Can I be a lawyer in the States even if I have an accent?

Stan   Fri Feb 24, 2006 4:31 am GMT
<< Uriel, you seem to be a very rational man. >>

Is Uriel a man? - I always thought that was a lady's name, or am I missing something?
Johnathan Mark   Fri Feb 24, 2006 4:36 am GMT
The only Uriel I know of (other than my esteemed co-antimooner) is an archangel, which are traditionally thought of as male (although I s'pose angels are actually genderless).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uriel
Boy   Fri Feb 24, 2006 4:44 am GMT
She is a woman with a charming face. I can vouch for that as I had seen her picture on another language website. Anything else to contribute to the discussion as I am quite enjoying reading it. It's a very important topic as I had been told by an American girl that my heavy accent wouldn't be comprehensible to the majority of Americans. I think this is the reason why there are so many American Accent Tranining books and cousrses available. Americans have a hard time in understanding foreign accents because they are exposed to only one standard form of language that is how natives speak. This is what Ann Cook wrote in her book.
Uriel   Fri Feb 24, 2006 4:47 am GMT
Yeah, well, I'M a chick. ;)

Lawyers are often specialists, and a very large percentage of them are not trial lawyers at all, but tax lawyers, contract lawyers, divorce lawyers, consultants to various types of businesses, etc. Many become judges. A fair number go into politics, where the voters of California have proven that a heavy accent won't keep you from getting popularly elected. So juries are not the final arbitrators of who gets to become a successful lawyer. Many in the law profession will have nothing to do with criminal prosecution during their entire careers.
Stan   Fri Feb 24, 2006 4:50 am GMT
Now, this is becoming very strange, I could have sworn that she (or he) was a she, I once refered to him (or her) as "she." I wish someone would clearify this for me very soon, I found Urial (or Uriel) on the masculine section of a "names database" but....................get out of town! - you're kidding right?, this is to be very shocking...if its true I always thought that..............no way!! - I still don't believe it.
Stan   Fri Feb 24, 2006 4:51 am GMT
great, I'm right...she is a LADY!!.
Johnathan Mark   Fri Feb 24, 2006 4:59 am GMT
Well, then, Uriel, you are a very rational woman. No offense intended.

"Lawyers are often specialists, and a very large percentage of them are not trial lawyers at all, but tax lawyers, contract lawyers, divorce lawyers, consultants to various types of businesses, etc."

If you read my original message, I said that difficulties may arise in trial law, and then wanted on to say that Sergei could have success in other areas of law. And I don't want to say that Sergei can't be a successful trial lawyer, even, but I just thought that his accent would cause a potential obstacle in that area.

I can see you like to argue as much as I do, Uriel. Are you a lawyer yourself?

Boy, Americans are actually exposed to and can understand many different accents, from Latino to British, to even our own regional variations. I understand your difficulty in pronouncing English, however--I can't even imagine the difficulties I'd have trying to learn Chinese.
Uriel   Fri Feb 24, 2006 6:01 am GMT
Hell, no, I'm not a lawyer. It's just late and I'm cranky.
Damian in Edinburgh   Fri Feb 24, 2006 12:05 pm GMT
Sorry, Tiffany, if I misread your post. I just thought it a wee bit improbable that Americans generally would be "suspicious" of and "uncomfortable" with people "perceived as strangers" and who had unfamiliar accents. Maybe in the hillbilly backwoods, but I don't for one moments believe it is widespread over there.

Accents are a very dodgy business when it comes to getting suitable employment, especially in professional positions, and of course a bias exists here in the UK with our multiplicity of regional accents. It's a fact that if you have a thick regional accent, and use colloquialisms in your private life, you really have to tone them down when at work. There is definitely a prejudice against some regional accents over here, and people in some areas of the country admit that they are turned off when speaking to people with a stong regional accent from elsewhere in the country. Some accents are more unpopular than others, as we have previously discussed at length in this Forum. You just have to draw a line between your businessspeak and your leisurespeak if you do not wish to eradicate your regional accent altogether........tone the first one down when at work then let rip full blast if you want when with your mates. Sounds weird, but that's the way it flows in this weird and boring country. :-)
Damian in Edinburgh   Fri Feb 24, 2006 12:08 pm GMT
***Yeah, well, I'M a chick. ;)***

Och aye! and a slick one at that..... ;)
Southern boy   Fri Feb 24, 2006 6:14 pm GMT
Can I be a lawyer/liar in the States even if I have an accent?

lawyer = liar
[same pronunciation]
Tiffany   Fri Feb 24, 2006 7:14 pm GMT
<<lawyer = liar
[same pronunciation]>>

Not where I'm from....

<<I just thought it a wee bit improbable that Americans generally would be "suspicious" of and "uncomfortable" with people "perceived as strangers" and who had unfamiliar accents.>>

It is Damian :) I can't speak for all people, but hearing an accent does not faze me. I hear more foreign accents on a daily basis than accents from the US. For example, I rarely hear the "Southern accent" but I am exposed daily to the Mexican and Indian accent. Not to mention the Italian and Romanian accents (husband and his close colleagues). I'm not suspicious or uncomfortable around any of these people. I won't rule out that some sheltered people may be though - in any country.
Travis   Fri Feb 24, 2006 7:18 pm GMT
>><<lawyer = liar
[same pronunciation]>>

Not where I'm from....<<

At least here in southeastern Wisconsin, those are not homophones either, "lawyer" being ["Lo:I@`] and "liar" being ["La:I@`].
Guest   Fri Feb 24, 2006 9:18 pm GMT
well, in USA, you can be president and being stupid, so yes you can be a lawyer.
Guest   Fri Feb 24, 2006 9:19 pm GMT
<<lawyer = liar
[same pronunciation]>>

Really? Strange place you must be from.