All of us want to see our kids to be somebody someday. Deep down and early on we may sense a kid more likely to be X and less likely to be Y. A politician isn’t likely to be high on anyone’s to-be list. However, most politicians are lawyers. So, what are the prerequisites to be a good lawyer? Did you see them in your kid and he/she proved you right? I think we have plenty of lawyers or lawyer type of people on CC. Maybe your parents saw something in you or you saw them yourself.
Many politicians are lawyers. Most lawyers are not politicians. Being a good lawyer does not mean you will be a good politician.
LOL–my S is one of those who at one point in HS his career choice was Sec of State.
Then he upgraded to President. And yes, he’s attending law school. He may back off his career choice but I think he’d be great! (Not that I wish that on him!)
So, what are the prerequisites to be a good lawyer?
I’m not a lawyer but know quite a few. I know some great ones.
A lot of these are character traits.
Off hand the best ones I know are extremely objective–they see both sides to a story. They listen carefully.
Very logical (which is part of the LSAT).
Smart.
They do not jump to conclusions-- they analyze a situation without making snap judgments.
They are great writers and speakers. Skills they work on.
They are “people” persons. They enjoy meeting people and networking.
They care about outcomes.
Good at mediating. They are the “calm” in the storm often. Know how to negotiate.
They are open to listening to views which vary with their own without responding.
The great ones are honest and have a very strong personal value system they live by.
There are different kids of lawyers. I would think the attributes one would see in a defense attorney are going to be different than the attributes one would see in a tax attorney.
My parents were convinced I’d be a politician. I even worked for a state senator for a while. Could not do. Cannot deal with politicians.
I’m a historian now.
My son likes to argue or debate everything. He likes memorizing facts. He likes rules. He is somewhat interested in the government and politics. He really doesn’t’ like people who break the rules, cheat etc. He remembers everything from any time. His favorite EC is Model UN so he can argue more, lol.
I wouldn’t say he is great with people, but not bad either. He is totally calm under pressure. He is logical more than he is creative. He is very honest. He would need to learn to be more open about other people’s ideas and views if he went into politics. I don’t see that happening. I could see him being a corporate attorney. He is considering law school after he completes his biz undergrad program.
I loved Jordan Klepper’s comment on election night:
It’s a risk every American mother takes. Our son sat next to Ozzie Newsome on a four-hour flight when he was about 15 and said they chatted the entire time. Had no clue who he was (pre 2013 SuperBowl), but he showed us the business card Ozzie signed and gave to him as they deplaned: “To the future Pres of the United States”
God, I hope not.
The responses so far are great, just about what I was looking for. The title of the thread isn’t that great as politics and elections were not on my mind at all (it just fried mine, but I don’t think anyone can be president, e.g., Einstein).
Anyway, my son loves what computer/smartphone/tablet has to offer but can’t imagine working as a coder. I’m looking around to see what else he may has traits for.
I see no coders mentioned here.
I know a few computer scientists who became lawyers… patent prosecution and litigation are their areas of practice.
I do not have a favorable impression of lawyers. I do not have a favorable impression of the current US justice system. It does not meter out justice and certainly isn’t fair. I have a mixed view of politicians. I don’t see it as a career for either of my kids and I think there is a glut of lawyers.
One of my kids was a bit serious growing up. He has chilled out a little. He seems more relaxed now. He knows he is on the right track in life and that has helped him relax and smell the roses a bit more. He used to be a bit stubborn. He has grown and matured some so that he is able to see other points of view much better now.
My other child was always relaxed, funny, not a care in the world. If anything, he needed to be a little more serious about some things. That is not to say he wasn’t serious about whatever he set his mind too. He amazed me at how hard he went after certain things as a child. He was tough. He didn’t just surprise me on that characteristic.
I never really saw them in any profession for sure. I guess I’ll find out soon enough.
OP–In that case–do you see the politician in your kid?
Rather than us tell you what we think are traits of a particular profession, what are your kids traits and maybe someone can suggest a career that may fit them.
I agree with @gouf78. My kids are finding their way. Both have considered going to law school but so far, neither has actually acted on those thoughts. S is enjoying EE, robotics, piloting drones, using wearable tech, project management. D is so far enjoying the broad field of cinema. I’m not sure whether law or politics factor into their futures, but so far, I have my doubts.
I’ve met quite a few politicians. Some I admire and some I wonder how they get elected and re-elected. I would have difficulty doing what they do, day in and day out, listening to constituents and other politicians.
@gouf78 I like what you listed in #2, and someone on radio this evening said something similar positive about lawyers in general. As to what I see in my kid, I’m not a keen observer and may miss things obvious to others. With observations from experienced folks on CC I can compare and contrast. There is no substitute for experience imo. One thing about my kid is clear: he won’t sit in one spot for long (>1 hour?).
I aveva newfound appreciation for lawyers over the past several weeks.
I knew a kid that might well become a politician one day. Very smart, articulate, good looking, shameless liar, and skillful manipulator.
When my son was in preschool, the other parents all thought he would be mayor some day. Or maybe a greeter at Walmart.
Being in academia, I am noticing that some of the characteristics that are being provided here for politicians seem to describe some Deans that I know.
There is politics in many organizations, not just governments, so a skillful politician may be successful somewhere that is not a government.
I thought my third son might go into law or politics. He was glad handing other kids’ moms in the supermarket and making his own play dates in kindergarten! Everyone thought he was so adorable and charming. He still is but he is so brutally honest that I can’t see him as either a lawyer or a politician. OTOH, he is SO funny that he could do stand-up, although he says that’s too tiresome, he’d rather do sit down.
As a disclaimer, both H and I are lawyers and, as a consequence, most of my work-related friends are also lawyers, though in my personal life, I actually gravitate away from attorneys as friends. My closest, non-work friends, are a social worker, a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a chiropractor and the wife of a doctor, who runs his office.
My second son was so quiet and non-verbal that I never thought he would do anything political. In college, he joined Model UN and held office in the Student Government. That came as a total surprise to me.
law is politics, bureaucracy, philosophy,opinion, and hustle.
but being a lawyer does not make you a good politician. most lawyers spend there days reviewing contracts and tax code etc… very few do stuff like in the movies. and the few times I was stuck on jury duty just to pick a jury for what we were told would be a 2-3 hour trial took longer than that.(3-4 hours to pick a jury for a 2-3 hour trial) everything in a court room is slow, delayed, appealed, etc etc etc . if you have no patience for slow long drawn out stuff or reviewing a 500 page document do not go into law. go into politics via a different profession.(IMO)
I used to tell D she would be a lawyer because she was good at arguing and constantly looking for loopholes. 
But seriously, I always knew she would be a performing artist, and sure enough, at 25 she is.
My nephew has a deep and abiding interest in politics, has had since early HS. He went to Georgetown and made the most of his time there, getting involved in student government, worked very hard as a volunteer in the 2012 campaign, went to the seminars you see on c-span, interned during summers at his congressional representative’s office. My brother and SIL fervently hoped that he’d go on to grad school for a law degree – something to fall back on, dontcha know – but he never had any interest in that. Newly graduated, he now works in the DC office of his representative. I should hasten to say that he’s not a politician, just obsessed with politics and government. He’ll never be president, but I can see him as Chief of Staff someday for sure.