Is Law school worth it? (lawyers please)

[ConstipatedVigilante]

I'm considering applying to law school (starting my 3rd year of undergrad now) since I'm studying liberal arts in college. I've been reading opinions online and a lot of people reek of despair, saying that there are no jobs and the market is saturated. Other people say there are jobs if you work hard and get good grades, and that coming out on top of a top-50 school is better than being in the middle at a top-5 school. I'm also thinking of doing a combined MBA/JD program, so it'll be pretty intensive and thus a big decision. Does anyone have any input on this?

 

[Matthiasa]

Well as long as you don't expect to become rich...

 

[Dirigible]

Search here for previous threads on the subject.

Be sure you know what day to day work you want to do with a law degree, that you would like it, and that it pays enough.

Law school cost is high. Lots of lawyers hate it.

 

[maziwanka]

think very very hard about it. especially if you will have to take loans out for it. it's not what it used to be (i.e. as easy to get jobs) and even when you do, i feel it takes a while to actually enjoy what you're doing

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Search here for previous threads on the subject.

Be sure you know what day to day work you want to do with a law degree, that you would like it, and that it pays enough.

Law school cost is high. Lots of lawyers hate it.

There was a huge and informative thread on here. I was reading it because I was thinking of law school myself.

 

[Vette73]

Yea to many lawyers right now.

Get a MBA or go to Pharm school.

 

[TheVrolok]

I have a good friend who went on a full scholarship to a less than top tier (or probably even second tier school) and she has a job lined up to start at, or very near 100k. However, I don't think she's the average. If you could do it cheap, go for it, if you want to just make bank, go to Pharm school.. talk about bang for your buck.

 

[LtPage1]

I'm doing it. Taking my LSAT in October.

My advice on applying: Most law schools use rolling admissions, so plan to have your statement written, LSAT taken, and letters of recommendation done and submitted by November 1.

 

[PricklyPete]

I have several relatives and friends who are lawyers and my sister is at Georgetown Law as we speak. Don't go into it thinking it will equal big money. It has the potential to be big...but most people get average jobs if they want normal working hours.

The few young people that I know who are making a really good living from being a lawyer also work a crap load of hours. Two specifically have talked to me about how they are thinking this may not be the profession for them and may try something else.

So do it if you really think you're interested...but don't do it for the money.

 

[thegimp03]

Do you know what you want to do in 10-20 years? Given that you're still in undergrad and likely don't have a lot of "real world" work experience, it might not be a great idea to get your JD/MBA degree unless you absolutely know for sure that's what you want to do - from a financial perspective, this could save you a good chunk of change...

From what I know about top tier MBA programs, they generally look for someone with at least 5 years work experience. I think a lot of students your age are probably considering the same thing, making it that much more difficult to get into these programs at the moment. A lot of new grads and people I know with 1-2 years work experience who've been laid off in the last couple years have gone back for their law and/or business degrees.

 

[Farang]

After I graduated college, I was studying for the LSAT. While walking down the street with a study guide, a big fat Texan in a ten gallon hat stopped me and said "Don't do it!" and went on about too many lawyers, layoffs all over the country, etc.

 

[Dirigible]

After I graduated college, I was studying for the LSAT. While walking down the street with a study guide, a big fat Texan in a ten gallon hat stopped me and said "Don't do it!" and went on about too many lawyers, layoffs all over the country, etc.

A) Did you go to law school?
B) Did you sex0r up the fat Texan?
C) I know you did, and did he keep his hat on during said sex0ring?

 

[sjwaste]

I don't recommend it. If you insist on it, go Top 14, go public, or stay home.

If you don't get into a T14 school, your costs better be low, or the degree isn't worth it. That means a state program. And that state program needs to be Tier 1 or you're not getting a decent job.

If you don't go to Harvard, Yale, or Stanford, you're going to need to finish in the top quarter of your class in the rest of the T14. If you end up at a state school, push that closer to top 15%. If you go Tier 3/4, better be #1 in your class or damn close to it (or have a full ride).

Law school is way overpriced. The market is saturated, and very few are getting decent offers. If you're not one of the lucky few going to a top firm, expect to be making 40-60k starting in small law or government. It's just too easy to get in, and there are too many law schools. Going b/c you're a liberal arts major isn't really justification. It's not too late to switch to a more employable major, considering a business grad can make 65k starting w/ a consulting firm. That's your better route.

Work for a few years. Go back later, even at night, if you really want to. That's what I did, and I still don't think the value of my degree is all there - and I'm one of the lucky ones that got a good government gig with sane hours and didn't start as a GS-11 Step 1. Which is good, because I have loans to pay off b/c I went to a private (Tier 1) school.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Could someone give me a link to the "megathread" mentioned? I found a few fairly depressing threads with the search function, but none beyond 100 replies.

 

[shopbruin]

No, it's not worth it.

Thankfully, I made that decision before I took the LSAT. However, I think with my personality I would have gutted it out, no matter where I worked, even if it was 2500 hours per year. But I probably would have gone insane. And if I was even still employed...

 

[JS80]

Waste of time no value add degree for new grads. Best decision I ever made was to quit pursuing law after spending $5k on Testmasters. I make more than a top tier law associate and I have nearly no school debt and I'm 3+ years ahead in life.

 

[KIAman]

Do anything to get past a liberal arts degree up to and including going into law.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Waste of time no value add degree for new grads. Best decision I ever made was to quit pursuing law after spending $5k on Testmasters. I make more than a top tier law associate and I have nearly no school debt and I'm 3+ years ahead in life.

I'd agree, and OP, don't make the mistake of paying for an MBA yourself either. If you want one, find a job and have your employer pay for it. There is no need to go tens of thousands of dollars in debt when most good employers will pay all or a significant portion of an MBA program.

 

[Koing]

Is it really that important to go to a top school for law?

Here in the UK I have a mate, went to a good Uni, Bristol did History, got a 1st class honors, so at least top 5-10%, got his Masters of Arts in History also. Did his prep work and applications and had an offer from Allen & Overy and Slaughter and May. It can happen, but it depends on how good you think you are mate. He thinks very highly of himself, is smart and works hard and interviews very well. If you have these qualities then go for it mate.

Koing

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Do anything to get past a liberal arts degree up to and including going into law.

I'm not thinking of it as "getting past my degree." I love what I'm studying and it's giving me a good background and room for specialization. I just don't think I can do much with what I have without a JD and/or MBA.

 

[Slew Foot]

There is HUMONGOUS money that you can make in law BUT, you have to:

- Get into a top 5 school and graduate near the top of your class
- Get a job at a top big law firm
- Work YOUR ASS OFF as an associate for 8-10 years
- Make partner and continue to work your ass off

My brother in law followed this pattern and pulled in 600K his first year as an associate, but he seems to be working almost all the time.

 

[mizzou]

most lawyers I see are lazy as crap

it's not a bad life if you got someone to pay the tuition for you, but alot of laywers have a change of heart and that is disastrous.

I thought about law for a long time and eventually said no

 

[Kanalua]

If you love it, then do it. The hard part is you really wont know if you love it until after you've done it. So...if you aren't planning on being an attorney (if law school is just a parking lot to hang at to weather the storm of our current economy), then do NOT do it...

 

[MotionMan]

Run...

Away...

Fast!

MotionMan, Esq.

 

[sjwaste]

Not seeing a lot of responses from the ATOT bar association in this thread. Hopefully some of the others chime in.

A lot of you are sharing opinions on why you chose not to go to law school, and that's good perspective, though. The #1 worst reason to do it is because your undergraduate degree makes you otherwise unemployable. It will be far cheaper to stay an extra year in undergrad and get a bachelors that actually pays, especially if your university has a business school. Do that instead.

If you insist on going the law route, read my post in this thread. It's first hand.