Generationally Challenged

Hat tip to Susan Cartier Liebel's Build A Solo Practice blog for reference to a 60 Minutes episode on the "millennial" generation. I have to admit, this is the first I've heard of the millennial generation and so the first thing I wanted was a straight-forward definition. But that wasn't so easy to come by. I found that the period of birth for the millennial generation varied depending on the source: 1977 to 1995, 1977 to 1998, 1980 to 2000. Even though there seems to be some uncertainty about the birth date of those in the millennial generation, one thing is strikingly obvious - the 18 to 20 year age range! I find this to be too large of a range, just based on my experiences in the workplace.

Moving on to what in the world is the millennial generation, it gets even worse! There are several great video clips from the 60 Minutes episode. As I watched them, I was reminded of a woman I interviewed a few months ago. She was approximately 24 years old, which puts her in the millennial generation. She had been in the waiting room for about 5 minutes and when I went to get her, she was on her cell phone. As if that wasn't bad enough, she continued her conversation as we walked down the hallway into my office. When she sat down, she half-heartedly apologized for being on the phone and then asked if phone calls during work hours were a problem! Mind you, we hadn't even began the interview! I restrained myself and didn't send her packing right then and there but I knew then that I wasn't interested in her. At the end of the interview, I asked if she had any questions for me and she asked how much longer the interview was going to take because she had dinner plans! There is a great part of the 60 Minutes clip with a similar situation between a judge and a "young lawyer".

I'm 26 and I'm constantly appalled at the work ethic of those just slightly younger than myself. Perhaps it's because they don't see themselves as adult. Jeffrey Zaslow of Wall Street Journal references in one of the video clips a survey which states that most young adults feel that "adulthood" starts at the age of 26. At 26, I've owned a home for 5 years and provided for all of my basic necessities that go along with independence. To hear that people believe this is the age where adulthood starts is just bewildering.

I've worried in the past about what my classmates in law school will be like. I consider myself a non-traditional student (see my profile for a very brief synopsis). I have visions of being (on the verge on 30 years old) surrounded by 22-23 year olds who've never worked, are more concerned updating their facebook page than understanding the felony murder rule and are just generally immature. I worry that this generation, whatever the birth dates may be, will take for granted the opportunity of law school. Selfishly, I also worry that the school will be devoid of in-depth discussion... but I suppose I should save these concerns for another day.