Top Law Schools

Lacepiece23 wrote:tough call can I ask why NU ED wasn't an option? I could be wrong, but don't they usually give money to people like you with solid WE and a high LSAT?

BitterSplitter wrote:

AllTheLawz wrote:Out of undergrad I worked in a consulting/strategy type job w/ ~55-65k starting salary in a very low COL area. After almost two years in law school (HYS) I honestly often feel I should've stayed on that path. I am doing perfectly fine so far (I have the $160k SA lined up at a well regarded firm, total debt at graduation will be a comparatively reasonable at ~150k including undergrad, had offers in multiple cities, etc.) but I look at what I have given up and it seems really questionable. Had I stayed in my previous job I would have been debt free, been able to buy a brand-new car straight cash and would now be well-positioned to buy a home or do whatever else I wanted. I look at my former colleagues actually living life and it is sometimes kind of depressing. Instead I am looking at student loan payments of $3k/month for 4+ years after i graduate, a job I am not sure I will like, no prospects of home-ownership before my mid-30s and relative career instability even after I start at the firm.

All this is to say, law school kind of sucks even for the "winners." If I were you, I would at least thinking about saving up some money and working a few years before I started thinking about law school. If you still think it is worth it in 3 years then pull the trigger.

You definitely know better the benefits and drawbacks of your own situation, but I think that the time in law school and immediately following it is the sacrifice period to enjoy better financial security 3-5 years out of school til the day you die (unless you eff up of course, then it ends up being a gamble that didnt pay off, but yours seems like it will soon!)

AllTheLawz wrote:Out of undergrad I worked in a consulting/strategy type job w/ ~55-65k starting salary in a very low COL area. After almost two years in law school (HYS) I honestly often feel I should've stayed on that path. I am doing perfectly fine so far (I have the $160k SA lined up at a well regarded firm, total debt at graduation will be a comparatively reasonable at ~150k including undergrad, had offers in multiple cities, etc.) but I look at what I have given up and it seems really questionable. Had I stayed in my previous job I would have been debt free, been able to buy a brand-new car straight cash and would now be well-positioned to buy a home or do whatever else I wanted. I look at my former colleagues actually living life and it is sometimes kind of depressing. Instead I am looking at student loan payments of $3k/month for 4+ years after i graduate, a job I am not sure I will like, no prospects of home-ownership before my mid-30s and relative career instability even after I start at the firm.

All this is to say, law school kind of sucks even for the "winners." If I were you, I would at least thinking about saving up some money and working a few years before I started thinking about law school. If you still think it is worth it in 3 years then pull the trigger.

BitterSplitter wrote:

AllTheLawz wrote:Out of undergrad I worked in a consulting/strategy type job w/ ~55-65k starting salary in a very low COL area. After almost two years in law school (HYS) I honestly often feel I should've stayed on that path. I am doing perfectly fine so far (I have the $160k SA lined up at a well regarded firm, total debt at graduation will be a comparatively reasonable at ~150k including undergrad, had offers in multiple cities, etc.) but I look at what I have given up and it seems really questionable. Had I stayed in my previous job I would have been debt free, been able to buy a brand-new car straight cash and would now be well-positioned to buy a home or do whatever else I wanted. I look at my former colleagues actually living life and it is sometimes kind of depressing. Instead I am looking at student loan payments of $3k/month for 4+ years after i graduate, a job I am not sure I will like, no prospects of home-ownership before my mid-30s and relative career instability even after I start at the firm.

All this is to say, law school kind of sucks even for the "winners." If I were you, I would at least thinking about saving up some money and working a few years before I started thinking about law school. If you still think it is worth it in 3 years then pull the trigger.

You definitely know better the benefits and drawbacks of your own situation, but I think that the time in law school and immediately following it is the sacrifice period to enjoy better financial security 3-5 years out of school til the day you die (unless you eff up of course, then it ends up being a gamble that didnt pay off, but yours seems like it will soon!)

f0bolous wrote:

AllTheLawz wrote:Out of undergrad I worked in a consulting/strategy type job w/ ~55-65k starting salary in a very low COL area. After almost two years in law school (HYS) I honestly often feel I should've stayed on that path. I am doing perfectly fine so far (I have the $160k SA lined up at a well regarded firm, total debt at graduation will be a comparatively reasonable at ~150k including undergrad, had offers in multiple cities, etc.) but I look at what I have given up and it seems really questionable. Had I stayed in my previous job I would have been debt free, been able to buy a brand-new car straight cash and would now be well-positioned to buy a home or do whatever else I wanted. I look at my former colleagues actually living life and it is sometimes kind of depressing. Instead I am looking at student loan payments of $3k/month for 4+ years after i graduate, a job I am not sure I will like, no prospects of home-ownership before my mid-30s and relative career instability even after I start at the firm.

All this is to say, law school kind of sucks even for the "winners." If I were you, I would at least thinking about saving up some money and working a few years before I started thinking about law school. If you still think it is worth it in 3 years then pull the trigger.

shit, this is exactly how i feel and what goes through my head every time i browse through linkedin/facebook.

I look at what I have given up and it seems really questionable. Had I stayed in my previous job I would have been debt free, been able to buy a brand-new car straight cash and would now be well-positioned to buy a home or do whatever else I wanted. I look at my former colleagues actually living life and it is sometimes kind of depressing. Instead I am looking at student loan payments of $3k/month for 4+ years after i graduate, a job I am not sure I will like, no prospects of home-ownership before my mid-30s and relative career instability even after I start at the firm.

sinfiery wrote:I never understood the home part of it. Odds are, your mortgage will cost slightly more than your rent. It's not that much of a monetary commitment as it is a lifestyle commitment.

BitterSplitter wrote:Also, on a slightly tangential topic, this new proposed law school debt forgiveness idea where ppl only pay 10% of their salary towards LS debt and then the rest is forgiven after 20 years, isn't this similar to the bailout? It looks on the surface to be helping the screwed over ppl but really it's a way to pay off law schools for their horrible and deceptive decisions to flood the market with as many JDs as are willing to pay for them?

BitterSplitter wrote:

Paul Campos wrote:

BitterSplitter wrote:

AllTheLawz wrote:Out of undergrad I worked in a consulting/strategy type job w/ ~55-65k starting salary in a very low COL area. After almost two years in law school (HYS) I honestly often feel I should've stayed on that path. I am doing perfectly fine so far (I have the $160k SA lined up at a well regarded firm, total debt at graduation will be a comparatively reasonable at ~150k including undergrad, had offers in multiple cities, etc.) but I look at what I have given up and it seems really questionable. Had I stayed in my previous job I would have been debt free, been able to buy a brand-new car straight cash and would now be well-positioned to buy a home or do whatever else I wanted. I look at my former colleagues actually living life and it is sometimes kind of depressing. Instead I am looking at student loan payments of $3k/month for 4+ years after i graduate, a job I am not sure I will like, no prospects of home-ownership before my mid-30s and relative career instability even after I start at the firm.

All this is to say, law school kind of sucks even for the "winners." If I were you, I would at least thinking about saving up some money and working a few years before I started thinking about law school. If you still think it is worth it in 3 years then pull the trigger.

You definitely know better the benefits and drawbacks of your own situation, but I think that the time in law school and immediately following it is the sacrifice period to enjoy better financial security 3-5 years out of school til the day you die (unless you eff up of course, then it ends up being a gamble that didnt pay off, but yours seems like it will soon!)

The last reason anybody should go to law school right now is to "enjoy financial security." That's like moving to Los Angeles because you hate traffic jams.

Why do I feel like a college football player who just had a NFL pro reply to his twitter post? Paul Campos! I really enjoy your articles although I personally do not feel the advice is 100% applicable to myself. Let me ask you a question (going to veer off topic)

Why can't the ABA regulate law schools more efficiently - specifically, what if they were to maintain a certain neccessary percentage for law schools to meet, in regards to graduates that landed a long-term JD-required job, or lose accredidation . If they were to do so, it would entice the bad schools to stop over saturating the market with JDs and also focus on helping their grads more. It would not run into any issues of discrimination against the poor (like the pay 20% upfront idea,etc) or any other disenfranchised subset of the population, i think. Wouldn't this work? I'm unfamiliar with the innerworkings of law school accredidation etc so I am sincerely asking. I'm sure i'm not the first to think of this, but what are the pragmatic hurdles to overcome with this idea?

Also, on a slightly tangential topic, this new proposed law school debt forgiveness idea where ppl only pay 10% of their salary towards LS debt and then the rest is forgiven after 20 years, isn't this similar to the bailout? It looks on the surface to be helping the screwed over ppl but really it's a way to pay off law schools for their horrible and deceptive decisions to flood the market with as many JDs as are willing to pay for them? Most of the ppl that should have been accepted wil pay back their loans in 20 years and those that were suckered into going but shouldnt have will end up accruing tens of thousands in interest that the school will get paid by tax dollars...profit for employing a morally questionable admissions process!

NYstate wrote: Do you guys mind explaining why you went to law school? What were you looking for that was worth giving up what you had?
Also, what was your day to day life in consulting like - what kind of hours were you working?

I am curious because many people here say the reason they want to go to law school is because their only other job opportunity is barrista or retail sales, etc. They see law school as their only chance at a career. So i wonder why people with good jobs decide to give them up for law school.

fallingup wrote: This is a very good point. From my perspective, it's worth it if you have a partner who is not in a lot of debt who can get you through those initial tough years. I'm in a long-term committed relationship with someone who will have little to no debt and will have a master's degree and be working full time by the time I start 3L. If he were considering law school or med school, I'm not sure it'd work as well.

That being said, I don't think it has to be doomsday post-law school with regard to buying a car or home. I know several first year analysts at my firm who make ~60K GROSS (not take home) per year who have already bought cars and starter homes. They're not BMWs or New York City condos, but they are solid purchases for 22 year olds. As a $160K+ associate, you will take home 70K after taxes and your student loan payments. You're telling me you can't afford a car or home down payment with that kind of money? Come on now.

sinfiery wrote:I never understood the home part of it. Odds are, your mortgage will cost slightly more than your rent. It's not that much of a monetary commitment as it is a lifestyle commitment.

sinfiery wrote:I never understood the home part of it. Odds are, your mortgage will cost slightly more than your rent. It's not that much of a monetary commitment as it is a lifestyle commitment.

NYstate wrote:

f0bolous wrote:

AllTheLawz wrote:Out of undergrad I worked in a consulting/strategy type job w/ ~55-65k starting salary in a very low COL area. After almost two years in law school (HYS) I honestly often feel I should've stayed on that path. I am doing perfectly fine so far (I have the $160k SA lined up at a well regarded firm, total debt at graduation will be a comparatively reasonable at ~150k including undergrad, had offers in multiple cities, etc.) but I look at what I have given up and it seems really questionable. Had I stayed in my previous job I would have been debt free, been able to buy a brand-new car straight cash and would now be well-positioned to buy a home or do whatever else I wanted. I look at my former colleagues actually living life and it is sometimes kind of depressing. Instead I am looking at student loan payments of $3k/month for 4+ years after i graduate, a job I am not sure I will like, no prospects of home-ownership before my mid-30s and relative career instability even after I start at the firm.

All this is to say, law school kind of sucks even for the "winners." If I were you, I would at least thinking about saving up some money and working a few years before I started thinking about law school. If you still think it is worth it in 3 years then pull the trigger.

shit, this is exactly how i feel and what goes through my head every time i browse through linkedin/facebook.

Do you guys mind explaining why you went to law school? What were you looking for that was worth giving up what you had?
Also, what was your day to day life in consulting like - what kind of hours were you working?

I am curious because many people here say the reason they want to go to law school is because their only other job opportunity is barrista or retail sales, etc. They see law school as their only chance at a career. So i wonder why people with good jobs decide to give them up for law school.

Lost_Dreams wrote:It kind of depresses me to think that I may have to stomach living with a job/career that bores me to tears 80-90% of the time I am on the job.

sparty99 wrote:

Lost_Dreams wrote:Long time lurker, first time poster here. I came here to get some career advice from those knowledgeable TLS law school veterans.

Some background info: I currently work at a large consulting firm as an IT consultant. (think IBM, Capgemini, Deloitte, Accenture, PwC, Booze Allen Hamilton, etc) I graduated from college 2 years ago, and have been working at this job since then. I make decent salary (70k), but the four big problems I have with my job are: 1) the work I do is pretty boring, and I don't really enjoy IT-related work all that much (I originally wanted to go into finance/management consulting, but I failed), 2) constant, weekly required travel to bumb-fuck places is wearing me down, 3) I feel that staying in IT consulting pigeonholes me into a very specific line of career and I feel that there are no meaningful exit opportunities outside of IT related jobs, 4) most of stuff I do on daily basis doesn't really require much thinking/ analytical skills, and I sometimes feel brain-dead doing the job.

I've given serious consideration into law school since last year. I graduated from UPenn with degree in Econ. But, while in college, I really screwed up my GPA and got shot down from most of high finance/ management consulting jobs, which would have suit my career interests better than my current job. I'd like a line of work that is a bit more intellectually stimulating than my current job, doesn't require me to fly to random places all that often, and has a larger financial reward/upside.

I got a great LSAT score (172) but due to my horrible GPA (3.1), the highest ranked school I got into was UVA, with no scholarship money. I also got into Georgetown and Cornell, with no scholarship money. At this point, should I consider attending law school, given the enormous opportunity/financial costs that I am looking at and given the current job market for law grads (which I know isn't very good)? I am a pretty analytical person, enjoy reading/writing, and could see myself as a lawyer. However, what do I know, since I've never set foot inside a law school building nor have worked a day inside a law firm. I'd like to get some perspective, feedback, and advice. I would really like to know if attending law school, given my personal background, is a sound career move. If not law school, what else should I be thinking. I know that I don't want to stay in my line of work forever, although I could keep doing it if I really had no other meaningful option.

Thanks in advance.

Can't you just apply to another consulting firm. Consulting is consulting. I didn't do IT, but I worked at a firm you quoted and landed interviews with McKinsey and Monitor after gaining two years experience. I would stay in Consulting. As long as you are good at excel/access, you should be able to get another gig. I'd recommend posting your resume on monster.com and see who contacts you. Law is not a good option.

IAFG wrote:

Lost_Dreams wrote:got shot down from most of high finance/ management consulting jobs, which would have suit my career interests better than my current job.

dude, what? if you honestly feel that way, going to law school is retarded. law is even less like high finance/management consulting than what you're doing now. go to a top b-school and get your second bite of the apple.