There was an attorney in santa cruz, california who specialized in pro bono work for the homeless, most commonly when they were prosecuted for camping within city limits. That law was passed in the 1950s to encourage tourists to rent hotel rooms rather than camp on the beach.

He was unable to pay his bar association, so some judge paid it for him.

The name of the judge was never disclosed publicly. I'm not real clear how we know that it was a judge. I expect that had the judge claimed credit publicly, he would have been obligated to recuse himself when this attorney appeared before him.

Go read a legal textbook - as opposed to legislation or a contract.

They're really quite easy to understand in contrast to computer science or physics texts. I read them for fun.

Judicial opinions are commonly easy to read, especially supreme court opinions.

My point is that maybe it's not so hard to pass the bar.

It's really not. People used to pass the bar without ever going to a law school.

The entire profession has been captured by educational institutions. It's a posterchild for what tech should not allow itself to become.

It is still possible, here and there to "read law" to qualify oneself to take the bar examination. It is definitely rare these days.

Caryl Chessman - The Birdman - passed the bar after reading the law in Alcatraz.

I've met some attorneys that I don't regard as being very bright. I don't think that's ever been the case for anyone I've ever met with a graduate physics degree.