Law School = Boot Camp for Politics
The VP Debate took place just hours ago, and while Governor Palin certainly exceeded expectations, the polls, pundits, and media seem to agree that Biden scored a win.  Many might argue that Biden simply had facts and reason on his side.  But if that were undeniably true, the overall race wouldn’t be as close as it is.  Roughly half the country supports Obama/Biden, and roughly half the country supports McCain/Palin.  So why did Biden receive so much praise for his recent performance?  I would argue that Senator Biden is a master of framing the debate, delivering hard-hitting facts, and injecting passion into his arguments.  And I chalk much of this to his extensive legal training.

Joseph Biden: Attorney at Law
Senator Biden received his J.D. in 1968, and shortly after, began practicing law until he won a seat in the Senate in 1972.  Twenty years later in 1991, he began a teaching stint as an adjunct professor of constitutional law.  How does all of this help him?  How does legal expertise turn one into a formidable debater?

Lawyers Know How to Sway the Room and Control the Floor
As Abraham Lincoln probably could have told you, the relationship between legal studies and debate is incredibly close.  In law school, professors constantly challenge whatever ideas, assumptions, and premises you bring to the table.  Through writing and research, you learn that arguments are not about right and wrong.  They are about establishing parameters and setting the terms; challenges that almost every politician understands all too well.

Senator Biden’s presentation of the facts (his facts) and reason (his reason) was enough to sway large sections of undecided voters.  You might be thinking, “maybe Palin simply had an off-night… maybe law school isn’t Biden’s secret to success.”  Well, that’s hard to swallow when you realize that 60 Senators, 178 House Members, and presidential hopefuls, Obama, Edwards, Romney, Clinton, Thompson, and Giuliani all have law degrees as well.