4.2.12 WC: 191694 Conclusion—Closing Argument: Looking back at my 50 year career and forward to the laws next 50 years. As I begin my second half century of law practice and teaching, I look back with fondness, nostalgia and a heavy dose of surprise on my interesting life and career, as I look forward to my remaining years. Since I try to prepare my students to be lawyers over their entire careers, and since the career of a lawyer now extends to a full half century, I must always think ahead to what our legal system will look like when my current students end their careers. I could not have asked more or better from my first half century. I have accomplished far more than I could ever have anticipated, especially in light of my undistinguished elementary and high school performance, and I have lived a more interesting life than I could ever have dreamed. I have surely lived the passion of my times and I’ve been very lucky, at least so far. (I don’t want to give myself a “kneina hura.”!°’) Like the fictional Zelig in Woody Allen’s great film of that name, I was privileged to have been present—literally or virtually—at many of the most important legal and political events that transpired during my adult life. For some I volunteered, for others I was solicited. Sometimes I was a direct participant, other times an active observer and reporter. In this “closing argument” I will try to summarize my role in the important legal and political developments in which I participated. I will also speculate about what the future may hold for our system of laws and justice. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. viewed the role of the lawyer as a predictor of future legal decisions and trends.’ But the Talmud cautioned that prophecy ended with the destruction of the second temple and that he/she who tries to prophecy the future is either a fool or a naive. Or asa contemporary sage—Y ogi Berra—put it: “Prediction is very hard, especially about the future.” I certainly agree that prognosticating