Notifications
Clear all
Topic starter
Hello all:
I've been reading the posts all day and must say this seems like a nice group of people.
I'm sorry if I am boring anyone with another attorney post but I must. I am a 30 year old corporate attorney, working at a large new york firm. I specialize in mortgage backed security work at the moment. My fiance and I want to relocate to one of the islands. We visited St John and fell in love with it. At this point we decided we needed to leave the rat race in New York as there is little free time left over to spend with each other due to work demands.
We hope to buy a home after we sell her house within 12-18 months. I am taking the VI bar in July and would like to refocus my practice area on real estate (translation: I would be willing to go in as a first year attorney in almost any practice area, save personal injury litigation or criminal law, I just don't think I am suited for that work). I'd appreciate any advice any of you have to offer regarding how hard it is to start a solo practice or even finding an associate position at small firm.
I've been a construction worker and a bartender so I have no qualms about accepting non-legal work at first but I would love to attain the dream of developing my career as an attorney in the USVI. It also seems to be the place where one could actually becomed involved in the community and give back to it.
Thanks for taking the time to read this rambling statement. Best to all.
Posted : April 7, 2004 5:39 pm
We should all try and follow our dreams, but you need to be realistic.
The number of real estate closing in the VI is realitively small. I'm sure if your search this site or some of the on line realtors in the VI you can find the actual number. I know during the summer on St Croix some months there are less than twenty closings. Divide this by the number of attorneys listed in the yellow pages and the pieces of the pie are small.
Jim
Posted : April 7, 2004 6:41 pm
I have a home on a different island (not in the USVI) and admittedly am not an attorney but I have to agree with Jim. On my island there's just not enough real estate activity to justify limiting your practice to that one area. Most of the attorneys on my island that I know are engaged in General Practice law and handle a combination of civil, immigration, corporate, probate, wills and non-capital criminal defense matters (they also do off-shore trusts and banking law but I don't think there's much call for that in the VI). I hope this helps put things in perspective.
Posted : April 7, 2004 7:14 pm
Topic starter
Thank you both for your advice and response time. I appreciate it greatly.
Posted : April 7, 2004 7:30 pm
I went to law school before I realized it was the most boring and horrible job on earth. I also live in New York, which is the most awful and dreary city on earth. I sense a pattern here.
Posted : April 8, 2004 4:52 am
Smitty -A frequent poster here, Onik'a is a VI atty, you need to talk to her. Look her up by doing a search, she will give you the skinny.
PH
Posted : April 8, 2004 8:49 am
Topic starter
So we're in the same boat then?
Posted : April 8, 2004 11:36 am
Topic starter
Thanks PH. Do I e-mail her directly or is that bad manners?
Posted : April 8, 2004 11:36 am
Smitty,
Feel free to email me with any questions you may have and I will endeavour to respond ASAP. Just click on my user name.
Posted : April 8, 2004 12:57 pm
