Murray H. Shusterman was profiled in The Law Society Gazette article, "My Legal Life: Murray H. Shusterman." Full text can be found in the September 1, 2014, issue, but a synopsis is below.
The culture of the people among whom my parents travelled dictated that sons had to pursue a profession, either medicine or law. A lawyer was a Jewish boy who couldn't stand the sight of blood – otherwise he would have been a doctor, the more respected profession. I was the youngest of four children and I learned to become effective by arguing for my "rights." Both in high school and in college I was on the debating teams. Incidentally, I must confess that even as a young man I couldn't stand the sight of blood.
I graduated from Temple University Law School in 1936 – at the height of the Depression. At that time one had to serve as an intern in a lawyer's office for six months before one could be sworn in as a practicing lawyer. Although I graduated with honors, I found it impossible to find a paying job, and through a relative I got an internship with a lawyer for six months – at no pay. My employer had a limited practice and I learned mostly by filing documents in court and serving as a "gofer" buying cigars, cigarettes and lunch for my "boss."
Click here to view the full article.
Originally published by The Law Society Gazette.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
