I myself was a “jack of all trades” in advance of my decision to enter law school. There were so many subjects of interest to me that I found it difficult to decide. I pursued double majors and triple minors. I had more than one option for graduate school and chose law, and I am happy to say that it was a very good choice for me. I do believe, however, that law school was my training ground. I worked hard to acquire those “tools of the trade” that any good lawyer must possess. In other words, I believe that I was “made” into a lawyer by training and experience. So, for sure, for me, lawyers are indeed “made.”

But that does not end the inquiry. A conversation with my oldest son when he was only three years old remains etched on my mind. We allowed no toy guns in our home. I made no bones about my dislike for weapons in general and guns in particular. He accepted my position without question, until his first year of pre-school. The worldly influence wrought by his peers worked its magic; my son announced in no uncertain terms that he would be a cowboy for Halloween and that his costume would include a shiny six-shooter.

I held my ground: no guns. He thought about this and a few days later, he asked again. I repeated my injunction: no guns. Guns are bad. I thought that if I kept it simple, my rule would be easily grasped and accepted. He looked at me with complete seriousness and asked me: “Do policemen carry guns? Do army men carry guns?” He continued on: “Army men are good, right? And policemen protect us.” He then hammered home his final nail:  “If they carry guns, then guns can’t be bad.” You can probably imagine the rest. His silver six-shooter remains the only gun in our home. Needless to say, I believe that attorneys also can be “born.”

Whether made or born, we lawyers come to the law from diverse backgrounds. We craft our practice to best fit our temperaments. Hopefully, whether by nature or by nurture, we can all find fulfillment in this vastly important and encompassing calling. And, with a little luck, we can help nurture others in their quest to find the true benefits of a life in the law.