Should I Retake? Forum

[Moneytrees]

Paralegals who like their current jobs need to be especially cautious about applying to law school. A particularly perverse example of the JD Disadvantage effect is that paralegals who get JDs often find it's impossible to get a job as a paralegal after they've gotten law degrees, no matter how excellent their work experience was prior to getting the JD. So they end up incurring three years of very significant opportunity costs and find themselves in a worse position than they were before they went to law school, even without taking into account the debt incurred.

I definitely don't want to be a paralegal in the long run. I've always wanted to be an attorney and my family on the east coast own one of the most respected mid sized firms in Connecticut. I've grown up wanting to practice law and my job as a paralegal only confirms my passion for this line of work. I do agree with your point generally, but I am most definitely planning on attending law school.

The line regarding my family's firm isn't meant to be a brag, btw. I just want to emphasize the fact that I've grown up wanting to practice law and that applying to law school isn't an impulsive or random decision for me. I know many people that ended up going to law school just because they didn't know what else to do, and I fully understand that a decision like that is toxic for one's future finances/career prospects.

[northwood]

why don't you go to WF, work for your family firm for a few years, then go where you want ( and can get reciprocity?)

[Moneytrees]

Because I've learned to never rely on anybody but myself in life. Even though my grandfather started this firm, they were unable to offer me a paralegal position out of college because they "weren't hiring" at the time. So now I'm working for a consumer law firm across the street, and I'm actually drafting complaints against Defendants that are represented by my family's name.

I get where you're coming from, and working for my family's firm might be a good fallback option. But I'm not going to law school with the mentality that my family will help me get a job. I don't want my career to have to rely on my family. That is one of the reasons I'm not quite sure about WF. The financial offer is great, but as some of you have mentioned, job prospects out of WF leave a lot to be desired.

[BigZuck]

Because I've learned to never rely on anybody but myself in life. Even though my grandfather started this firm, they were unable to offer me a paralegal position out of college because they "weren't hiring" at the time. So now I'm working for a consumer law firm across the street, and I'm actually drafting complaints against Defendants that are represented by my family's name.

I get where you're coming from, and working for my family's firm might be a good fallback option. But I'm not going to law school with the mentality that my family will help me get a job. I don't want my career to have to rely on my family. That is one of the reasons I'm not quite sure about WF. The financial offer is great, but as some of you have mentioned, job prospects out of WF leave a lot to be desired.

This bootstraps boomer logic could easily get you in trouble in this economy

You better believe that if my family had a big ol teet to suckle upon, I would be all over that teet.

Either go to the absolute cheapest school you can and start suckling or retake

[Moneytrees]

Because I've learned to never rely on anybody but myself in life. Even though my grandfather started this firm, they were unable to offer me a paralegal position out of college because they "weren't hiring" at the time. So now I'm working for a consumer law firm across the street, and I'm actually drafting complaints against Defendants that are represented by my family's name.

I get where you're coming from, and working for my family's firm might be a good fallback option. But I'm not going to law school with the mentality that my family will help me get a job. I don't want my career to have to rely on my family. That is one of the reasons I'm not quite sure about WF. The financial offer is great, but as some of you have mentioned, job prospects out of WF leave a lot to be desired.

This bootstraps boomer logic could easily get you in trouble in this economy

You better believe that if my family had a big ol teet to suckle upon, I would be all over that teet.

Either go to the absolute cheapest school you can and start suckling or retake

It's not bootstraps boomer logic man, it's just being realistic. Obviously I would like to work my family's firm and will try to take advantage of that legal connection, but I'm not going to bet my legal career on it. I agree with your advice though. If I do choose to go to WF, trying to work for my family's firm in CT would probably be a good course of action.

Ironically, they just told me that they recently hired a Wake Forest alumni.

[CanadianWolf]

Take the hint.

[Moneytrees]

Take the hint.

Strongly leaning towards a retake right now. However, I am in contention for 2 additional scholarships from WF (one for 10k and one for 20k) and I seriously do not think I would be able to turn Wake Forest down if they were actually paying my COL as well as full tuition. I don't know what my chances are for those scholarships. As of today, the plan is to retake.