Should I apply to law school? Forum

[ConsideringLawSchool]

Relevant Info:

1) Graduated from school 2 years ago -- have very strong resume / work experience (everyone I have spoken with agrees that I have "game-changing" softs)

2) Currently have a job I love but don't want to keep forever; other promising job prospects but haven't found anything that seems to be a perfect fit

3) Want to build a career in the non-profit / possibly government sectors surrounding innercity development, immigration, special education, or related issues

4) Awful UG GPA - 3.25 (very good explanations, but we all know how little excuses matter)

5) Better LSAT Score - 177

Try for law school? Go to some other masters program? Continue working?

Thanks for any thoughts!

[jetlagz28]

Go to law school if you want to be an attorney. Don't go to law school if you don't want to practice law for at least a few years after graduating.

[merichard87]

If you want to be a lawyer go to law school. Your qualifications make you a good (or bad) candidate for law school but its all about what you want. We can't tell you that.

[d34d9823]

I see a T14 in your future. I think you would have a shot at CCN.

http://www.hourumd.com/?lsat=176-178&gpa=3.2-3.3

[ConsideringLawSchool]

Go to law school if you want to be an attorney. Don't go to law school if you don't want to practice law for at least a few years after graduating.

I very much like the idea of being a litigator for an agency like Southern Poverty Law Center -- ideally one with a focus on children's immigration issues. A place like U Chicago's Immigrant Child Advocacy Center sounds amazing.

[Rock Chalk]

.

[merichard87]

Then go to law school sir (or madam) but make very sure you understand your employment opportunities and debt sentence (like death sentence, get it? HAHA) before you commit to whatever school.

[gwuorbust]

2) Currently have a job I love but don't want to keep forever;

Keep that job until you really want to leave. You'll get into great schools, but ITE that's no guarantee of having a good job, let alone one you love as much as your current one. Waiting will probably mean more certainty and (speculatively) better job prospects.

as a note, however, I :think: that LSAT scores are only valid for 3 years and it would be terrible to waste a 177 if you really want LS.

[ConsideringLawSchool]

2) Currently have a job I love but don't want to keep forever;

Keep that job until you really want to leave. You'll get into great schools, but ITE that's no guarantee of having a good job, let alone one you love as much as your current one. Waiting will probably mean more certainty and (speculatively) better job prospects.

My problems with my current job are 1) Due to the nature of the position and organization, there's no room for growth; 2) My Director does not give me enough work to do--always offering the explanation that she wants me to be available in case something comes up.

[vanwinkle]

1) Get into T10 law school with solid LRAP

2) Go into public interest law when you graduate

3) Profit very, very slowly

[pinkzeppelin]

2) Currently have a job I love but don't want to keep forever;

Keep that job until you really want to leave. You'll get into great schools, but ITE that's no guarantee of having a good job, let alone one you love as much as your current one. Waiting will probably mean more certainty and (speculatively) better job prospects.

as a note, however, I :think: that LSAT scores are only valid for 3 years and it would be terrible to waste a 177 if you really want LS.

If you can make a 177 once you can make a 177 twice. Don't do something because of a good test score.

[merichard87]

Life is a series of risks, take one. If you know you want to go to law school and you have the ability to do so, go.

[ConsideringLawSchool]

2) Currently have a job I love but don't want to keep forever;

Keep that job until you really want to leave. You'll get into great schools, but ITE that's no guarantee of having a good job, let alone one you love as much as your current one. Waiting will probably mean more certainty and (speculatively) better job prospects.

as a note, however, I :think: that LSAT scores are only valid for 3 years and it would be terrible to waste a 177 if you really want LS.

If you can make a 177 once you can make a 177 twice. Don't do something because of a good test score.

I was debating retaking anyway, so that issue is not a major one to me.

[You Gotta Have Faith]

Ok seriously... please don't go just because you are capable of getting in. There are lots of other things I could have done that I didn't. And I'm sure that is indeed the case for you.

As above posters pointed out, if you actually want to be an attorney for at least a few years, then fantastic. Go for it!! We just cannot answer that for you. Obviously, you would get in somewhere decent based on your numbers alone. But numbers cannot point out what you personally want out of law school.

[ConsideringLawSchool]

Life is a series of risks, take one. If you know you want to go to law school and you have the ability to do so, go.

My primary reason for not going would be to avoid "losing" 3 years during which I could be taking other--even more exciting--risks. For example, given my particular interests, I might be able to advance my career as much by spending a year living in Latin America and becoming fluent in Spanish as by spending that year in law school...

[merichard87]

Law school isn't going anywhere. Go live in Latin America. I wish I could do something like that with my year off. Doing things like that will only add to your application. Go have fun.

[ConsideringLawSchool]

Law school isn't going anywhere. Go live in Latin America. I wish I could do something like that with my year off. Doing things like that will only add to your application. Go have fun.

Not an option right now (due to family responsibilities). More just an example of the sort of opportunities that 3 years might represent...

[merichard87]

lol I was just saying. Not meaning for you to really get up and go to Latin America. But heres the deal: Law School is 3 years. Either you are going to sacrifice them now or later. Pick one.

[ConsideringLawSchool]

lol I was just saying. Not meaning for you to really get up and go to Latin America. But heres the deal: Law School is 3 years. Either you are going to sacrifice them now or later. Pick one.

Well, it's more a question of whether I should ever go...

[A'nold]

"Oh, if you get a 177z once you can haz to it againz!"

[merichard87]

lol I was just saying. Not meaning for you to really get up and go to Latin America. But heres the deal: Law School is 3 years. Either you are going to sacrifice them now or later. Pick one.

Well, it's more a question of whether I should ever go...

... if you want to.

[jayn3]

lol I was just saying. Not meaning for you to really get up and go to Latin America. But heres the deal: Law School is 3 years. Either you are going to sacrifice them now or later. Pick one.

Well, it's more a question of whether I should ever go...

3) Want to build a career in the non-profit / possibly government sectors surrounding innercity development, immigration, special education, or related issues

law school is not the only way or even necessarily the best way to achieve this career goal. if you want to stay at your job right now, you could benefit from looking at alternative options. i might suggest looking into MSW programs

[ConsideringLawSchool]

lol I was just saying. Not meaning for you to really get up and go to Latin America. But heres the deal: Law School is 3 years. Either you are going to sacrifice them now or later. Pick one.

Well, it's more a question of whether I should ever go...

3) Want to build a career in the non-profit / possibly government sectors surrounding innercity development, immigration, special education, or related issues

law school is not the only way or even necessarily the best way to achieve this career goal. if you want to stay at your job right now, you could benefit from looking at alternative options. i might suggest looking into MSW programs

Thanks... I don't think MSW would be a good fit, but perhaps one of the Masters of Urban Education programs.

[vanwinkle]

I don't know if you can actually get in, but consider applying for Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. Their MPP might be what you want.

[ConsideringLawSchool]

I don't know if you can actually get in, but consider applying for Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. Their MPP might be what you want.

Very interesting idea.. my GPA might do in my prospects, but I do have a lot of relevant work experience.