university engineers perform research. They are relatively unfettered by
legal restrictions on the application of scientific principles, and have
the time and freedom to explore genuinely theoretical problems.
In our industry, we solve problems using legal codes and formulas
several times removed from physical boundaries (when was the last time
you applied your stress concentration curves directly in solving a
problem, or worked out the first moment of area by hand?). Most of my
job is interpreting the thousands of pages of code material which has
been written on the various areas in which I practice. Considering that
the arbiter of my decision making / problem solving is going to be a
non-technical person comparing my solution to the written code - and
that may be a code official, judge, or a jury, depending on where in the
cycle of life my project might end up - I'd say we're a lot more like
lawyers than we would like to believe.
Fwiw, I find law fascinating and enjoyable - determining the merits of a
case is really not much different that tracing stresses through a
structure. I'd say that in engineering we have a better chance at a
defined outcome, but since the last link in the chain is the
soil...there still aren't any guarantees.
Jordan
Stuart, Matthew wrote:
> My experience has been that legal "logic" is inherently different from
> engineering "logic"
>
> Engineering principals, i.e. the laws of physics are literally
> universal; the laws of man are highly variable and can be as different
> as night and day even between adjoining townships.
>
> Our chief in-house counsel is both an attorney and a PE and sits on the
> NJ PE Board. Someday I'll have to write a book about my experiences.
>
>
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