Law.com recently posted a little piece implying that lawyers' cynicism comes before law school, not after. Liable asked if there is "a relationship between an individual's motivations for attending law school and his or her success in it?"

Well, like any good lawyer, I would have to say it depends. I went into law school dreaming of oodles of cash. (Yes, I did! Really!) Well, the other half of it was that I didn't want to spend another 5-7 years in school getting my Ph.D. Through the magic of stipends, that would have been a far cheaper route than what I'm looking at now, but I think I needed the disillusionment that comes with a serious examination of one's motives and the reality of the workplace. I've learned through the years that stumbling a few times along the way makes you realize where you want to go, not just where you're headed.

For others, obviously, it's different. Ambivalent Imbroglio examines the "power" that comes with being a lawyer. Looking at it like that, it looks pretty neutral, but it can cut both ways; power can be used for both good and evil. (Yes, we're now in law student comic book superhero land, if you were wondering).

The question might be is it supposed to do something for us, or are we supposed to do something for others? Should we go in with the motivation that we're supposed to make a difference in the world? Or is it enough that we thought it was interesting?

I think how you answer that question helps a person define her success (and perhaps even partially answers the question of cynicism). But we needed be completely one-sided. Only the uber-cynic or the uber-optimist would say it was either/or. I think most of us need to feel that we're making a difference and feel personally fulfilled.

Whatever your motivation might be, it's best that you figure it out quickly in law school, lest you be lost in a corporate wasteland with few options. If what you think you want out of your career doesn't sound right to you, don't be afraid to radically reconceptualize your definition of happiness. I can say unequivocally that it's worth it.