Twenty questions and CSI revealed a passion of mine: critical thinking. This eventually led to a clerkship with the Indiana Supreme Court after law school.

I treasure the QUALITY (as did Socrates) of analytical thinking which goes into deriving a well supported conclusion: intellectual integrity. With this first clerkship, I embarked on devouring transcripts of the trial and briefs, researching the law, applying it (analysis) to the evidence, and deriving a quality recommendation for the justices. (And if lucky, they accepted it).

Facts, research, independent analysis, and deriving a well reasoned conclusion; a set of skills which helps us navigate our lives, be it analyzing the news, writing a doctoral thesis or a grant for a nonprofit, or a business proposal. I can also show any student who is intimidated of writing, how to do so brilliantly, once they have done a quality analysis.

I love engaging in this process with students and hope they catch that enthusiasm. I always find first their skill level, emphasizing only progress, and use of the skill. You've probably heard the saying: "Law school teaches you how to think." As with law school, the student and I practice how to think together, hopefully having fun and enjoying the process.

After a second appellate clerkship with the Florida appellate courts, I privately practiced exclusively in the area of appeals for over 10 years, receiving awards, publishing, and serving several years as a member of the legislative equivalent for procedural law governing appellate courts.

My ultimate goal and reward: to entice the student to enjoy critical thinking with a sense of learned optimism (a healthy sense of skepticism and independent thinking). And to better each student's decision making process.

From taking honors in law school to appellate court clerkships to creating a business plan for my law practice, I can make schooling easier and even more fun for anyone, when they know "how to think".

Like playing an inst