Dropping out in Fall of 2L? Forum

(Study Tips, Dealing With Stress, Maintaining a Social Life, Financial Aid, Internships, Bar Exam, Careers in Law . . . )
Post Reply

Drop out?

Drop out
15
68%
Wait to hear from more firms
2
9%
Stay the course
5
23%
 
Total votes: 22

oldtimeywestern

New
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2014 9:17 pm

Dropping out in Fall of 2L?

Post by oldtimeywestern » Wed Sep 24, 2014 4:21 pm

Stats: Very slightly below median at lower T14. Was below median for 1st semester by a significant amount, was above median second semester by a somewhat less significant amount.

Situation: I struck out at OCI. Mass-mailed, one callback, which I got a rejection from. Some more mass-mailed firms I'd love to hear back from, but no reason to expect one. Meanwhile, I have a couple job offers in my previous field at ~$120,000 ish. Job would be stable and fairly secure, only 40 hours a week. I might need to (rarely) be on call for a weekend, but it really would be a minor thing. Probably would be a few weeks a year I need to put in longish hours, but it wouldn't be a regular thing. However, the job does not have much room for advancement. Job would also be very boring. Cubicle. One of the jobs is in a very high COL city.

Debt: On a $40,000k/year scholarship, so debt is there but not suffocating at this point, would be pretty easy to pay off quickly.

I already paid for this semester, but there is an opportunity cost of roughly $10k per month in lost salary if I stay in school.

runinthefront

Gold
Posts: 2151
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 2:18 am

Re: Dropping out in Fall of 2L?

Post by runinthefront » Wed Sep 24, 2014 4:28 pm

oldtimeywestern wrote:Stats: Very slightly below median at lower T14. Was below median for 1st semester by a significant amount, was above median second semester by a somewhat less significant amount.

Situation: I struck out at OCI. Mass-mailed, one callback, which I got a rejection from. Some more mass-mailed firms I'd love to hear back from, but no reason to expect one. Meanwhile, I have a couple job offers in my previous field at ~$120,000 ish. Job would be stable and fairly secure, only 40 hours a week. I might need to (rarely) be on call for a weekend, but it really would be a minor thing. Probably would be a few weeks a year I need to put in longish hours, but it wouldn't be a regular thing. However, the job does not have much room for advancement. Job would also be very boring. Cubicle. One of the jobs is in a very high COL city.

Debt: On a $40,000k/year scholarship, so debt is there but not suffocating at this point, would be pretty easy to pay off quickly.

I already paid for this semester, but there is an opportunity cost of roughly $10k per month in lost salary if I stay in school.
Why did you choose to attend law school in the first place?
Last edited by runinthefront on Sat Jan 27, 2018 12:46 am, edited 1 time in total.

oldtimeywestern

New
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2014 9:17 pm

Re: Dropping out in Fall of 2L?

Post by oldtimeywestern » Wed Sep 24, 2014 4:50 pm

runinthefront wrote:
oldtimeywestern wrote:Stats: Very slightly below median at lower T14. Was below median for 1st semester by a significant amount, was above median second semester by a somewhat less significant amount.

Situation: I struck out at OCI. Mass-mailed, one callback, which I got a rejection from. Some more mass-mailed firms I'd love to hear back from, but no reason to expect one. Meanwhile, I have a couple job offers in my previous field at ~$120,000 ish. Job would be stable and fairly secure, only 40 hours a week. I might need to (rarely) be on call for a weekend, but it really would be a minor thing. Probably would be a few weeks a year I need to put in longish hours, but it wouldn't be a regular thing. However, the job does not have much room for advancement. Job would also be very boring. Cubicle. One of the jobs is in a very high COL city.

Debt: On a $40,000k/year scholarship, so debt is there but not suffocating at this point, would be pretty easy to pay off quickly.

I already paid for this semester, but there is an opportunity cost of roughly $10k per month in lost salary if I stay in school.
Why did you choose to attend law school in the first place?
The main reasons were: (1) boredom with my previous job, (2) a feeling that law school would provide better chances for long-term career development, and (3) a general interest in political science/public policy type stuff. I actually really enjoy most of my law school classes, although I thought my summer job in a corporate legal department was incredibly boring.

User avatar
McAvoy

Gold
Posts: 1584
Joined: Sun Oct 20, 2013 10:33 pm

Re: Dropping out in Fall of 2L?

Post by McAvoy » Wed Sep 24, 2014 4:58 pm

oldtimeywestern wrote:I have a couple job offers in my previous field at ~$120,000 ish. Job would be stable and fairly secure, only 40 hours a week. I might need to (rarely) be on call for a weekend, but it really would be a minor thing. Probably would be a few weeks a year I need to put in longish hours, but it wouldn't be a regular thing.
What field is this/what skills/path does it require? thx

User avatar
jbagelboy

Diamond
Posts: 10361
Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2012 7:57 pm

Re: Dropping out in Fall of 2L?

Post by jbagelboy » Wed Sep 24, 2014 5:18 pm

McAvoy wrote:
oldtimeywestern wrote:I have a couple job offers in my previous field at ~$120,000 ish. Job would be stable and fairly secure, only 40 hours a week. I might need to (rarely) be on call for a weekend, but it really would be a minor thing. Probably would be a few weeks a year I need to put in longish hours, but it wouldn't be a regular thing.
What field is this/what skills/path does it require? thx
sounds like software development, and I'm guessing the high COL city is SF/Palo Alto, although the hours thing is kind of flame if that's actually what it is

Want to continue reading?

Register now to search topics and post comments!

Absolutely FREE!


Julius

New
Posts: 76
Joined: Wed Jul 16, 2014 2:02 pm

Re: Dropping out in Fall of 2L?

Post by Julius » Wed Sep 24, 2014 5:56 pm

Good paying law jobs are boring. And they are boring for a lot more than 40 hours a week. 90-95% of those jobs are now unavailable to you.

I'd pull the chute and take the old job.

getemgoon

New
Posts: 60
Joined: Wed Sep 29, 2010 12:03 am

Re: Dropping out in Fall of 2L?

Post by getemgoon » Fri Sep 26, 2014 12:04 am

Voted Stay the course.

Try 3L oci/mass mailing/networking. While the chances are slim, there's no denying that, at least you'll never be able to ask 'what if.' Also, your 120k job will always be there.

The Q you want to ask is: is it worth it to stay the 2 years + debt, for a chance to get a job you want? (Seems like biglaw according to your post) This depends on your personality, life situation, etc.

Good luck.

hiima3L

Silver
Posts: 911
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2012 10:26 pm

Re: Dropping out in Fall of 2L?

Post by hiima3L » Fri Sep 26, 2014 1:25 am

"Meanwhile, I have a couple job offers in my previous field at ~$120,000 ish. Job would be stable and fairly secure, only 40 hours a week."

This is reason enough for 99% of law students to drop out.

sparty99

Gold
Posts: 1899
Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2010 8:41 pm

Re: Dropping out in Fall of 2L?

Post by sparty99 » Fri Sep 26, 2014 1:53 am

hiima3L wrote:"Meanwhile, I have a couple job offers in my previous field at ~$120,000 ish. Job would be stable and fairly secure, only 40 hours a week."

This is reason enough for 99% of law students to drop out.
Why even stay? You dumb for going in the first place.

Want to continue reading?

Register for access!

Did I mention it was FREE ?


Post Reply

Return to “Forum for Law School Students”