Decided on Law School... Is it worth going? Rutgers Camden Forum

[13lawstudent2013]

I've decided to attend Rutgers Camden. I hope to practice in NJ, possibly Philadelphia. I've received a full scholarship and will come out with no loans! Is the degree worth it?

[Ti Malice]

Your COL is covered too? What are the stips on the scholarship, if any?

[rad lulz]

Your COL is covered too? What are the stips on the scholarship, if any?

Also what do you want to do

[Micdiddy]

Yeah if COL is covered too then why not? I mean, at best you get a job, at worst you wasted a few years and then will try and enter some other job market.

[13lawstudent2013]

I have some money saved, Rutgers provides a small stipend and parents are willing to give some aid.

[rad lulz]

Also what do you want to do

[13lawstudent2013]

Also what do you want to do

I'm honestly not entirely sure, that's one of my biggest reservations about going. I have interest in family law or possibly employment law, but I'm open to anything. I'd be happy in a small to medium size firm, especially because I won't have the big loans to pay off.

[hephaestus]

It seems reasonable as long as you have realistic expectations for the types of jobs that will be accessible to an Rutgers grad.

[Myself]

.

[Micdiddy]

Yeah if COL is covered too then why not? I mean, at best you get a job, at worst you wasted a few years and then will try and enter some other job market.

Opportunity cost?

Of course there's always opportunity costs.

[Lumieres]

Doesn't seem like OP is working right now, at least.

[somewhatwayward]

If you are cool with a 5-10% chance of big law/federal clerkship, 50% chance of small firm/local gov/direct services PI, and 30-40% chance of no stabe long-term legal job, then it seems to be reasonable. No debt is always a great thing but the key is to truly understand the options you will likely have when you graduate and not tell yourself that you have a much greater chance of being in the top 10% than 10% or that it is very unlikely that you will get no job when that is the outcome for 30-40% of the class. How many people do you think enter law school expecting to be in the bottom half? Half end up there. /lecture

BTW mid-sized firm is pretty much a myth out of law school. They usually hire people who have worked for several years at big firms bc they don't want to spend the money training newbie associates.

[y2zipper]

In my personal position, I'd probably take that risk. I don't know what you're doing now and what career prospects you have.

[timbs4339]

Not the worst thing in the world.