124 Forum

[shotsfired12]

redacted.

[Renzo]

So, of the two job tracts you've identified (biglaw and non-biglaw) you don't really want either. Why, exactly are you thinking law school is a good idea?

[Cosmo Kramer]

I want it to snow, but I don't want it to be cold.

catch my drift? (pun intended)

[shotsfired12]

redacted.

[joemoviebuff]

I never said law school was a good idea, but I don't really have any other options.

In before the shitstorm.

[thecilent]

I want it to snow, but I don't want it to be cold.

catch my drift? (pun intended)

But seriously, OP, maybe no go to law school.

[AreJay711]

Hi Guys,

Right now I am a 3.24/169 splitter waiting basically on a slew of top 15-30 schools. I will likely not get much, if any, money from the schools I am accepted to. I am a few months out of undergrad, working as a tutor/admin at a small company, making enouh money to support myself completely, but not enough to save anything substantial for LS. I have no undergrad debt, as I went to school in Canada as a citizen. I have a degree in International Relations, so working and not doing LS is a possibility, but not something I really want to entertain or something my parents would welcome. I am mainly worried about two things:

1) Not getting big law. This is a distinct possibility given the economy, and I really, really don't want to do small law/work as a temp/etc etc (who does???)
2) Getting big law, but being miserable. I'm not talking about the work - I think I'd actually enjoy it moderaely, and I think I'd be decent at it - I'm talking about the hours. I would like to have some semblance of a 20-something year old's life, and more importanly, I would like to have relationships and the time to start/maintain them.

With my situation, I was wondering if there's anything I could do starting in 1L to maximize my possibilities, alternatives, and back-ups to big-law? What are the the career possibilites I can look into and how can I prepare for them? I'm open to suggestions, from the least likely (ie. consulting) to the most.

Well from what I gather on here and my discussions with lawyers, the best thing you can do is really, really, really do your best to get the best grades you can in LS. Also, even if you get biglaw and don't like it, the experience will open doors at midlaw firms that typically only hire people with experience but offer better hours. 100K isn't as good as 160K but you should be able to cover your loans and have a reasonable amount left over to enjoy. You might also want to look into schools with good LRAP which will cover your loans if you take public interest.

Pre-post edit: If you have a job now, then you have options. Just because you are working somewhere doesn't mean you have to stop looking.

[shotsfired12]

redacted.

[AreJay711]

how many years would you have to work to go from big-law to mid-law?

I didn't really get into specifics about it but I think after only a few years. Some people do get midlaw jobs straight out of school but it is harder since they don't need to constantly hire new blood like the giant firms. If you see SBL on I think he said he has a midlaw job lined up. Anyone on here correct me if I am wrong about that.

[Anonymous User]

just hope you can get into vanderbilt or something comparable....
otherwise your law career might be over before it begins......

sorry clicked wrong button

[mrmangs]

how many years would you have to work to go from big-law to mid-law?

Depends. But by five years you should have plenty of exit options, including in-house.

[thexfactor]

how many years would you have to work to go from big-law to mid-law?

Depends. But by five years you should have plenty of exit options, including in-house.

ive heard after 2 or so years you start getting random calls from headhunters....

[mrmangs]

how many years would you have to work to go from big-law to mid-law?

Depends. But by five years you should have plenty of exit options, including in-house.

ive heard after 2 or so years you start getting random calls from headhunters....

Yeah, this is true. I know an attorney who worked for Davis Wright for two years and then was picked up by Microsoft. You can definitely move on out before five years, but I feel like by then you definitely know whether you are partner material or not, and will saved up quite a bit of money, which will soften the blow if you're going to take a pay cut and go somewhere else.

ETA: You will also have established extensive contacts and will have hopefully had some amazing WE/training by then too.

[megaTTTron]

Hi Guys,

Right now I am a 3.24/169 splitter waiting basically on a slew of top 15-30 schools. I will likely not get much, if any, money from the schools I am accepted to. I am a few months out of undergrad, working as a tutor/admin at a small company, making enouh money to support myself completely, but not enough to save anything substantial for LS. I have no undergrad debt, as I went to school in Canada as a citizen. I have a degree in International Relations, so working and not doing LS is a possibility, but not something I really want to entertain or something my parents would welcome. I am mainly worried about two things:

1) Not getting big law. This is a distinct possibility given the economy, and I really, really don't want to do small law/work as a temp/etc etc (who does???)
2) Getting big law, but being miserable. I'm not talking about the work - I think I'd actually enjoy it moderaely, and I think I'd be decent at it - I'm talking about the hours. I would like to have some semblance of a 20-something year old's life, and more importanly, I would like to have relationships and the time to start/maintain them.

With my situation, I was wondering if there's anything I could do starting in 1L to maximize my possibilities, alternatives, and back-ups to big-law? What are the the career possibilites I can look into and how can I prepare for them? I'm open to suggestions, from the least likely (ie. consulting) to the most.

It's all relative. If you want to go to law school without scholarships you've got to make a choice. (Although, it isn't much of a choice). You either put the soul-crushing hours in at a biglaw job to pay off your debt, or carry the soul-crushing debt into your 30s/40s.

[2Serious4Numbers]

I never said law school was a good idea, but I don't really have any other options.

In before the shitstorm.

what are you talking about no other options? you don't have undergrad debt and unless you majored in underwater basket weaving there are always options apart from a mountain of debt and potentially awful career prospects. are you delusional?

[Renzo]

I never said law school was a good idea, but I don't really have any other options.

In before the shitstorm.

what are you talking about no other options? you don't have undergrad debt and unless you majored in underwater basket weaving there are always options apart from a mountain of debt and potentially awful career prospects. are you delusional?

Even if you majored in underwater basket weaving there are options.

[20160810]

You're not going to get into a single school that makes going to law school worthwhile if you're only willing to accept a 6-figure firm job.

[2Serious4Numbers]

I never said law school was a good idea, but I don't really have any other options.

In before the shitstorm.

what are you talking about no other options? you don't have undergrad debt and unless you majored in underwater basket weaving there are always options apart from a mountain of debt and potentially awful career prospects. are you delusional?

Even if you majored in underwater basket weaving there are options.

well played.

[BackToTheOldHouse]

I want it to snow, but I don't want it to be cold.

catch my drift? (pun intended)

Nice. Here's my try:

I want to wear volure jumpsuits, but I don't want to look stupid.
feel me? (pun sort of intended)

http://nateandleah.com/Justin%20Jumpsuit.JPG

[ResolutePear]

TEACH FOR AMERICA.

Alright, I'm done here.

[Cosmo Kramer]

I want it to snow, but I don't want it to be cold.

catch my drift? (pun intended)

Nice. Here's my try:

I want to wear volure jumpsuits, but I don't want to look stupid.
feel me? (pun sort of intended)

http://nateandleah.com/Justin%20Jumpsuit.JPG

Well played sir, especially since my buddy almost got beat up not too long ago for making fun of a bunch of guys in volure jumpsuits on the subway lol

[Stanford4Me]

What is this I don't even

[BackToTheOldHouse]

What is this I don't even

you know you love it

[RVP11]

how many years would you have to work to go from big-law to mid-law?

Depends. But by five years you should have plenty of exit options, including in-house.

This is optimistic.

Not that many people - even at V10s, even after five years - can just waltz into a F500 in-house job.

The exit options from big firms are generally just smaller firms and government.

[camstant]

You're not going to get into a single school that makes going to law school worthwhile if you're only willing to accept a 6-figure firm job.

Exactly. Going to law school isnt a place to go for lack of a better option.... do i really need to finish this thought?