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Well, I’ve started the process of applying to Law School. If I’m accepted into some program (read: trick some school into accepting me), I’ll be quitting my main job for two years. Then I’ll be Lawyer. Joe Van Dyk, Esquire. Counseler. All that.

Why?

I’m still figuring it out. Part of me suspects that I’ll make a better lawyer than programmer. I’ve never been terribly impressed with my own programming skills—they’re decent because I spend a lot of time working on them. Lawyering seems to involve a lot of reading, logical thinking, writing, and arguing. All of which I’m really good at. Programming, well, some types of programming, rewards new inventive thinking. Inventing is not my strong suit and I’m not too pleased about it either.

• Freedom of speech and other first amendment issues
• Patents and their effects on innovation and competition
• Open source software licensing
• Intellectual property

I want to learn more about those things and make the world better in those areas. I think those topics are going to be important in the foreseeable future and I’d like to be involved. My background in software and technology would give me a bit of an edge.

Plus, wouldn’t this guy make a great lawyer? I think so.