This post has been germinating within my mind all week, but alas, the work thing has taken most of my time and energies this week (which is actually a good thing), so its a Friday night post for me.
From time to time, I think everyone has the questions of why they are working in a particular field, or have a particular job. Whether it be in teaching, industrial, retail, insurance, computers, and so on, everyone (or at least many people) go through times when they review why they are in the chosen field they are.
For some, the question might be easy. It might have been the only thing available when they were looking, or they only job they were qualified to do at the time they were out job hunting. Maybe its because they knew this is what they wanted to do since they were a young kid, although I think that's fairly rare.
When I was a kid, I wanted to be an archaeologist. The Indiana Jones movies were enthralling, and the prospect of travelling the world uncovering myths and legends was enticing, never mind that those movies weren't realistic. I was sold. The thought of being a lawyer never crossed my mind; in fact, I probably couldn't even tell you what a lawyer did.
I started college, and took the advice of my advisers (which can be dangerous business at times), and took classes that "interested" me. That meant history and philosophy. My two favorite subjects, and easily still my favorites. Of course, around junior year, one starts to realize that you're supposed to get a job when the college thing is all done and over with, and well, my options seemed pretty limited at the time. I could try and get a secondary teaching license and teach history at a high school. In a word, no. I didn't want to deal with high school kids, and I am pretty sure that they wouldn't want to deal with me. If I wanted to pursue something in philosophy, it was grad school. And while that was tempting, the prospect of 5,6,7, years more of school wasn't, along with the reality that college professor jobs in small departments like philosophy (or history for that matter) aren't numerous, so you take what you can get when you get it, no matter where that job might be. And frankly, I wanted a little more control over where I was going to end up.
So law school was the easier choice. Only 3 years. Could have control over where I went. Probably would make the big bucks. (Forgive my combined stupidity and naivety at the time). But before I continue digressing too long, and to bring this back to the point of this post, the point is that I didn't go to law school because I wanted to become a lawyer. I went to law school because I thought it would be intellectually challenging, and I enjoy using my mind when I work. But I also went because it was shorter, cheaper, and I thought gave me more control over my options than pursuing a doctorate. Right or wrong, that was the decision.
So as the economy has tightened up, and work is getting harder to come by, there's a little more time to think about why I chose this route...is this really what I want to do. Because frankly, there are many aspects of being a lawyer I either don't particularly enjoy, or do not particularly excel at. I am not the greatest at professional networking, and I have never had much desire to participate in the high people volume practice areas, such as divorce and criminal law (appeals notwithstanding). I do not consider these flaws, knowing one's limitations are just as important as knowing one's skills. But in a smaller town, having those natural abilities could be helpful.
In any event, I was thinking about that over the weekend, and I received a nice answer about halfway through the week. Starting Monday, I started getting several research projects from the senior partners in the firm. Figure out how the law defines rental (if a guy owns a house, and two buddies live with him, and all expenses are shared, is that a rental?); how broad is the definition of family in certain zoning situations; what's the limit on deed restrictions; the constitutionality of certain building regulations; the relationship between severance and the episode statute in criminal matters; whether definitions of activity in ordinances and statutes create law, or presumptions; as well as some others. Stuff that is fairly dry to most people, and down right catatonic to others. But I first got excited because it was more work, and research to boot, which I love doing, for two primary reasons. One, its good billable time, and the reality is, we're in the business of making money. And two, I just thoroughly enjoy the process of finding solutions and answers to tough little questions.
With these questions, I get to research and read judicial opinions in case law, review legislative histories and statutes, and start coming to conclusions. Throughout the process, I get to discuss and debate the issues, scenarios, hypotheticals, application, etc. with the partners in the firm, and the dialogue presents so much insight into how intricately complicated the law can be. Then, as the process nears its end, you have what I describe as the eureka moment, that moment where something clicks, and the entire answer, with all the supporting hypotheticals and cases, the order for it to be delivered, the structure of the argument, all comes together in one small beautiful moment (hopefully someone knows what I am talking about). And that small moment of euphoria is just as great and just as grand as hitting a home run in little league baseball, getting into a particular school or receiving a certain scholarship, whatever personal accomplishment one has that gets them that rush of joy.
This week, the rush of joy came from developing and crafting an argument for an appeal. An argument that I had been trying to wrap my head around for weeks, and when the bolt happened, I'm not ashamed to admit that I felt joy, as corny and odd as that sounds. But, I figure that's why I do what I do. For certain, there are other professions you could have similar experiences in, but with the law, there is an abundance of opportunity, in every practice area, to have individual profound moments where you get it, it clicks, and you feel like you are advancing a great idea.
Like my post subtitle suggests, maybe this is just confirmation of my status as a geek...I get excited over developing ideas, arguments, and concepts, and engaging in discourse and dialogue about those ideas. In particular, I get to always stress the importance definitions, which in the law, can control so much. And everyone knows how much I love discussing definitions! ;).
Anyway, I had a moment like that this week. I'm sure that it wasn't the first (maybe the first in a while though). And I am sure it won't be the last. I assume everyone needs moments like this in whatever their profession may be, or else they won't last; they'll leave to try something else.
Anyone else have an eureka moment with their job?
Hey Old Buddy,
ReplyDeleteYou've gotta love those eureka moments. It seems like they come in waves, but they always seem to pop up right when you need them the most.
It is nice to know that others rely on those little moments as much as I do. There have been some really difficult situations that I've found solutions too only becuase of eureka moments. It almost makes you feel guilty for taking credit for any success coming from those moments (almost). ; ).