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A few days ago, I recalled a particular run-in I had some years ago with an elderly gentleman engaged in our noble profession. It was during winter break of my second year of law school. I had just finished with first semester finals and I was out with an ex-girlfriend and a law school classmate, doing some bar-hopping. At one point we were at Penn Station, waiting for the subway to take us to our next destination. Of course with a few drinks in us, the conversation between my classmate and I turned to how we answered particular questions on the exams we had just taken (directly in conflict with the advice our professors had given us that doing so will only cause further torment). I suspect that these types of conversations are part of the reason why my girlfriend at the time, who didn't much care about prior recollections recorded and had a sleepy-eyed, alienated expression on her face, is now an ex.

Anyway, a well-dressed older gentleman who was standing in our vicinity turned to us and said "drop out." "Excuse me?" I replied. "Drop out, what do you want to be a lawyer for? - it's a miserable existence. I'm miserable." My classmate and I stood silent, waiting for him to qualify his statement, or at least expecting to see a smile. He said nothing. His wife, who was standing beside him, was silent and expressionless. A few seconds later the subway came. As we got on the train, he was generous enough to volunteer that "you can still get some of your money back if you quit now." As weird as the whole situation was, it was soon forgotten as we went on with our night drinking.

As a practicing attorney, I would give similar advice. Thinking back, although this seasoned attorney's delivery was a bit unusual, it is consistent with what most other attorneys had told me when I communicated my interest in practicing law. Think about it, how many lawyers have greeted your aspirations to be a lawyer with optimism and encouragement? More often, they'll at least strongly caution you about what you're getting yourself into. This makes sense. Firstly, the process of becoming an attorney, which has often been described as the intellectual equivalent of going through military training, is certainly a rigorous process and is not for everyone. Secondly, those who have gone through it have a certain sense of pride in their accomplishment, irrespective of whether or not they are actually content with what they do... would you expect a navy seal to tell

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