Blogging from A to Z — the letter L

 “L” is for law.

Not the usual response to a question about what makes a person happy,  but then again …  think about what I do for a living,

I have always had a fascination for the law.  

My Aunt Sonia lived with us until I was 8 years old, and I remember her watching the old Perry Mason show on TV.  Later, when we’d go visit her, I found her stash of Perry Mason novels.  And I wanted to grow up to become a famous defense attorney just like Perry.

And then in high school … my high school Social Studies teacher decided to put Napoleon Bonaparte on trial for crimes against the people of France.  Every student would play a role — Napoleon, Josephine, French peasant, jury member, etc.  Each student had to write a paper based on the role he or she played in the trial.  I was chosen to be one of Napoleon’s attorneys.  We won.  My first victory as a lawyer.

But not my last.

So yeah, I went to law school.  

Law school is a lot more like The Paper Chase than Legally Blonde, of course.  It’s really about learning how to think, how to analyze, it’s learning how to understand the law and apply it.  Lots of reading involved, lots of logic, lots of writing.  Lots of grunt work punctuated by occasional moot court programs, much like real life.  Not at all like Perry Mason, but …

I liked reading law.  I liked the intellectual challenge.  In all the years since I entered law school, I have never regretted my choice.  I still find law fascinating.  I treasure my victories, I mourn my defeats.  I’ve got some interesting war stories to share.  I’m glad I found a career in a field I find so interesting.

Not everyone is lucky to have a job they enjoy.