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Hey guys. 0L here with an interest in law, government and politics, studying for the LSAT, have a 3.7 GPA and my prospects could be decent for law school if I nail the LSAT. None the less everybody has told me this is a terrible decision and I should pursue business or something else all together. Problem is I am terrible at math and fields like finance, accounting, engineering etc just wouldn't be realistic with my math phobias. I thought to myself... If a lot of these entry level Attorneys are making 19-20 dollars an hour (which I've seen a fews ads in the Philadelphia area for this) why not just bag it and become a Real Estate Agent. Spend 2 months, get my license and in 3 years of time that it would take to get my law degree I would have built my business up and have zero debt. As opposed to making 40k per year with 150k of debt. By the same token I've heard that Real Estate is truly miserable as well.... Just can't win.

AJFAJF wrote:Hey guys. 0L here with an interest in law, government and politics, studying for the LSAT, have a 3.7 GPA and my prospects could be decent for law school if I nail the LSAT. None the less everybody has told me this is a terrible decision and I should pursue business or something else all together. Problem is I am terrible at math and fields like finance, accounting, engineering etc just wouldn't be realistic with my math phobias. I thought to myself... If a lot of these entry level Attorneys are making 19-20 dollars an hour (which I've seen a fews ads in the Philadelphia area for this) why not just bag it and become a Real Estate Agent. Spend 2 months, get my license and in 3 years of time that it would take to get my law degree I would have built my business up and have zero debt. As opposed to making 40k per year with 150k of debt. By the same token I've heard that Real Estate is truly miserable as well.... Just can't win.

Why are these your only two options?

My undergrad is in Paralegal Studies but as a male I am insecure in being a "paralegal." I really just picked it fully expecting to go to law school. But then the bubble bursted.

Maybe by 2017 when I'd be finishing up the market will have rebounded?

I dunno kid. You seems to be looking for a sure thing. There are no sure things. Maybe becoming a lawyer will pay off, maybe it won't. Same for real estate.

AJFAJF wrote:Maybe by 2017 when I'd be finishing up the market will have rebounded?

It's worth keeping in mind that if your goal is biglaw, it doesn't matter where the market is when you graduate, but rather in the fall before/during your 2L year, because that's when firms interview.

IAFG wrote:I dunno kid. You seems to be looking for a sure thing. There are no sure things. Maybe becoming a lawyer will pay off, maybe it won't. Same for real estate.

Difference is one costs nothing to try and the other costs 3 years of grueling work and over 100k of debt.

IAFG wrote:I dunno kid. You seems to be looking for a sure thing. There are no sure things. Maybe becoming a lawyer will pay off, maybe it won't. Same for real estate.

Yeah, agreed. If you want a guaranteed paycheck go into local government...4 realz

banana$$stand wrote:

IAFG wrote:I dunno kid. You seems to be looking for a sure thing. There are no sure things. Maybe becoming a lawyer will pay off, maybe it won't. Same for real estate.

Yeah, agreed. If you want a guaranteed paycheck go into local government...4 realz

Lol, I've often thought, if it doesn't work out I will simply kill myself. BAM. Problem solved.

AJFAJF wrote:My undergrad is in Paralegal Studies but as a male I am insecure in being a "paralegal." I really just picked it fully expecting to go to law school. But then the bubble bursted.

That insecurity is stupid. If someone has a problem with you being an employed paralegal (assuming you can get a job being a paralegal), they really aren't the type of person you want to associate with. Moreover, working as a paralegal for a bit might give you a better idea of exactly what you want to do. Just a thought.

Since when do schools let people major in Paralegal Studies? I had no idea that was a thing.

Although OP can't change this now, in the realm of general advice, no one should major in pre-law/paralegal studies/attorney in training/little junior lawyer's league.

To OP: I say give real estate a try and see if you like it and can be successful at it (whatever that means). A lot of people at my undergrad obtained their real estate license during college and started renting properties, so you can try it right away. If things don't work out, you can revisit the possibility of law school. Or, as above poster said, put that paralegal studies degree to some use and try being a paralegal. In your case, it would be a easy/paid way to get exposure to the legal world, and could put you in a position where you have at least one firm that you know is interested in you, reducing the risk of law school.

AJFAJF wrote:

banana$$stand wrote:

IAFG wrote:I dunno kid. You seems to be looking for a sure thing. There are no sure things. Maybe becoming a lawyer will pay off, maybe it won't. Same for real estate.

Yeah, agreed. If you want a guaranteed paycheck go into local government...4 realz

Lol, I've often thought, if it doesn't work out I will simply kill myself. BAM. Problem solved.

Nice return for the investment your parents put in you. You make me angry, kid.

Tekrul wrote:

AJFAJF wrote:

banana$$stand wrote:

IAFG wrote:I dunno kid. You seems to be looking for a sure thing. There are no sure things. Maybe becoming a lawyer will pay off, maybe it won't. Same for real estate.

Yeah, agreed. If you want a guaranteed paycheck go into local government...4 realz

Lol, I've often thought, if it doesn't work out I will simply kill myself. BAM. Problem solved.

Nice return for the investment your parents put in you. You make me angry, kid.

give me a break.