truth of our legal system, one that is not nearly as glamorous as seen on TV. It touches on interesting topics, like racism in our criminal justice system, women in professional life, and how societal expectations (like going to law school as a respectable next step in life) can hold us back.
But I have to be honest: I had some real problems with it. The author is simultaneously aware of her privilege but also quite flippant about it. There were also a number of bizarre takes and jokes about sexual assault, domestic abuse, and racial privilege that I really couldn't understand or forgive. They were very hard to read, and I wish I could just erase them (and one entire chapter defending and justifying male sex crimes against women) from the book. It really disturbed me.
I liked the intent of this book—to expose the legal system for what it really is—but the execution did not work for me. However, I think aspiring lawyers or anyone interested in how the law really works might enjoy this memoir.
November 5, 2024
True Life: I'm in love with an author who doesn't know I exist
If you're here because you're a fan of Anna's novels: To get the absolute most out of this, I'd suggest finishing all 3 (, and ) before starting this.
If you're here because you wanted a behind the scenes look at the BS that is our courts system and the "study of law" (no shade to the good lawyers out there, you'll get where I'm coming from if/when you read this), you're also in the right place because JEEESUS my eyes have been opened.
Additionally, I've decided you aren't allowed to talk shit about Anna or her books unless & until you've also read this book (at which point you'll either realize she's genius or you might just suck (hehe jk (but kinda not)).
Back 11/5/24 to add: Guys, she does know I exist now. There might be a god.
If you're here because you're a fan of Anna's novels: To get the absolute most out of this, I'd suggest finishing all 3 (, and ) before starting this.
If you're here because you wanted a behind the scenes look at the BS that is our courts system and the "study of law" (no shade to the good lawyers out there, you'll get where I'm coming from if/when you read this), you're also in the right place because JEEESUS my eyes have been opened.
Additionally, I've decided you aren't allowed to talk shit about Anna or her books unless & until you've also read this book (at which point you'll either realize she's genius or you might just suck (hehe jk (but kinda not)).
Back 11/5/24 to add: Guys, she does know I exist now. There might be a god.
January 24, 2021
I was sent BAD LAWYER by Hachette Books as part of their #HBSocialClub!
Anna Dorn shares her time in law school and the few years after when she casually practiced law throughout this short memoir. As the title hints, she wasn’t the most skilled or interested lawyer- her sights set instead on launching her writing career. This is where the two meet.
I had a Bad Lawyer this past year. Lawyers to me are like capital A Adults and I trusted that this person would handle my case effectively and professionally. Instead, they strung me along for the better part of a year - frankly forgetting my case and failing to remedy the situation when I finally questioned it. I wouldn’t be surprised if I looked back and Anna Dorn was my lawyer in disguise.
Dorn shares how she skated by in law school at Berkeley, mostly skimming material and relying on her natural organizational skills to drive her through the rest. It was pretty illuminating and a story about law and lawyers that you don’t really see - but, of course there are bad ones, right? Of course not all lawyers are like those we see on TV (and hey, even a good lot of them are also problematic).
I couldn’t quite connect with the cadence of Dorn’s tale. The book starts out light hearted and fun, I wanted to love and hang out with this stoner law student on a journey of coming out and figuring her way into the world. But, as the book went on, Dorn boldly puts a finger on her privilege then shrugs it off. Wants to work hard for underprivileged clients but then shrugs when it doesn’t really happen. Complains about the law and it’s racism, sexism and various other disparities but shrugs because she gets a LOT of creative writing done at work.
The last couple of chapters feel different in tone and highlight facts and disparities that make one feel like she’s really putting her foot down on the LAW, but really these are essays she wrote while approaching publishing the book. The rest that was back filled was mostly us being convinced how flippant she was about the whole process and how being a lawyer was, like, totally not for her.
I’d love to hear others perspective on her story. While the book isn’t published until May, I have this ARC to pass on to anyone who might be interested. Share the story with a lawyer in your life and see their reaction. It’ll be a funny little experiment, just like playing with the law was to Anna Dorn.
Anna Dorn shares her time in law school and the few years after when she casually practiced law throughout this short memoir. As the title hints, she wasn’t the most skilled or interested lawyer- her sights set instead on launching her writing career. This is where the two meet.
I had a Bad Lawyer this past year. Lawyers to me are like capital A Adults and I trusted that this person would handle my case effectively and professionally. Instead, they strung me along for the better part of a year - frankly forgetting my case and failing to remedy the situation when I finally questioned it. I wouldn’t be surprised if I looked back and Anna Dorn was my lawyer in disguise.
Dorn shares how she skated by in law school at Berkeley, mostly skimming material and relying on her natural organizational skills to drive her through the rest. It was pretty illuminating and a story about law and lawyers that you don’t really see - but, of course there are bad ones, right? Of course not all lawyers are like those we see on TV (and hey, even a good lot of them are also problematic).
I couldn’t quite connect with the cadence of Dorn’s tale. The book starts out light hearted and fun, I wanted to love and hang out with this stoner law student on a journey of coming out and figuring her way into the world. But, as the book went on, Dorn boldly puts a finger on her privilege then shrugs it off. Wants to work hard for underprivileged clients but then shrugs when it doesn’t really happen. Complains about the law and it’s racism, sexism and various other disparities but shrugs because she gets a LOT of creative writing done at work.
The last couple of chapters feel different in tone and highlight facts and disparities that make one feel like she’s really putting her foot down on the LAW, but really these are essays she wrote while approaching publishing the book. The rest that was back filled was mostly us being convinced how flippant she was about the whole process and how being a lawyer was, like, totally not for her.
I’d love to hear others perspective on her story. While the book isn’t published until May, I have this ARC to pass on to anyone who might be interested. Share the story with a lawyer in your life and see their reaction. It’ll be a funny little experiment, just like playing with the law was to Anna Dorn.
March 15, 2021
Thank you to ŷ Giveaway for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
As a Paralegal myself I really wanted to love this book. However, I end up with mixed feelings. There are parts I loved and then very dull parts.
The Good: I absolutely loved Anna's realization of just how unjust the legal system is especially using the comparison of how a white woman is treated with DUI charge. I also really loved her time working in the Superior Court and the crazy anecdotes and behaviors of her co-workers. The Rihanna joke was hilarious! Her views on how women lawyers are forced to dress/behave/prove themselves are also spot on.
The Bad: The book seemed very disjointed and all over the place. I could have done without the tediously boring case law and sample assignments she shared regarding her time at law school. Also at times her privilege and slacker behavior made me roll my eyes in frustration especially considering how hard some people work just to be able to attend college (both academically and financially).
In the end, the book was just okay. However, I will pass it along to all of my friends who are lawyers as there are some very funny stories within the book.
As a Paralegal myself I really wanted to love this book. However, I end up with mixed feelings. There are parts I loved and then very dull parts.
The Good: I absolutely loved Anna's realization of just how unjust the legal system is especially using the comparison of how a white woman is treated with DUI charge. I also really loved her time working in the Superior Court and the crazy anecdotes and behaviors of her co-workers. The Rihanna joke was hilarious! Her views on how women lawyers are forced to dress/behave/prove themselves are also spot on.
The Bad: The book seemed very disjointed and all over the place. I could have done without the tediously boring case law and sample assignments she shared regarding her time at law school. Also at times her privilege and slacker behavior made me roll my eyes in frustration especially considering how hard some people work just to be able to attend college (both academically and financially).
In the end, the book was just okay. However, I will pass it along to all of my friends who are lawyers as there are some very funny stories within the book.
November 3, 2021
3.5/5 ⭐️: In this memoir, Anna Dorn discusses her life as a lawyer–going to law school and working in CA and D.C., and also her life outside of law school after passing the Bar and looking for jobs. I expected to find my experience in law school incredibly relatable to Anna but I really did not at all. Anna did not find law school super challenging and referred to it as "cushy." I do not think I could ever describe it like that. On the other hand, I really enjoyed reading about someone else's experience in law school and being able to relate (partially) to her stress about exams, fear about the future, and behaviors of her classmates. In the last few chapters, Anna talks more about juvenile crime and shares some anecdotes of cases she has worked on. Some reviewers did not like this, but I did, probably because I had a general idea of what she was talking about compared to a reader who did not attend law school. I have mixed feelings about Chapter 15, but otherwise, I thought this was an interesting book and would recommend to law school friends curious about how other people do law school.
March 31, 2021
Bad Lawyer is a telling of what someone perceives to be unsexy about their craft. Dorn does this in a relatable, insightful, and often slyly crude way. It makes for a laugh out loud experience, albeit one that does force you to look at how flawed the legal system is regarding race, gender, and other factors.
I breezed through this book thinking the entire time about how stuck we often are in positions we have because it’s convenient or because we’re told to. It’s clear Dorn was in that position and many of us are or have been in our own lives.
Dorn is outstanding in her truth telling and her candor. I wouldn’t rate this as I did if I didn’t love so much about her story. I hope it’s as insightful as I believed it was for you. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your calling too?
I breezed through this book thinking the entire time about how stuck we often are in positions we have because it’s convenient or because we’re told to. It’s clear Dorn was in that position and many of us are or have been in our own lives.
Dorn is outstanding in her truth telling and her candor. I wouldn’t rate this as I did if I didn’t love so much about her story. I hope it’s as insightful as I believed it was for you. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your calling too?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2021
I was so annoyed that Dorn got to go to law school for fun that I put the book down for a few months. Having student loans and making education decisions based on how much money I'll owe has left a sour taste in my mouth. However, I did go back and read the book (it's not her fault someone else financed her education).
I learned a lot about law school and the legal system. Much of it I've read before. I found the parts where she was working as an appellate lawyer and for the foundation the most illuminating. Her personal experiences and her professional practices were slightly shocking. I kept thinking of all the money that goes into paying lawyers.
The end was a quick prescient overview of what was to come.
I learned a lot about law school and the legal system. Much of it I've read before. I found the parts where she was working as an appellate lawyer and for the foundation the most illuminating. Her personal experiences and her professional practices were slightly shocking. I kept thinking of all the money that goes into paying lawyers.
The end was a quick prescient overview of what was to come.
August 7, 2023
DNF @ pg. 190.
Though I enjoyed the writing style for the memoir, I could not tolerate the privilege that oozed from the writer. Undergrad & law school paid for by family all for a profession she didn’t want to get into in the first place. She has constant need to want to feel like a minority and it’s invalidating to intersectional identities.
At one point, she said it was exciting to feel hate-crimed as a lesbian as if the trauma and struggles of minorities, let alone queer people of color are something to be glamorized by white people.
In the end, I’m sad and angry because I thought that I’d enjoy this book more. Maybe I’m just bitter that I don’t come from a wealthy multi-generation lawyer family who paid for everything.
Though I enjoyed the writing style for the memoir, I could not tolerate the privilege that oozed from the writer. Undergrad & law school paid for by family all for a profession she didn’t want to get into in the first place. She has constant need to want to feel like a minority and it’s invalidating to intersectional identities.
At one point, she said it was exciting to feel hate-crimed as a lesbian as if the trauma and struggles of minorities, let alone queer people of color are something to be glamorized by white people.
In the end, I’m sad and angry because I thought that I’d enjoy this book more. Maybe I’m just bitter that I don’t come from a wealthy multi-generation lawyer family who paid for everything.
April 3, 2021
I received an advanced copy from Hachette books a while back and only now got around to it and I loved it! As a former lawyer myself, having gone to law school, practiced it for two short years, and then escaped that world, this book resonated with me in every way. Reading Anna's accounts was like being back in that world, sitting with a friend trying to make sense of whatever it was we got ourselves into. Her book is honest, brutally honest in some parts, but in the best possible way. The only way I can describe it is a "fun read about the inside world of lawyers that will make you hate the legal system even more!".
January 18, 2022
The author makes some good points about law school and law practice, but the style is so casual (and riddled with declarations that she hated what she was doing) that I found myself disinterested. The writing style reminds me of Refinery21 even when she is discussing very legitimate complaints about the criminal justice system. This might make the topic more approachable to those not in the legal field, but it is not enjoyable for me. At least it isn’t another book railing against how big corporate firms are prejudiced and sexist and expect crazy hours (of course they do, they are paying you insanely for your time).
February 11, 2025
Went into this already knowing the legal system in the US is extremely flawed, and came out with the depressing realization that it is even worse than I thought. Dorn describes law as “A universe where things are this way because they’ve been this way, with insufficient awareness of how f***ing problematic that rationale is in a country like the United States, where things have been this way mostly because of racism and sexism and classism, among many other bad -isms.�
Dorn describes the many instances in which she encountered these myriad “bad -isms� while at law school and as a practicing lawyer, while also acknowledging her own privilege as a wealthy white woman in this harmful system. While the concluding sections on her personal journey from lawyer to writer could have been more fleshed out, I appreciated Dorn’s honesty regarding her own thoughts and motivations, and use of humor and pop culture references to critique our deeply flawed legal system.
Dorn describes the many instances in which she encountered these myriad “bad -isms� while at law school and as a practicing lawyer, while also acknowledging her own privilege as a wealthy white woman in this harmful system. While the concluding sections on her personal journey from lawyer to writer could have been more fleshed out, I appreciated Dorn’s honesty regarding her own thoughts and motivations, and use of humor and pop culture references to critique our deeply flawed legal system.
April 22, 2022
This book got to the point where I needed to finish because it was so short but I wasn't really compelled to. The author is not very likeable and I don't think she cares. The legal stories were interesting.
May 1, 2021
I was looking forward to reading this book. Unfortunately, however, I quickly realized it was not for me. Little in the writer's experiences as a lawyer or in law school seemed realistic, and the tone of the book was off-putting. Occasionally there were moments of humor, but the book as a whole was disjointed and hard to get through.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a galley of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a galley of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Read
September 7, 2024This was a pretty good memoir and it was a funny memoir to read as another late-in-life lesbian lawyer with clinical depression who understands how fundamentally flawed the legal system is. I’m kind of the exact target audience for this book. I have some opinions about whether it was wise to disclose some of the things she did in this book but honestly I will keep them to myself. This book also kind of made me want to do criminal defense which is funny because that was definitely not her intention.
January 9, 2023
This is the realest book about law and the practice of law I have ever read. This book really took away all the glamour of practicing the law that I thought was true before I started working in law firms. Also, Dorn highlighted how broken the system is. Like she did, I am going into law school trying to help people and fix this system. Many of the things she revealed in this book I have discovered through experience, so it wasn’t shocking. This book is relatable, charming, and important work.
May 9, 2021
The parts about the justice system in the 2nd half were a lot more interesting than Anna's time at law school. Definitely an interesting read for folks who work in any capacity with lawyers or the justice system in general.
September 18, 2021
DNF at chapter 15, where the author does precisely what she rallies against - uses a “good man� (Tao Lin?) to make her “whole� by inspiring her to write this boring book. Writing style (one sentence as a paragraph) is YA.
December 21, 2024
It was good but honestly I feel like I am way too similar to the protagonist and everything inside this book was already in my brain in a way.
January 22, 2025
Anna Dorn…pls come watch real housewives with me and be my friend.
March 8, 2025
Anna Dorn is an icon
August 24, 2024
enjoyed perfume & pain so much i had to check out more of her work, and mostly have three thoughts: a) anna dorn writes autofiction, haha, b) her prose has improved a lot since this was published, and c) maybe memoirs are just� not for me. decent but no gasp effect.
April 9, 2022
Obnoxious
May 17, 2021
A brilliant and engaging memoir from a former criminal defense lawyer
I was looking forward to this book when I first read about it. It did not disappoint. To begin with, Anna Dorn is an excellent, engaging, unpretentious writer. And, as a self-confessed introvert, her self-analysis spills onto the page in an very absorbing way. Finally, she has a sharp sense of humor. I finished the book in a day.
She very effectively skewers the legal system (where I have toiled for the past 36 years), and the boringness of Old White Guys (Hey! I AM one!). She is so right about so many things. I work on the civil side (I mostly sue insurance companies on denied claims for coverage), but the fact that the system only really works for the monied class is equally obvious and shameful. If you don’t have money, or access to it, going to court can be a disaster. She fought with Government on behalf of indigent clients. I fight with insurance companies for clients whose houses have burned down (for example). It’s highly frustrating.
She also caused me to re-live my unhappy law school days. I made some good friends there, but law school is basically ridiculous. They should call it law professor school. It’s crushingly expensive and teaches very few real-world skills.
The only thing that saved me from continued professional unhappiness was starting my own firm in 1995 so I could do things my way and get away from the stifling atmosphere of Big Law. At one point in the book, the flirts with that idea. But I’m glad she didn’t do it, because her calling is as a writer, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
I felt badly for her through a lot of the book. She seemed miserable (as many lawyers are). But now that she’s doing what she likes (writing for a living), the book ended on an upbeat note.
I highly recommend this book.
I was looking forward to this book when I first read about it. It did not disappoint. To begin with, Anna Dorn is an excellent, engaging, unpretentious writer. And, as a self-confessed introvert, her self-analysis spills onto the page in an very absorbing way. Finally, she has a sharp sense of humor. I finished the book in a day.
She very effectively skewers the legal system (where I have toiled for the past 36 years), and the boringness of Old White Guys (Hey! I AM one!). She is so right about so many things. I work on the civil side (I mostly sue insurance companies on denied claims for coverage), but the fact that the system only really works for the monied class is equally obvious and shameful. If you don’t have money, or access to it, going to court can be a disaster. She fought with Government on behalf of indigent clients. I fight with insurance companies for clients whose houses have burned down (for example). It’s highly frustrating.
She also caused me to re-live my unhappy law school days. I made some good friends there, but law school is basically ridiculous. They should call it law professor school. It’s crushingly expensive and teaches very few real-world skills.
The only thing that saved me from continued professional unhappiness was starting my own firm in 1995 so I could do things my way and get away from the stifling atmosphere of Big Law. At one point in the book, the flirts with that idea. But I’m glad she didn’t do it, because her calling is as a writer, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
I felt badly for her through a lot of the book. She seemed miserable (as many lawyers are). But now that she’s doing what she likes (writing for a living), the book ended on an upbeat note.
I highly recommend this book.
April 1, 2021
I was drawn to this book because of the title. I was raised by a lawyer and now I'm married to a lawyer. I experienced law school as the child of and then the wife of a law student. I expected a book of some anecdotes, realizations and truths about law school and the legal system. But what I read was a frivolous account of privilege and sweeping generalizations. While I appreciate that Anna does bring attention to the injustices of our legal system and makes efforts to recognize her own white privilege, she cancels out any progress made with her complete lack of awareness and efforts to justify her laziness and apathy for the legal field. I could appreciate this memoir more if it focused only on her experiences and perspective but instead she makes broad assumptions and statements about a system that, yes is very flawed, but does not recognize that the system also includes passionate, driven and committed lawyers and judges who see the law as their life's calling to "change the world" not just a way to pass the time or fulfill a privileged family legacy.
Thank you to @bibliolifestyle and @hachettebooks for this ARC. Bad Lawyer is available May 4.
Thank you to @bibliolifestyle and @hachettebooks for this ARC. Bad Lawyer is available May 4.
April 8, 2021
As a lawyer myself (albeit one who genuinely loves being a lawyer!), I was particularly excited to receive an ARC copy of “Bad Lawyer� by Anna Dorn. Unfortunately, I thought this memoir was a mediocre read overall. In particular, Dorn’s account of her law school experience felt a little overprivileged, boastful and frankly unrelateable (e.g. my law school experience was by no means “cushy� - it was hard work!). While I appreciated Dorn’s at times subversive insights into the flaws of the justice system, legal profession and its constituents, I felt that some of her comments (particularly about lawyers and judges) were sweeping generalizations, comedic exaggerations or uncomfortably gossipy. That said, I kept reading all the way to the end because I did enjoy Dorn’s writing style - law may not have been for Dorn but it seems like writing is! She published a novel last year (Vagablonde) and I may add it to my "to be read" list.
Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Books for this ARC copy of “Bad Lawyer� - this book comes out on May 4, 2021.
Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Books for this ARC copy of “Bad Lawyer� - this book comes out on May 4, 2021.
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