A shrewd city lawyer was on vacation in the countryside. He stopped at a farm and saw a farmer looking quite distressed.
“What’s the matter?” asked the lawyer, trying to sound helpful.
“Well,” sighed the farmer, “my prize cow just ran off into that thick forest. I’ve been looking for hours, but I can’t find her anywhere. She’s worth a fortune!”
The lawyer, seeing an opportunity, puffed out his chest. “I’m a lawyer, you know. I can find your cow for you. But my fee is $500.”
The farmer, desperate, reluctantly agreed. “Alright, if you can find her, she’s worth it.”
The lawyer confidently walked into the forest. Ten minutes later, he emerged from the trees, dragging the cow behind him by a rope. The farmer’s jaw dropped.
“Amazing!” the farmer exclaimed. “How in the world did you find her so quickly? I’ve been searching all day!”
The lawyer adjusted his tie, a smug look on his face. “Simple,” he said. “I applied a technique we lawyers often use.”
The farmer leaned in, eager to learn. “Oh? What technique is that?”
The lawyer winked. “Well, first, I found a sheep. Then, I asked the sheep, ‘Where would you go if you were a cow and wanted to hide?'”
The farmer looked utterly bewildered. “And… and that worked?”
“Of course,” replied the lawyer. “The sheep led me straight to her! You see, in every case, you just have to think like your client!“