Free but Regulated: Conflicting Traditions in Media Law - Daniel L. Brenner - Hardcover Book

What an enjoyable and timely read!

My brother suggested this book to me after meeting Kahlenberg's daughter at school. He was telling her about the need to convince his older brother, me, to avoid the corporate law path and stick to both his and my ideals of using a legal education for the public interest. She suggested to him that I take a look at 'Broken Contracts,' her father's memoir about his battle with the seemingly inextricable pull of big salaries, prestigious positions and corporate comfort that confront law students at every turn.

Kahlenberg denies trying to persuade or lure anyone into public service, but rather puts his experience forth to show the struggle that many law students face, and to assure them that they are not, or will not be, alone. From his first day of class to accepting his firth post-grad job, Kahlenberg does just that.

Condensing three years of legal education down to a readable 200 or so pages would be no easy feat. Nevertheless, 'Broken Contracts' is interesting, exciting and relevant the whole way through. Kahlenberg invites readers into each of his classes and, more importantly, into the numerous job fairs, lectures, presentations and club meetings that guide his, and many other law students' career decisions.

The issues that Kahlenberg faces are clearly trying and understandably confusing. How can a law professor who has never worked outside of a firm or academia preach the values of public service? How come the majority of law students speak of obtaining a legal education for use in the public sphere yet only three years later, almost all of them have committed to serving the interest of the corporate elites, taking a fat paycheck in exchange for meaningful work?

'Broken Contract' is a wonderfully honest picture of what to expect at law school and a primmer for the challenges that a student will face, not necessarily in the classroom but in the back of one's own mind!