Non-Lawyer for Law School Forum

[StewartG]

Are there any good reasons for going to law school for people who don't want to be lawyers?

[doinmybest]

No.

[clintonius]

No.

[kazu]

No.

[pelmen74]

YES!
All of the richest people I know have JD's and are not lawyers, have never been lawyers. A JD opens tons of doors, even outside the legal profession.

[fenderjsm88]

No.

Edit: If you just really like debt.

[prezidentv8]

Great thread guys.

[Encyclopedia Brown]

[StewartG]

YES!
All of the richest people I know have JD's and are not lawyers, have never been lawyers. A JD opens tons of doors, even outside the legal profession.

Is it sarcastic or not?

[Na_Swatch]

YES!
All of the richest people I know have JD's and are not lawyers, have never been lawyers. A JD opens tons of doors, even outside the legal profession.

Is it sarcastic or not?

for example if you want to be like these guys:

--ImageRemoved--

[pelmen74]

YES!
All of the richest people I know have JD's and are not lawyers, have never been lawyers. A JD opens tons of doors, even outside the legal profession.

Is it sarcastic or not?

for example if you want to be like these guys:

--ImageRemoved--

Not sarcastic. I went to a private school with a lot of rich kids, most of their dad's had JDs but were entrepreneurs, CEOs, etc. They are also obviously pretty smart so did not get a JD to "waste money". Lawyers hold positions in all sectors. One of the reason that many lawyers go to Big law is to make connections with corporations, who often take on Lawyers who represented them, as members of their boards or into other management positions. So yes, a JD is not only for a law career.

[bk1]

Not sarcastic. I went to a private school with a lot of rich kids, most of their dad's had JDs but were entrepreneurs, CEOs, etc. They are also obviously pretty smart so did not get a JD to "waste money". Lawyers hold positions in all sectors. One of the reason that many lawyers go to Big law is to make connections with corporations, who often take on Lawyers who represented them, as members of their boards or into other management positions. So yes, a JD is not only for a law career.

Yes, let's make decisions about people who operate at the margins...

Are you stupid?

[merichard87]

I can agree with the poster above about being able to EVENTUALLY go into sectors other than law BUT I think its a dumb move to get a law degree if you never want to practice law. Most likely you're going to have to practice for some time before moving into business.

If you want to work in business go get an MBA.

[pelmen74]

Not sarcastic. I went to a private school with a lot of rich kids, most of their dad's had JDs but were entrepreneurs, CEOs, etc. They are also obviously pretty smart so did not get a JD to "waste money". Lawyers hold positions in all sectors. One of the reason that many lawyers go to Big law is to make connections with corporations, who often take on Lawyers who represented them, as members of their boards or into other management positions. So yes, a JD is not only for a law career.

Yes, let's make decisions about people who operate at the margins...

Are you stupid?

No, obviously going to law school is a bad idea if you hate the idea of being a lawyer. But If you want to dream big, and don't want to work as a lawyer for the rest of your life, law school might not be the worst idea.

[Bingus McBadger]

90% of the folks at my country club are JDs that don't practice. 80K entry fee. They're all doing alright. If you've got the money, a JD can't hurt you.

[Matthies]

90% of the folks at my country club are JDs that don't practice. 80K entry fee. They're all doing alright. If you've got the money, a JD can't hurt you.

At this point 90% of the population are JDs

[sundance95]

But If you want to dream big, and don't want to work as a lawyer for the rest of your life, law school might not be the worst idea.

[pelmen74]

But If you want to dream big, and don't want to work as a lawyer for the rest of your life, law school might not be the worst idea.

Sigh. Everyone who is going to law school is taking a risk (even if its for free because you lose 3 years of work). If you hope that that risk will pay of, but don't bank on it, I don't see how that could possibly be stupid.

[cinefile 17]

Good point. 90% of the reasons I hear anyone give for going to law school (even on TLS) are face palm worthy. Besides, who really knows if they definitely do or do not want to be a lawyer until they actually try it?

[bk1]

Sigh. Everyone who is going to law school is taking a risk (even if its for free because you lose 3 years of work). If you hope that that risk will pay of, but don't bank on it, I don't see how that could possibly be stupid.

Not all risks are inherently equal, HTH.

[pelmen74]

Are there any good reasons for going to law school for people who don't want to be lawyers?

let's restart, if you have good business connections and are already wealthy, get a JD and your route to CEO-dom is 15 years shorter. Sadly, I will have to slave 100 hour weeks for at least the next 15 years (If I'm lucky enough).

[bk1]

let's restart, if you have good business connections and are already wealthy, get a JD and your route to CEO-dom is 15 years shorter. Sadly, I will have to slave 100 hour weeks for at least the next 15 years (If I'm lucky enough).

I'm pretty sure those people don't post on TLS so your words are wasted breath here.

[sundance95]

Sigh. Everyone who is going to law school is taking a risk (even if its for free because you lose 3 years of work). If you hope that that risk will pay of, but don't bank on it, I don't see how that could possibly be stupid.

If you go to LS not wanting to practice, and incur debt, you are banking on the risk paying off, aren't you? Additionally, you are banking on a more extreme risk then most law students, to wit, that you will be able to pay off your loans and live comfortably despite not working in the profession that you've paid six figures to have a chance to join.

I don't see how that could possibly be stupid.

Famous last words.

[1Levening2013]

i am not classifying myself in the CEO-dom crowd by any means, but i have 6+yrs of work experience, have big law+ salary, and am going to law school with little to no intention of practicing formally

[blsingindisguise]

Just the other night I found out that my cab driver had a JD, so obviously it opens doors to other professions.