I actually found this opinion-article to be a nice read and embody the ideas which drove me to consider law school, right up to the very last sentence. At that point the author’s generalization cocks the hammer and places a well-aimed shot in to his own foot. But if one happens to have an extra hundred grand or so, three years to kill, and wants to become adept or at least get better at thinking, then perhaps a JD would be a good pursuit. OR, to quote Will Hunting, you could just use some discipline, the library, and pay some late fees to probably arrive at the same end.
Today, of course, everyone has to go to law school merely to keep their heads above the churning waters of an overlawyered society. But that in turn shows that the law isn’t fulfilling its fundamental purpose of keeping the peace.
On the other hand:
If “everyone should go to law school” advocates like Wu are serious, why wouldn’t they promote some kind of rudimentary legal education for high schoolers as part of a basic civics education? As a practicing attorney, I’ve always been puzzled at the incredible ignorance of the public about some basic facts about American law — and always figured that lawyers liked it that way, so as to manipulate their secret system. We trade on insider information and like it that way, right? We shouldn’t kid themselves — there’s nothing democratic about the dissemination of legal information in America.
I think law school is a good education who never practice law. It helps you to learn to think and reason. Law is certainly not the only way to get there but it is a good vehicle.
At for Todd point, until less you have the mind of Matt Damon’s character, you are probably better off getting a formal education. Because it is a rare person with the discipline to get to the same place with structure and third parties pressures. If you can do it, more power to you. But there are very few people out there who can.
Annonymous Attorney, it’s time to gather the neighborhood kids together around the dining room table. There is curriculum available for 6th-12th grade called You Decide.
4 Comments
I actually found this opinion-article to be a nice read and embody the ideas which drove me to consider law school, right up to the very last sentence. At that point the author’s generalization cocks the hammer and places a well-aimed shot in to his own foot. But if one happens to have an extra hundred grand or so, three years to kill, and wants to become adept or at least get better at thinking, then perhaps a JD would be a good pursuit. OR, to quote Will Hunting, you could just use some discipline, the library, and pay some late fees to probably arrive at the same end.
Today, of course, everyone has to go to law school merely to keep their heads above the churning waters of an overlawyered society. But that in turn shows that the law isn’t fulfilling its fundamental purpose of keeping the peace.
On the other hand:
If “everyone should go to law school” advocates like Wu are serious, why wouldn’t they promote some kind of rudimentary legal education for high schoolers as part of a basic civics education? As a practicing attorney, I’ve always been puzzled at the incredible ignorance of the public about some basic facts about American law — and always figured that lawyers liked it that way, so as to manipulate their secret system. We trade on insider information and like it that way, right? We shouldn’t kid themselves — there’s nothing democratic about the dissemination of legal information in America.
I think law school is a good education who never practice law. It helps you to learn to think and reason. Law is certainly not the only way to get there but it is a good vehicle.
At for Todd point, until less you have the mind of Matt Damon’s character, you are probably better off getting a formal education. Because it is a rare person with the discipline to get to the same place with structure and third parties pressures. If you can do it, more power to you. But there are very few people out there who can.
Annonymous Attorney, it’s time to gather the neighborhood kids together around the dining room table. There is curriculum available for 6th-12th grade called You Decide.
http://www.criticalthinking.com/series/093/index_p.jsp