Thinking (or not thinking) critically

For many of us, we may not have spent the time thinking critically about why we wanted to go to law school, and what it entailed to be a law student, and a lawyer.  We oftentimes didn’t, really, critically think about whether it was the best choice for us (myself included).  Many of us are more likely to spend more time researching the purchase of a TV (or a netbook or a piece of clothing or something more exciting) than we will critically thinking of our career or graduate degree choices.

I know, because I didn’t think critically at all about my decision to go to law school.

I went to UC Berkeley.  I studied abroad for my junior year and returned to Cal my senior year, with no clue as to what I was planning for post graduation.  Being Jewish, with a slight aversion to blood, a knack for public speaking and an attorney grandfather in my past, I chose law school as my post graduation path.  In order to not interfere with my studies or life too much, I grabbed the nearest law school review magazines and applied to the schools that were (i) the most highly ranked in light of my GPA and LSAT (ii) in cities I liked (iii) also the choices of my buddies.  It is safe to say that the most energy I put into my law school application process was complaining about the Sunday LSAT classes, which were scheduled at the same time as my beloved 49ers games (this was before DVR and the Niners collapse into second tier status).

I was accepted into UC Hastings in San Francisco, along with three of my best buddies.  It was April 1996, and the next three years of my life were set.  I had structure.  My parents were happy.  I didn’t have to worry about getting a job.  Check “near future plans” off of my to-do list.  Cool, let’s go.  (By the way, where is Hastings . . . ?)

But let’s look into the irony of this choice:  I didn’t really think much about a decision that would cost me about $100k in tuition and other expenses and fully take up (and stress me out for) three years of my life from ages 22-25.  Looking back, I know for certain that I’ve spent more time researching my iPod purchases (I have an iPhone and a Nano and am looking into an iTouch as my home’s music system) than I did my law school choice.

Huh?