The 14 Point "Law School Quotient" Quiz (Continued)
    2)    I dislike antagonism.
    Bless the peacemakers of the world, they serve a vital function,  but law school and lawyering are rarely about making peace.  Every case has reached it's point in the legal process because there exists a serious problem that the parties could not resolve.  These problems are oftentimes dearly held by the parties, causing the legal proceeding to take on a personalized, hyper-antagonistic tone.
    Law school itself is very antagonistic.  Your points of view will be questioned constantly.  Your preparedness for the in-class discussion will be on display.  Your plight for peace is futile!
           
    3)    I am terrified of public speaking.   
    Of all the points on the quiz, I believe your answer to this one is the least important.  I feel that way because almost everybody is terrified of public speaking.  In fact, a report I once read stated that the majority of people fear public speaking more than they fear death!  That said, it's important for you to understand that law school will entail a lot of speaking before people.  This book will cover this topic in more detail later, but it's important that you assess just how low your tolerance is for this endeavor.
           
    4)    I prefer "nurturing" environments over "non-nurturing".
    Unfortunately law school is a very non-nurturing place.  The faculty is ambivalent about your pain as are your fellow classmates, save a few close friends.  Outside of those close few friends, you will not find sympathy for your travails at law school.
           
    5)    I would like a flexible career that provides plenty of free time.       
    When you practice law you sell a service.  You are not manufacturing a product.  You sell your knowledge and your time.  Therefore, you cannot choose the state of affairs that exists when clients enter your office anymore than a physician can control when people will be in need of emergency care.  If a client has procrastinated and enters your office two days before a deadline, then you must either get cooking or turn away the client.  Most lawyers will tell you they feel at the mercy of their clients.
    In addition, lawyers put in notoriously long hours.  All nighters are very common in the profession.  Flexible careers might include teachers, who get summers and other vacation holidays off, or perhaps tax preparer’s, many of whom work very hard during tax time, and then retain more sensible hours the remainder of the year. 
    By contrast, lawyers tend to work very long hours as a rule.  Then, due to some upcoming event (a pleading is due, or a trial) they work very, very long hours!

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