The law is a noble profession. When the law is practiced ethically and with prudence, lawyers can use their positions as the glue that holds our society together. Lawyers can defend the innocent, prosecute the guilty, help business owners make the most of their resources, help children get away from bad home lives and fight for civil rights. This may be an appealing lineup of opportunities to many, especially to those who choose to pursue higher education at an institution where Christianity is the norm. On the other hand, some may be persuaded to work in law for different reasons, such as money or social status.
Unfortunately, there is an untold part of the story. I’m not a lawyer. My father is, though, and I have been with him in court on many occasions, have attended numerous lunch meetings with him and his colleagues, have worked in his office and have done copious amounts of research on the subject (as it is my intention to follow in his footsteps.
In my experience, I have come to believe that there is only one reason to go into law, and it is not any of the glamorous perks mentioned earlier. The only reason to go to law school really is if you can’t see yourself doing anything else. I fear that too many students desire to attend law school for these perks, which are merely mirages — tempting, luxurious conceptions that fade away as you proceed through law school and early stages of your career, with the realization that a career in the law may not be as it seems.
Sure, lawyers nobly defend the innocent. But they also defend the guilty and prosecute the innocent. Their loyalty is to the process. Their goal is not making sure the right person ends up in jail, but making sure their clients’ cases are presented as well as they can be, no matter who is at fault. They are both pragmatic and idealistic, insisting that the moral thing to do is insure that the process of a fair trial is preserved and protected, even if they know the guilt lies with their party. Some people are OK with this, but it can be a real issue of conscience to others.
This is a realization many young lawyers make, and they become discouraged when they find out that in reality little of their time is spent pursuing the virtuous defense of the innocent or helping mothers gain custody of their children. On the whole, far more of their time is spent helping rich corporations become richer by mediating the merging of companies or advising CEOs on how to exploit loopholes in the tax code (not to say capitalism isn’t virtuous, of course).
Another reason which may warrant hesitation before entering law school is some people may find it difficult to spend their days and nights (yes, nights) around other lawyers. In all honesty, I have learned that it takes a certain kind of personality to work in the law. If you think about it, there is a reason lawyers can’t see themselves doing anything else. There is a reason they are not doctors, preachers, teachers or real estate agents. To be an effective lawyer, it takes an unwavering respect of hard logic and sometimes unsympathetic rationale. It takes willingness to, on occasion, reject the human side of things and appeal to complete objection. Some people, even those who possess the traits themselves, can find this hard to be around for long periods of time.
This is part one of a series. For more, read future issues of The Bison and visit the Link.
