Want to run the country? Get a Law Degree.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

I was doing some research on Canadian Prime Ministers, when I came across a surprising statistic. Here's a list of Canada's 10 most successful Prime Ministers. Look at the common denominator.

1. W.L. Mackenzie-King - 22 years in office (Liberal) Lawyer
2. John A. MacDonald - 20 years in office (Tory) Lawyer
3. Pierre Trudeau- 15 years in office (Liberal)Law Professor, Lawyer
4. Wilfrid Laurier - 15 years in office (Liberal) Lawyer
5. Jean Chretien - 10 years in office (Liberal) Lawyer
6. Robert Borden - 9 years in office (Tory) Lawyer
7. Brian Mulroney - 9 years in office (Tory) Lawyer
8. Louis St Laurent - 9 years in office(Liberal)Law Professor, Lawyer
9. John Diefenbaker - 6 years in office (Tory) Lawyer
10. Lester Pearson - 5 years in office (Liberal) Lawyer.

Canada has been governed by Lawyers for 119 years out of its 136 year history. Canada has never gone more than four years without having a Lawyer as Prime Minister.
I checked all the US Presidents of the 20th Century, and it's less prevalent, but the number one occupation was, you guessed it, Lawyer (six out of fifteen), closely followed by Soldier (five).

In case you're wondering, current PM Paul Martin has a degree in, yup, Law.

[Sandpiper]

1. Lawyer is the most represented position on Mt. Rushmore

With Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. Teddy Roosevelt attended law school but dropped out.

[fishguy]

2. Law is ideal for politics

Especially the fact that you can take time off of your law practice and campaign and then get back into law once politicing is over.
Not too many jobs afford that luxury.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

3. It makes sense for a parliamentary system to be dominated by Lawyers.

If you watch parliaments, what are they, if not a big courtroom.

[sweetheart]

5. actually i'd wager you're wrong...

Marmots, snakes and wildlife are surely better represented. For that matter, stone carvers are also rather well represented.. and national park services.... but not lawyers. :)

[FreeperSlayer]

4. makes a better Congressman

Business folk: Ugh!