The Beginning

Why a lawyer? I did not have a great childhood. Will write about it later if it comes up in this free thought blog.

In the 40s, I was in High School. I was a terrible student.  Didn’t think I would make graduation.  So, in 1944, I enlisted in the US Navy at age 17 with parental permission.  However, then the doctor discovered at my physical exam “what is that on your forehead?” I had to mention two fractured skulls.  Got one when I was 2, fell out of a two story building and later when I was sent to military school at the age of 10 because of supposed deportment behavior and cracked my head in the same spot trying to do a cut-away dive from the side of the swimming pool, the Navy said we don’t want you and  it looked like no early diploma, which you could get by enlisting early.

I still don’t know how I made it through High School, but miraculously graduated.

Didn’t take long to get a letter from the President of The United States ordering me to report for induction into The United States Army

While I was in  basic training the US A bombed Japan and the War was over.

I will say the Army straightened me up and made a man out of a kid.

I knew I would have to get an education if I wanted to make a living. An aptitude test was available to Vets, so I took it and ended up high in social work, teaching, law and arts and low in math and science.  So looking at the choices it looked like I would make the best living in Law, so Law it was.  I had no clue what it was.

On to Los Angeles City College to make up my High School grades.  The first taste of real learning and good grades.  We did not have counselors etc.  just had to figure out by ourselves.  Might add the G.I. Bill covered tuition, books and a small stipend   They treated Vets pretty good in the 40s.  1946 to be exact.

I only knew of two universities to choose from, USC and UCLA.  Both good schools and was accepted at both.  I chose UCLA for the wrong reason.  USC would allow me to come in with my same GPA from City College, but UCLA would start at zero gpa.  Thought that was better and selected the Bruins over the Trojans.

BTW you will probably note typing and spelling mistakes  Please bear with me as I am new at this and do not have spell check and don’t know how to go back without erasing and starting over.  So, when my granddaughters visit next weekend they will show me how.  Thanks.

Actually, for Law, USC was very good, and UCLA did not have a Law School until 1949, and required a BA degree.  Their loss of about 50 handpicked student scholars.  (My first partner was in that class, something I will go into later, and my tax lawyer was also in that UCLA class)

You could enroll in several accredited 3 year law schools in that day, USC, Loyola, University of California Hastings in San Francisco, University of San Francisco School of Law.  The only one requiring an examination was Loyola University School of Law in Los Angeles.  Took the exam, did not think I passed and enrolled in Hastings.  Learned by some miracle I did pass the Loyola exam and enrolled 1949.

Enough for one session, but I want to leave you with this thought,I am not sure it is a good idea for a young person, not fully matured to attend College right out of High School.  Many are prepared but many are still not mature enough to even know why they are going to college or why they are enrolled in some or study that is just wrong or them  A year hiatus would be good.  Work or a year or travel or go into the service for a couple of years and get you head straightened out.  Do you agree?

More to come

Marshall