Is Law school worth it? (lawyers please)

[Blackjack200]

Some people that have prepared themselves extensively and are set on going will not necessarily get into a T14. It's worth a shot at applying if you really want to go, because most people coming out of T14s are still very employable. The "shot" I'm referring to is taking your 3.8 GPA and ~170 LSAT and applying to one of those schools.

Did you go to Berkeley for law, or something else? It's a fine law school. 3.8 and 170 might get you in, depending on demographic factors.

I saw a scatter plot of GPA vs LSAT score to get into one of the T14s, can't even remember which one now, but there was a very severe cutoff line in terms of which GPA/LSATs get in, and which ones don't. It almost seemed like you could predict admission on those two factors alone.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

You could be making bank son. do it now. Or you could be making OK money doing what you love.

 

[Saint Nick]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HXvVl2HVZ...HZOSvA/s1600-h/go_to_law_school+flowchart.png

 

[sjwaste]

I saw a scatter plot of GPA vs LSAT score to get into one of the T14s, can't even remember which one now, but there was a very severe cutoff line in terms of which GPA/LSATs get in, and which ones don't. It almost seemed like you could predict admission on those two factors alone.

Yeah, I think the term is "autoadmit" which is also the name of a message board frequented by would-be law students. It's basically the 4chan of people who think they're already lawyers. Total cesspool, check it out sometime.

There are cutoffs. Schools are good about posting their ranges, and other sites have somewhat accurately modeled the weights for the schools. GPA and LSAT really are the two major factors, with your demographic data filling out the rest. Being of certain races or ethnicities, disability, and veteran status (some schools) are potentially overriding factors, so if any of those apply to anyone thinking of applying to law school, use that to your advantage.

It's a tough game, but the school's rank matters a LOT in your future job prospects if you want to take the traditional route.

Whether or not being an attorney is a fulfilling career choice is an entirely separate matter. I go back and forth, to be quite honest. That's why I really encourage people to work at a law firm in a support role before deciding. It might be telling that to this day, I only know one person who still wanted to go through with law school after doing that.

 

[sjwaste]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HXvVl2HVZ...HZOSvA/s1600-h/go_to_law_school+flowchart.png

Wow, that really does sum it up. Good chart.

 

[shopbruin]

Some people that have prepared themselves extensively and are set on going will not necessarily get into a T14. It's worth a shot at applying if you really want to go, because most people coming out of T14s are still very employable. The "shot" I'm referring to is taking your 3.8 GPA and ~170 LSAT and applying to one of those schools.

Maybe that's why the hubs can't find a job right now, he went to #15.

 

[sjwaste]

Maybe that's why the hubs can't find a job right now, he went to #15.

Hey, I went to a school that is many multiples of 15. Barely in the top 100. OCI didn't work out for me, but I did accept an offer right around graduation time. I went to school at night, so having work experience helped, but if I can do it so can anyone else that's reasonably motivated.

My only point is, it's not the greatest idea in the world. I doubt I'd go if I could do it all over again.

 

[Slew Foot]

It's unlikely. A first year big law associate (AmLaw/Vault 100 or so) takes in 160k + anywhere from 0-30k as a bonus. This is assuming a major market (NY, DC, SF, and a few others). It's mostly lock step among "peer" firms.

Even Wachtell's best years were only paying 1st years 320k with bonus. And that's the not-even-close most prestigious firm.

600k would be doable, though, just not at a big firm. It'd have to be as a PI solo, or at a smaller PI shop where a first year would actually handle a full case. And there'd have to be a HUGE jury award, since the firm is taking about 1/3 and the associate even less.

I won't talk anyone out of going into law, but I will do my best to talk someone out of it if their prime reason is ambivalence. Like med school, but for a different reason, you have to be 100% set on this before you go. Med students b/c once you're in, it's a 7-10 year run. Law because you're leaving with huge debt with far slimmer prospects of a job that will actually pay it off than you'd think.

Durp, I meant to say partner, not associate. He was an associate for about 8 years I think before getting the bump.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

I've heard basically nothing positive about law school here or elsewhere, so I'm looking at switching my Business Certificate to a major in either Finance, International Business, or Marketing. Thanks for the input, ATOT.

 

[daniel1113]

I'm not an attorney yet, but I am a 2L at a T1 law school. Here are my thoughts.

If you know that you want to be an attorney, go to law school and don't let anyone talk you out of it because the market is saturated and jobs are hard to find. But if you're on the fence about being a lawyer, or you're simply going to law school because you don't know what else to do with your undergraduate degree, I wouldn't do it. I have too many friends that fall into this category, and they are all miserable.

And if you do decide to go to law school, be smart about which school you attend. Don't pay a fortunate to attend a T2, T3 or T4 school. If you don't attend a T14 school, pay more attention to the geographic scope of the school and plan accordingly.

I'm still glad to be in law school, but finding jobs has been a chore. If I wasn't sure that this was what I wanted to be doing, I wouldn't be wasting my time.

 

[Thump553]

Too lazy to read the entire thread, but I've been a lawyer for 30 years. The market is hugely oversaturated, the only profession that is worse is dentistry.

My advice-there is no reason to go into any job or profession unless that is what you want to do. Going into something solely to make big bucks almost guarantees you will be miserable-either because you work ALL the time at something you hate, or because you failed to get the big bucks. You only have one life, you should enjoy your work-maybe not all the time, but most of it.

 

[Regs]

I can sum this question up with one....question. Do you want to be a lawyer?

If you want to make the big bucks you either have to be completely devoted and motivated, or have great connections with the big league-rs.

You can no longer just do you job, but you have to do it better than anyone in your area and market yourself so. You really have to be good with people and a have a good business background. If you can't understand or get along with people, you're going down the wrong road.

 

[KingGheedora]

My AP chem teacher in high school told us on our last day, "I wish everybody well in the future in whatever you, unless you become a lawyer. Then I will curse you until you rot in hell because they r the scum of the earth!"

I guess he was butt hurt by some lawsuit.

Anyways a lot of people will say that in vain. That is until they are waist deep in shit.

Mr. Erdman?

 

[TalonStrike]

No. It'll give you a mountain of debt, and you won't get a decent job in the end.

 

[Jeeebus]

Run away from what?

Spammers that necro dead threads to advertise shitty websites?

 

[KrispyKreme50]

Move to Western Australia and you could make 100k plus as a cleaner on minesites up North.

It's no Herbert Hoover path, but there's gold in them hills

12 hour shifts and FIFO mean it's not a piece of cake, but still it's great coin (Why do you thing our armed forces are by far and away the best paid in the world? You can thank China and the mining boom. Why would you take 50-70k working on vehicles and getting shot at in Afghanistan when you could be earning 150k in the Pilbara or Kalgoorlie? )

Where can I sign up for this? I did a Google search, but I might be looking in the wrong place. Any information would be appreciated.