ing of your
beginnings, do not begin at all unless you see a certainty of misery
if you do not. Unless you are convinced that you would rather work,
toil, nay, slave for years to secure recognition in the law, than to
be honored and enriched in some other occupation, do not enter this
profession of supreme ardor.

And above all things, do not enter it if you expect to practise law
principally for the purpose of making money. It is not a money-making
profession. The same effort, acumen, and enthusiasm expended in almost
any other occupation will bring you financial returns tremendously
out of proportion to your most successful compensation in the law,
measured by mere money. The money-making conception of our profession
is not only erroneous, but ruinous; for you must remember, to begin
with, that you are practising the science of justice.

If possible, get a thorough college education before you touch a law
book. If you can get a college education, do not "read law" while you
are at college. If you go to college, do not take what is known as the
"scientific" course, or "physical" course. Take the classical course.
Next to geometry and logarithms and the Bible, the best discipline
preparatory to making you a lawyer is the translation of Latin. Latin
is the most logical language the world has ever seen, or is likely
ever to see.

After you get your college course, then go to a thoroughly first-class
law school. After this, spend two or three years in active work in the
office of some successful lawyer who has lots of practise, and who
will load off on your shoulders as much work as possible.

If you cannot go to a law school, your training in the law office will
do you nearly as well. You can get along without your law school, but
you can never get along without your training in the law office. The
way to learn to swim is to swim.

But if you cannot get a college education, do not get discouraged. It
is possible that you are an Abraham Lincoln, or a John Marshall, or
some person like that; and if you are you will succeed anyhow. Even if
you are not so highly gifted you can win in the law without a college
education if you are naturally a lawyer _and will work hard enough_.
If you have to choose between a law school and a college education,
take the latter. But the training afforded by a clerkship in an active
lawyer's office is more helpful than either.

If you can be so fortunate as to get the firm or attorney wit