Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States. He presided over our nation during the bloody civil war, holding the union together during that searing, unspeakably tragic conflict. His courageous leadership helped bring about the end of slavery. Add to all this, Lincoln was also regarded as one of the greatest public speakers of his time, or any time.
A lawyer, senator, and renowned orator before becoming President, Lincoln was largely a self-educated man. According to Lincoln himself, he studied “with nobody.” His humility and humor were two of his greatest attributes. Somehow, without access to much in the way of a formal education, he developed a keen mind for reasoning and argument, and forged a successful law practice and a career in politics.
How did he do it? He read. He committed to a life of learning, all on his own. He studied law, he studied argument, he knew the Bible and the works of William Shakespeare backwards and forwards. He developed his skills as an orator and communicator.
In the 1800s it was still possible to practice law without a degree. Lincoln’s own self-directed course of study so prepared him for a career in law, however, he was admitted into the Illinois bar association in 1837. His great abilities as a writer and orator brought him notice in the community, and his great debates against Senator Stephen Douglas brought him national renown, and ultimately, the Presidency.
No, Lincoln didn’t have a degree, he didn’t go to law school and he didn’t take the LSAT prep course. However, any aspiring young lawyer can take inspiration from Lincoln’s example. Study English, study writing, practice public speaking and debate and study the great books. Take the LSAT prep course, apply to law school and commit to a life of learning.
