[1vuio0pswjnm7]

Same could be said for software developers.

While I am aware of the audience here, I'm not trolling. There is a remarkable similarity between the "helplessness/vulnerability", for lack of a better term, of clients using a lawyer and the helplessness/vulnerability of users in using software authored by someone else (not to mention clients who hire software developers to write software for them). In each case, the client/user is required to trust the lawyer/developer.

One key difference is an issue sometimes discussed on HN:- there's no licensing requirement for developers. Lawyers have to be licensed, and the licensing requirements include ethical obligations, violations of which can result in losing one's license. While this system in practice may have some shortcomings, software developers do not have anything equivalent. There are states in the US where lawyers are disbarred every month, but I am not aware of any software developer who has been banned by a regulatory body from writing software for use by others.

Both lawyers and developers are probably subject to negative stigmas as as a result of the "bad apples". Not all are unethical.

[codesections]

> Same could be said for software developers.

I am licensed attorney and a full-time software developer and I agree 100% - there are remarkable similarities.

(And there are strong parallels between big tech and biglaw, especially for junior devs/associates, but that's a bit of a tangent)

[blaser-waffle]

> (And there are strong parallels between big tech and biglaw, especially for junior devs/associates, but that's a bit of a tangent)

Are there parallels? I mean to some degree all large, well paying orgs are going to have similarities, but a plucky undergrad coming out of CalTech will get $130k+ at a FAANGM or orgs that pay roughly in that continuum, and be able to jump to all sorts of other options, while most newly minted lawyers are looking at average salaries of $70-$80k USD while having huge law school debt on top of undergrad debt. This means ruthless wageslavery at BigLaw until you make partner or you pay off enough of that debt to walk.

As a dude with a PoliSci degree and a minor in IT, I did a good hard look at the cost benefits when I graduated... and went IT. As the bad tattoo says: "no regurts".

[bdowling]

> average salaries of $70-$80k USD

> ruthless wageslavery at BigLaw

Big law associates start at $190k, straight out of law school. Big law associates are, however, the top graduates from the top law schools. Most new law graduates don’t make that much, just like most new CS grads don’t make FAANG starting salaries.

[codesections]

> Big law associates start at $190k, straight out of law school.

Yeah, that was the sort of BigLaw I was comparing to big tech in the grandparent.

[bdowling]

Yeah, I just wouldn't call $190k "ruthless wageslavery at BigLaw".