Real Estate Agent vs. Attorney - Career Choice ? Forum

A forum for applicants and admitted students to ask law students and graduates about law school and the practice of law.
Post Reply
AJFAJF

New
Posts: 42
Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2012 6:57 pm

Real Estate Agent vs. Attorney - Career Choice ?

Post by AJFAJF » Fri Apr 26, 2013 2:45 pm

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.

User avatar
banana$$stand

New
Posts: 92
Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2012 9:32 pm

Re: Real Estate Agent vs. Attorney - Career Choice ?

Post by banana$$stand » Fri Apr 26, 2013 2:48 pm

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?

AJFAJF

New
Posts: 42
Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2012 6:57 pm

Re: Real Estate Agent vs. Attorney - Career Choice ?

Post by AJFAJF » Fri Apr 26, 2013 2:49 pm

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.

AJFAJF

New
Posts: 42
Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2012 6:57 pm

Re: Real Estate Agent vs. Attorney - Career Choice ?

Post by AJFAJF » Fri Apr 26, 2013 2:53 pm

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

User avatar
IAFG

Platinum
Posts: 6641
Joined: Mon Jun 15, 2009 1:26 pm

Re: Real Estate Agent vs. Attorney - Career Choice ?

Post by IAFG » Fri Apr 26, 2013 2:56 pm

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.

Want to continue reading?

Register now to search topics and post comments!

Absolutely FREE!


TheZoid

Bronze
Posts: 416
Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2011 11:07 pm

Re: Real Estate Agent vs. Attorney - Career Choice ?

Post by TheZoid » Fri Apr 26, 2013 2:58 pm

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.

AJFAJF

New
Posts: 42
Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2012 6:57 pm

Re: Real Estate Agent vs. Attorney - Career Choice ?

Post by AJFAJF » Fri Apr 26, 2013 3:02 pm

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.

User avatar
banana$$stand

New
Posts: 92
Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2012 9:32 pm

Re: Real Estate Agent vs. Attorney - Career Choice ?

Post by banana$$stand » Fri Apr 26, 2013 3:03 pm

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

AJFAJF

New
Posts: 42
Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2012 6:57 pm

Re: Real Estate Agent vs. Attorney - Career Choice ?

Post by AJFAJF » Fri Apr 26, 2013 3:08 pm

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.

Want to continue reading?

Register for access!

Did I mention it was FREE ?


BeenDidThat

Silver
Posts: 695
Joined: Thu Feb 03, 2011 12:18 am

Re: Real Estate Agent vs. Attorney - Career Choice ?

Post by BeenDidThat » Sat Apr 27, 2013 1:40 am

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.

User avatar
dr123

Gold
Posts: 3497
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2011 2:38 am

Re: Real Estate Agent vs. Attorney - Career Choice ?

Post by dr123 » Sat Apr 27, 2013 1:42 am

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

User avatar
unlicensedpotato

Silver
Posts: 571
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2012 12:16 pm

Re: Real Estate Agent vs. Attorney - Career Choice ?

Post by unlicensedpotato » Sat Apr 27, 2013 8:45 am

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.

User avatar
Tekrul

Bronze
Posts: 493
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 8:17 pm

Re: Real Estate Agent vs. Attorney - Career Choice ?

Post by Tekrul » Sat Apr 27, 2013 12:58 pm

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.

User avatar
mephistopheles

Gold
Posts: 1936
Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2012 11:43 am

Re: Real Estate Agent vs. Attorney - Career Choice ?

Post by mephistopheles » Sat Apr 27, 2013 1:03 pm

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.

Register now!

Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.

It's still FREE!


Post Reply

Return to “Ask a Law Student / Graduate”