Who Would Be the Ultimate Law School Graduation Speaker?
In spite of a flurry of petitions and e-mails sent by students in protest, Jerry Springer took the podium at Northwestern University School of Law’s graduation last week and left students with a final thought:
“I am not superior to the people on my show—and you are not superior to the people you will represent,” Springer said. “That is not an insult. It is merely an understanding derived from a life spent on the front lines of human interaction.”
By some accounts, he won the audience over.
And this week, U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey will give the commencement address at Boston College in spite of law professors’ request to Mukasey that he bow out.
The number of law students and professors not getting what they expected got us thinking …
Who would be the ultimate law school graduation speaker? And what would you expect his or her message to be?
Answer in the comments below.
Read last week’s question and answers about readers’ ideal career paths outside the law.
Our favorite answer from last week:
Posted by Diana: “Until Feb. 5, I practiced full time. On Feb. 6 this year I closed the deal on a yarn, knitting and fibers store. After practicing uncivil litigation for almost 20 years, I was fed up with the state of the profession, the lack of civility among attorneys and the power trip that many judges are on.
“I now control my schedule. If I need to bring the kids to the shop, I do. And there is no such thing as a life-threatening knitting emergency. I have never been happier. While I will keep my license active, I doubt I will ever practice law again.
“I’m not making nearly as much money, but I sleep well at night and am very, very happy.”
