Thanks i will look at the the web site. Where is the venables site?

I have looked up the CPS site as well i may look into that option if i can get called to the english bar.

I agree with you there are lots more important things than the square footage of your house or the size of your truck SUV. The more i think about it the more i think i want to go home. As you say though it had to be done just to find out.

regards,

Duncan

Sorry to hear you're having such a hard time Duncs. Don't give up mate. If you can get to Boston, you'll find that this problem will go away. I have lived in the North East for the last 12 years or so and have never experienced any religious pressure. Of course, you occasionally run into a nutter but for the most part it's ok.

I have to admit, I was a little scared with Effi's comment as I am looking to relocate to AZ in a few months. I hope we don’t run into these types of problems. I hate having religion crammed down my throat.

Whatever you do... good luck and I hope it gets better for you.

Duncs, please try Boston first. It's a world away from the South, and full of intelligent, professional, moderate and intellectual people. You may just find a completely different perspective in the North East. I spend time on opposite sides of the country and find the North East far more preferable in its attitudes and approach. You have such a great opportunity, and can always go home later, but try it first. I know you will succeed.

I was an atheist before I arrived and I am still one now. But I have spent a lot more time in church in the 7 plus months in America than I probably did in the last 7 years in the U.K. But most of my in laws are Lutherans(sp) which from what I have seen is a fairly easy going religion. Its never been forced down my throat, other than saying grace sometimes at dinner. My brother in law and his family are very close to their pastor and socialize with him and his family often. I've also met him a number of times and found him and his family very pleasent to be around. He even performed my wife and I's wedding. Fortunately, my wife prefers spending the weekends laying in, than going to church. So I guess I'm getting off lightly.

Duncs,

The website with the link is http://www.venables.co.uk/jobs.htm
Have a look at Bar Placements.

But before you do decide to go back, take a step back and make sure that it is not because you're fed up of the south. You can get a flight to Boston for the equivalent of about 200 pounds if you book a couple of weeks in advance (expedia.com) A drop in the ocean in terms of the bigger picture of where to spend the rest of your career. My advice, take a flight up there and check it out. A friend of my wife's uncle who is involved in the UK trade union movement in a directorial capacity went to Boston last year. He said it was just like london. Maybe just what you're looking for??

Duncs,
i sympathise with the kind of situation that you and your wife are in.
Perhaps you need to reconsider you position before making a radical move. the legal system ain the US is different to that in the UK. with your UK experience it will be easier to get a job in a company that has dealings with the UK/commonwealth. As far as legal, medical, etc jobs are concerned you will have to seek some form of re-training.

I dont think your unemployment is related to your ideology. unless you have stated in your resume that you are an aethist.

Gross 50 - you wrote:

"I don't think it is right for anyone to impose their views on others. "

but you also wrote:

"But you have to realise is that NO ONE is perfect, even the pope."

Do you not think you are in fact trying to impose your view on others if you say we "have to realise" etc?

Why must we realise that ? Because you say so?
Who are you to tell me what I should think?


Will you not concede that I have the right NOT to realise that the Pope is/is not perfect?

Many people do think the Pope is infallible?

Here we go again. A reasonable, intelligent thread and Jean steps in to pick a fight. "Will you concede..." this and "Who are you to tell me..." that - give me a break!

Duncs, I too sympathise with your position. I'm in Texas, where there are similar issues for an agnostic or atheist Brit.

I would just second all the remarks so far advising you to check out Boston first. It's really nothing like what you've experienced of America so far, and you should feel much more at home there.

Good luck!

Ah yes ----dbj1000 - you are the person who openly insulted me on this forum and called me a "nasty piece of work".

I remember you well - and will ignore you, as you deserve.

Your opinions are worth diddly squat.

...and I love you too, Jean, but we really must stop meeting like this!

Actually i know Boston very well and have been there lots of times. Its the most european feeling city in America in my experience. i used to be there around 2-3 times a year often for long stays. i also studied at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard a few years back so i have a pretty good idea of Boston, Cambridge, Newton etc. i always liked Boston which is why i applied to school up there this time.

I also know my place at Boston College is a great opportunity, its the 22nd highest ranked law school in the USA. 8000 applied for 260 places. Its John Kerrys alma mater after all so it may have a President to its name yet. Its one of the 1st tier of law schools (top 25) in the usa and in all likelihood i would be able to achieve a highly successful career as lawyer. Around 300,000 people take the Law Schools Admission test(LSAT) each year of those around 150,000 actually get into law school each year and only around 8-9000 get into a top 25 school thats only the top 6%. So i am aware that i am here 5 months and i am amongst the top 6% or so of american law students. i actually feel kinda guilty that i have a chance lots of american kids would kill for yet still i feel miserable.

I think the big problem is my wife has been told about a potential opportunity at the University of Mississippi. She is very unhappy at not finding a decent job after years of hard work and study and the U of Miss job could be a great start to the career she wants. She has no faith in her chance of a job in Boston and she doesnt want to have to do another crappy job while i finish school in Boston. So she wants to stay in Mississippi. she wants me to go to the U of Miss law school and get my law degree there instead (it is much cheaper). The problem is that its a tier 3 school around 90th in the USA. It has a reputation in Mississippi so i could find work here ok but i really doubt it would get me up north. Thats the big problem. I dont want to dissapoint her ambitions (her career was one of the biggest reasons we came here) but i dont know if she knows how much i hate it here and how much i dislike the south. i just get suicidal thinking about spending my whole life down here. i want to go to Boston and give it it a go. Quite frankly i wish to god we had gone straight to Boston when we got here not taken the safe option and stayed with family. We had some money we should have just risked it but now we are broke as well.

I dont see any easy solution really and i will have to reserch the return to UK option more thoroughly. i did go broke and that might cause me problems in getting back my practicing certificate back as well as of course meaning i will not be in a position to get credit in the Uk for years. Those are big concerns and i cant just go off half cocked becuase i feel miserable.

Anyhow thank you everyone for your concern and kind words this is the only place i have to talk about it all as i dont have any friends here, all my American friends live in Boston. It reeally helps to just share it right now.

thanks and regards,

Duncan

Duncan, you really need to talk to your wife and tell her how you feel. Once she realizes how unhappy you are I am sure she will understand why you need to move to Boston. Nothing is forever, and studying in Boston is a huge opportunity. You can't let something like that slip away. You can always go back to the UK whenever you want, but you may look back and regret not trying one of the top law schools in the country. If you suceed there then your future will look very rosy indeed, and I am sure your wife will see that. Alternatively, you could go to Boston alone and travel to see your wife regularly. I did it successfully for 3 years. Don't give up on the biggest chance of your life just because of a few religious nuts.

As regards my opinion of religion, I despise it. I despise it because on the whole, it despises me. Personally I feel that religion is responsible for a vast number of wars, violence and oppression...both of sections of society, entire races and women in general. It does, I know, give a great number of people a lot of comfort, and I agree with their right to practice and believe, but I draw the line at having it shoved down my throat, and assumptions made about me and my morality because I am either gay or non-religious (or both). Overly religious people make me nervous because sooner or later they always try to push their views upon you which I find intrusive and offensive. There is a guy at work who is very nice to work with but has extreme homophobic views because of his Christian fanatical beliefs...frightening.

I was brought up Jewish, and I still love the culture and many of the traditions, but I am non-practising and class myself as agnostic. I was concerned about coming to America as I knew that religion was a big thing here, but so far, I am glad to say, apart from that one guy at work, it has mostly been a non-issue. I suspose it does depend a great deal on which part of the country you live in.

It's a shame that extreme religous views always seem to go hand in hand with intolerance, as those who consider themselves good Christians for all the right reasons I am sure have the best intentions. Each to their own, as they say.

Had to put my thoughts here as well!
I don't consider myself an atheist(my Dad was, definately!),maybe thats why I'm not......but I'm also not a fanatic!,I don't go to church at all,but I don't completely disbelieve either(I had a REALLY strange experience while I was in a two-week coma,several years ago!),I really believe that the whole meaning of religion is to encourage people to live their lives the best way they can,and treat everyone else the way they would like to be treated by other people...I can't stand anyone trying to force their own religious ideas down my throat,I've had several people coming to my door(like salesmen)trying to get me to join their religion,but I just tell them I'm just as entitled to my opinion as they are.....and that seems to get rid of them!
My mother-in-law is a Catholic,she seems to think she's a real saint,in fact she's the most two-faced, poisonous woman I've ever met,I don't have anything to do with her at all,but that doesn't make all Catholics the same as her.....I do believe,though,that religion is at the base of most of the troubles in the world today,and throughout history,sadly..........I wonder why everyone can't just agree to disagree.....it would solve SO many problems,as far as I can see!(this is my own opinion!)
I know there is supposed to be 'a seperation of State and Church',but when you come over here,maybe it's just me?,there most definately is not!
Having said all that,I've been very lucky since coming over here,I've met lots of really nice,friendly people,of all races and religions,and have got along with them all equally as well.
I'm sorry that so many of you have had such sad experiences,I really hope your situations will improve soon,I wish you all the very best of luck.......Sophia(Central Illinois)

I'm not offended I'm religious in an English kinda way (say my prayers and don't bother anyone else), and it even makes me a little uneasy the way religion is discussed so openly in the supposed Novus Ordo Seclorum. Not sure why that should be, maybe just because I'm not used to it.