Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Why Everyone Should Go to Law School

Law school education is like reading a whole bunch of short stories about what makes people and groups in the world become angry with one another. It is the history of conflict and justice in our society. There is also commentary enclosed in the form of legal opinion, which seems, at times, to fall short of the actual nature of justice.

Justice in the form of legal commentary seems to be a coin toss based on the variables of a particular situation – the temperament and inner motivations of the judge; the interests of the parties and their respective abilities to purchase hired guns; the strategic and oral delivery of attorneys; the nature and personalities of the courtroom setting or settlement proceedings; and the historical significance/leaning (i.e., precedent) of what has happened before in this fractious and fractal world.

In my opinion, in general, the longer the “opinion,” the shorter the meniscus of justice. Words can be very pretty tools but also dangerous bazookas. Then again, if one knows how to use words with one's heart, how can one ever lie?


The first year of law school is very scary. As the saying goes: “The first year, they scare you to death; the second year, they work to you death; the third year, they bore you to death.”

Why does a learning process have to be referred to as death? Maybe, the phrase should go: “The first year, they scare you to life; the second year, they work you to life; the third year, they bore you to life.”

If we are pitted against each other, why not take the challenge eagerly and know that if you are last in your class, you are right next to the “penultimate” person in your class?

There is also another saying: “The people who get A’s in law school, become the judges; the people who get B’s, become the law professors; and, the people who get C’s, make the most money.”

So, if you are last in your class, maybe you will make the most money? But, what does that outcome matter anyway? It’s the learning that counts; the experience; and the ability to learn to defend your friends, your family, and yourself in the “heat of adversity.”


Cheers,

Pum

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