Commencement season is just about over across the United States, and the New York Times had a nice round-up of commencement speeches from across the country a few days ago that’s worth reading.  I thought it would be nice to feature a selection of some of my commencement speech favorites:

• David Gergen asked Duke Law’s Class of 2006 to be "lawyer-statesmen" and work to reform "the insanity of the billable hours regime."
  
• Judge John Kane’s 2004 address at the University of Colorado School of Law warned graduates that "you will seldom see people at their best" and told them that, to succeed as a lawyer, "you need to feel a fire in your belly."
  
• Kansas Attorney General Carla Stovall reminded graduates at Washburn University School of Law’s 2002 commencement that "doing basic legal research is really not below your station in life" and encouraged them to "accept the job you want -- not the job your parent or spouse wants for you."
  
• And finally, historian David McCullough didn’t address law students, but his advice to Bates College’s graduating seniors is perfect for all of us:  "How ever little television you watch, watch less.  Read.  Read for pleasure.  Read for happiness."