Thinking like a lawyer: a new computer and society column

Have you ever heard the phrase, thinking like a lawyer? Perhaps the most commonly echoed phrase about law school is that students learn how to "think like a lawyer," but what does that mean? As a lawyer, who went through the initiating ritual of law school, sitting for the bar, and litigating cases, I have allegedly gained this skill called "thinking like a lawyer." As I reflect upon how the experience of becoming a lawyer and practicing law changed my thinking, a few things come to mind. First, I am subconsciously scanning for risks and liability everywhere, fabricating fictitious lawsuits in my head that might occur. Second, I care a lot about words, what exactly was said, and the meaning and truthfulness of the assertion when a strict vs. lenient interpretation of those words is applied. Third, I have the ability to navigate complex systems and to guide others less familiar with those systems through the maze. Finally, I have acquired a sobering view of what the legal system does and does not do, its promise and its shortcomings.