Second thoughts about law school Forum

[md;jdwannabe]

I'm the 47 yo M.D. who posted my personal statement on this board, where it was received extremely well. Well, I got into my top choice law school. Second thoughts...See,in medical school, we rooted for each other, learned from each other (no one cheers when you can't start an IV at 2 am..you're causing a human being pain). The majority of the time the competitive spirit wasn't there and I'll state the obvious--in medicine, humans don't have control over disease, we do the best we can. The comeptition was against the disease, not each other. You cannot reason with bacteria, viruses, or carcinomas. Humbles you as a human being. I've been in academic medicine as faculty at two top 5 institutions--and competitiveness did not serve those training under me well..cooperation did. I worry about taking this attitude into law school and what follows.

People make laws, and people in positions of authority shape what happens within society. Future attorneys are the caretakers of our culture. Attorneys have the luxury of presenting their arguments and spin the magic of their persuasion. Judges can make rules. I can't do that with disease. Is law right for me..probably..there isn't faith without doubt and I'm doubting my decision a bit; I hoping to find the right niche. I guess I have the choice of going back to full time medicine if things don't work out. This rambling probably doesn't make a lot of sense, but that's where this mind is. If you read this, thanks.

[OriginalPerson]

I'm the 47 yo M.D. who posted my personal statement on this board, where it was received extremely well. Well, I got into my top choice law school. Second thoughts...See,in medical school, we rooted for each other, learned from each other (no one cheers when you can't start an IV at 2 am..you're causing a human being pain). The majority of the time the competitive spirit wasn't there and I'll state the obvious--in medicine, humans don't have control over disease, we do the best we can. The comeptition was against the disease, not each other. You cannot reason with bacteria, viruses, or carcinomas. Humbles you as a human being. I've been in academic medicine as faculty at two top 5 institutions--and competitiveness did not serve those training under me well..cooperation did. I worry about taking this attitude into law school and what follows.

People make laws, and people in positions of authority shape what happens within society. Future attorneys are the caretakers of our culture. Attorneys have the luxury of presenting their arguments and spin the magic of their persuasion. Judges can make rules. I can't do that with disease. Is law right for me..probably..there isn't faith without doubt and I'm doubting my decision a bit; I hoping to find the right niche. I guess I have the choice of going back to full time medicine if things don't work out. This rambling probably doesn't make a lot of sense, but that's where this mind is. If you read this, thanks.

I think you have the right ethical underpinnings but the "etiology" of law in actual practice doesn't seem like it's going to appeal to your sensibilities. I wish it did. I'm like you. The problems within our system of law are a large part of what draws me to it. I want to improve things. However, if you're under the impression (or ideology) that "attorneys are the caretakers of our culture," I'm afraid a stark realization is soon coming. With that said, please follow through with your path. I'm with you and I hope there's more on these boards. Good luck - refreshing point of view, I might add.

[macattaq]

It seems like a JD makes sense for you if you're interested in going into public policy/government work. If you are looking at going into regular practice, I'm not sure it would be such a good idea. However, you also talk about rooting for/against people. In LS, we don't necessarily root so much against each other, as we simply hope we do better than everyone else. But then, that's the nature of a legal education. Curves, and all that. Then again, if you are interested in doing public policy/government work, with your background, simply having a JD is what will matter. I could be entirely wrong though...

HTH.

[OriginalPerson]

I'm the 47 yo M.D. who posted my personal statement on this board, where it was received extremely well. Well, I got into my top choice law school. Second thoughts...See,in medical school, we rooted for each other, learned from each other (no one cheers when you can't start an IV at 2 am..you're causing a human being pain). The majority of the time the competitive spirit wasn't there and I'll state the obvious--in medicine, humans don't have control over disease, we do the best we can. The comeptition was against the disease, not each other. You cannot reason with bacteria, viruses, or carcinomas. Humbles you as a human being. I've been in academic medicine as faculty at two top 5 institutions--and competitiveness did not serve those training under me well..cooperation did. I worry about taking this attitude into law school and what follows.

People make laws, and people in positions of authority shape what happens within society. Future attorneys are the caretakers of our culture. Attorneys have the luxury of presenting their arguments and spin the magic of their persuasion. Judges can make rules. I can't do that with disease. Is law right for me..probably..there isn't faith without doubt and I'm doubting my decision a bit; I hoping to find the right niche. I guess I have the choice of going back to full time medicine if things don't work out. This rambling probably doesn't make a lot of sense, but that's where this mind is. If you read this, thanks.

Comment #2:

You can also save millions of lives through the channels of law, which probably motivates you. I hope it does. Take for instance the following possibility.... what if an attorney who's gifted and bold enough takes a stance against the monolithic food companies who have been funnelling HFCS into the bodies of billions and they're finally forced to think of "consumers" as "people." What if you were able to reduce the amount of that substance people ingest by 1/2? Well, over the course of 10-20 years I'm certain that you would have improved millions of lives. Less diabetes. Less heart disease, etc. I think it's an incredible idea for an MD to become an attorney. In fact, we need more of this type.