Broken Contract: A Memoir of Harvard Law School

by Richard D. Kahlenberg

Book Overview

In 1986, 70 percent of the first-year class of Harvard Law School wanted to pursue careers in public-interest law. Ten years later, the same percentage of this class was pursuing careers in private... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0571198074
• ISBN13: 9780571198078
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Faber & Faber
• Length: 238 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Inspiring and thought-provoking!

Broken Contract is the chronicle of Richard Kahlenberg's struggle to justify his classical liberal ideals with the harsh reality of law school: most entering law students have a desire to use the privilege of an education in the law to help the poor and downtrodden of society, "but upon graduating, the vast majority [scramble] to fill the ranks of the nation's top corporate law firms" (from the front flap). Through the framework of his struggle with these powerful opposing forces, Kahlenberg presents us with a fascinating look at Harvard Law School, its culture and the nature of the law education of the late 1980s. He paints a portrait of everyday life as a law student, scrambling for Law Review positions, summer internships, judicial clerkships and ultimately, for a job after graduation.As Kahlenberg searches for a job and dogmatically asks each interviewer about the firm's pro bono work (he is interested in little more), he occasionally comes across as an elitist; his sense of noblesse oblige is mildly nauseating. Throughout the book, Kahlenberg operates on the assumption that class-action lawsuits are morally right, that cases brought by poor people are just, that all big corporations are evil, that people have to sell-out to earn big salaries and that "conservatives" are willing to do anything to guarantee the rights of the rich.However, don't let these relatively small negative aspects of the book deter you from reading it, even if you identify yourself as a conservative. His larger point is this: "since each of us struggles daily with good and bad impulses, we might want to restructure our social institutions in order to make it a little easier to do good" (235). This book does not target a certain ideology, except perhaps greed. Kahlenberg does not pull any punches and the targets of his criticisms span the ideological spectrum (although he does let a few more land on the right side of the spectrum).Broken Contract rates a full four and a half stars. Broken Contract challenged me to think critically about my motivations for attending law school and broadened my perspective on life in general and on the legal community in particular.

pretty good with lots of info

yes, at times, the author does come across as elitist, but at least he tried really hard to get postions in public interest and gov't..although i agree that some gov't positions are just as self-serving, his actions do indicate a committment to public service..after all, he gave up a very high paying corporate job for a low paying gov't one..if he was so fake, he wouold have sold out like other so-called liberals had. Of course, if you are into corporate law, this book will not be compelling..would a book about Malcom X be moving for a Nazi?? Anyway, the book is very emotional and provides a lot of insider info about Harvard Law. Although things have become easier for public service minded law students, this book still is helpful

Scott Turow-> the upfront version

This book is definately more realistic than Scott Turow (whom I do love his book too). It's definately recommended for the liberal at heart which is why some peeps don't rate this book high. This book is excellent b/c it brings into light the false idea of going to Harvard to do public service. I'm sorry but if you want public service and have some ivy at the same time goto Yale. Ok... I'm a bit biased... this author is my Latin teacher from high school's son... but I couldn't understand the low ratings... this book is more for public interest students who wish to enter an ivy leage school more than a student who wants the law school experience (although it's pretty funny to compare the differences with Mr. Turow's novel).

Great food of thought!

I'm a law student in Taiwan. I read this book in its Chinese version and this book reveals to me the mental transformation of a law student in the American's top law school.The function of Harvard law school,the holyland a law student might dream of, through its 3 years' top educational resources and first class faculty, is to make a liberal-mind student to be a cold-blood wealth searching lawyer.How terrible it has been and what's wrong with the legal education?And Harvard just represents all of this.Don't doubt that I am an anti-Harvardist, I also dream that one day I could be accepted in this school which is situated on the top of hierarchy....The author wrote this book in a sence of irony and humor.But the truth is so horrible. I think that all who is dedicated himself or herself in this field could think twice about what you are doing now.

excellent analysis

It is not just a matter of being "PC" to care about things greater than yourself. Of course, that kind of attitude is relatively harder to develop than the self-serving ethos of today's modern American society. But dismissing a caring attitude towards the world serves the egos of the ones who do not care. These people need to look at the history of their society and the world and see how much they benefit from the actions of the "radicals".