Comments on: Thinking Like a Lawyer http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/2009/09/04/thinking-like-a-lawyer/ Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:08:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Morgan Hargrove http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/2009/09/04/thinking-like-a-lawyer/comment-page-1/#comment-35856 Morgan Hargrove Mon, 04 Jul 2011 18:43:10 +0000 http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/?p=6921#comment-35856 I would advise students to speak up in class rather than cower. This is great training I wish I had participated more. I would advise students to speak up in class rather than cower. This is great training I wish I had participated more.

]]> By: Margaret A. Keavney http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/2009/09/04/thinking-like-a-lawyer/comment-page-1/#comment-25884 Margaret A. Keavney Sun, 13 Sep 2009 14:11:17 +0000 http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/?p=6921#comment-25884 This is magnified when people who already have the tendency to "make distinctions that do not make a difference" are drawn to the profession, and law school rewards them for this natural behavior. This is magnified when people who already have the tendency to “make distinctions that do not make a difference” are drawn to the profession, and law school rewards them for this natural behavior.

]]> By: Melissa Greipp http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/2009/09/04/thinking-like-a-lawyer/comment-page-1/#comment-25832 Melissa Greipp Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:40:32 +0000 http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/?p=6921#comment-25832 The biggest realization I made in law school is that the law is capable of multiple interpretations. The Socratic method, which is designed to draw out debate, helps to teach that point. You raise a really good point, Lisa, about creating a professional identity as a lawyer and integrating that identity with one's non-lawyer persona. Lawyers and other professionals need to learn how to speak like a competent person in their profession--to be able to engage in a professional discourse. After a while, that form of communication becomes second nature to most professionals. The time spent in law study and in being a lawyer, though, is what I think causes many people to forget who they are outside of their law practice and to sound foreign to others. Maybe one way to counteract that potential problem is to spend purposeful time with non-lawyer friends and family members and to maintain outside interests. That suggestion may sound basic, but when faced with deadlines and the pressures of practice (or study), it can be daunting to squeeze in any outside interests. The biggest realization I made in law school is that the law is capable of multiple interpretations. The Socratic method, which is designed to draw out debate, helps to teach that point.

You raise a really good point, Lisa, about creating a professional identity as a lawyer and integrating that identity with one’s non-lawyer persona. Lawyers and other professionals need to learn how to speak like a competent person in their profession–to be able to engage in a professional discourse. After a while, that form of communication becomes second nature to most professionals.

The time spent in law study and in being a lawyer, though, is what I think causes many people to forget who they are outside of their law practice and to sound foreign to others. Maybe one way to counteract that potential problem is to spend purposeful time with non-lawyer friends and family members and to maintain outside interests. That suggestion may sound basic, but when faced with deadlines and the pressures of practice (or study), it can be daunting to squeeze in any outside interests.

]]> By: Sean Horkheimer http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/2009/09/04/thinking-like-a-lawyer/comment-page-1/#comment-25823 Sean Horkheimer Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:59:58 +0000 http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/?p=6921#comment-25823 These are some great points. This past summer I read a great deal of depositions for work. My favorite lawyer-type question is the brief phrase used after summarizing a witness' opinion or position: "Fair statement?" While hanging out with friends I found myself using it often. Non-lawyers find this phrase annoying. Especially if you intentionally mistate their original words when you use it. But that's half the fun. These are some great points.
This past summer I read a great deal of depositions for work. My favorite lawyer-type question is the brief phrase used after summarizing a witness’ opinion or position: “Fair statement?”
While hanging out with friends I found myself using it often. Non-lawyers find this phrase annoying. Especially if you intentionally mistate their original words when you use it. But that’s half the fun.

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