I should have been more clear: I meant that just as engineers are optimizing the risk/reward ratio for themselves and their interests, lawyers are likewise bala

I should have been more clear: I meant that just as engineers are optimizing the risk/reward ratio for themselves and their interests, lawyers are likewise balancing risk and reward and optimizing for their interests. Often those interests overlap with those of their client/employer -- but at times they don't, as you underline. My only point what that good lawyers probably use the same process. Good engineers aren't the only ones with strong logic skills.