<p>I don’t think there’s any question that part of what determines financial success is luck, plain and simple. Obviously not all, and probably not even most, but part. Some people walk into the LSAT and end up on the low side of the statistical distribution for no reason, which happens when you have a standard deviation of three points. Some very good applicants get turned down from good-match law schools for no apparent reason, because the process has randomness in it. Some young lawyers won’t get hired by a given firm because of the economy, because the interviewing partner was cranky that day, or because a passing-by cab splashed mud on their suit and they made a bad impression.</p>
<p>Does talent rise to the top? Yeah, probably. But luck is certainly involved in the process, at least a little.</p>