New to the whole law school thing...Could use some advice Forum

[ZachOda]

Hey everyone. I only recently got interested in going to law school. Looking at all the posts though, I feel that I am way behind the ball. I am not well-versed in politics, nor do I ever want to be a politician. I am really only looking at starting in the DA's Office and seeing what happens after that. But really, I just am wondering what I am going to be getting myself into when I apply to law school and become a lawyer. I've heard from some lawyers that they love it and it can be an exciting experience and others tell me to stay away and that it is the most boring and two-faced career that exists. I feel like this is something I want to do, but I really just want to get a feel for what law school and the profession is going to be like. To note, I am just finishing up my junior year of college as a Psych major. I have about a 3.7 and though I haven't taken the LSAT yet, I got a 166 on my second practice test. Right now, I'm considering UVA, Michigan, Duke, USC, Georgetown, and UNC.

Thank you for your help

[eandy]

Does USC mean Cali or South Carolina?

[Knock]

Hey everyone. I only recently got interested in going to law school. Looking at all the posts though, I feel that I am way behind the ball. I am not well-versed in politics, nor do I ever want to be a politician. I am really only looking at starting in the DA's Office and seeing what happens after that. But really, I just am wondering what I am going to be getting myself into when I apply to law school and become a lawyer. I've heard from some lawyers that they love it and it can be an exciting experience and others tell me to stay away and that it is the most boring and two-faced career that exists. I feel like this is something I want to do, but I really just want to get a feel for what law school and the profession is going to be like. To note, I am just finishing up my junior year of college as a Psych major. I have about a 3.7 and though I haven't taken the LSAT yet, I got a 166 on my second practice test. Right now, I'm considering UVA, Michigan, Duke, USC, Georgetown, and UNC.

Thank you for your help

It's personal preference/opinion mainly. Some people like it, some don't. Try reading some Legal-related or Law school blogs to get a feel for the profession, I recommend AbovetheLaw.com; But to be completely honest, it's one of the bleakest times in the history of the Legal field in the United States. I would only go into law in this current economy and job market if it was something I was truly interested in, and something I think I could enjoy and do well in. Otherwise, I would stay the hell away.

[ZachOda]

My bad, I meant Southern Cali

[eandy]

My bad, I meant Southern Cali

That should make the most sense but UNC seemed kind of random within that list, so I assumed that you might be from North Carolina, and therefore, you possibly meant South Carolina. In that case, I was going to laugh.
Thanks for the clarification.

[ZachOda]

Well, money is very tight for my family right now so unfortunately I need to keep that in mind. Also, from what I've seen UNC has what looks like a great pro bono program and I would love to get involved in that

[philosoraptor]

A 166 and 3.7 will put you in the awkwardest of in-between stages, as my cycle can attest. It's unlikely you'd break the T14 with those numbers if you're not a URM, so even one extra LSAT point will pay serious dividends for you.

My advice: Unless you're 100 percent sure the law is your calling, take a year or two off and find something interesting to do. Then apply early to a lot of schools, and spread them out in terms of rankings. I was accepted at six, waitlisted at five and denied at five (technically still in limbo at Cornell, but they're dead to me), so I had plenty of options and didn't regret not having applied to more. (FWIW, I was dinged or waitlisted at every school on your list except UNC, so you should probably consider some more in the 15-30 range.)

Definitely apply to Emory, as they're T25 and have been shelling out big bucks for those numbers. UNC sounds like a great option if you're in-state and looking to do PI.

[doomed123]

Hey everyone. I only recently got interested in going to law school. Looking at all the posts though, I feel that I am way behind the ball. I am not well-versed in politics, nor do I ever want to be a politician. I am really only looking at starting in the DA's Office and seeing what happens after that. But really, I just am wondering what I am going to be getting myself into when I apply to law school and become a lawyer. I've heard from some lawyers that they love it and it can be an exciting experience and others tell me to stay away and that it is the most boring and two-faced career that exists. I feel like this is something I want to do, but I really just want to get a feel for what law school and the profession is going to be like. To note, I am just finishing up my junior year of college as a Psych major. I have about a 3.7 and though I haven't taken the LSAT yet, I got a 166 on my second practice test. Right now, I'm considering UVA, Michigan, Duke, USC, Georgetown, and UNC.

Thank you for your help

It's personal preference/opinion mainly. Some people like it, some don't. Try reading some Legal-related or Law school blogs to get a feel for the profession, I recommend AbovetheLaw.com

I don't. Reading that site always makes me feel bad about entering the law - not because of the actual content of the posts, but because of the absolutely insufferable personalities of the supposed lawyers and law students who populate the comments section (and many of the bloggers themselves aren't much better). I'd recommend talking (in person) to people currently in the legal profession. Just going on blogs will give you a skewed perception, as people who spend all their time blogging are exponentially more likely to be malcontents; those who are actually enjoying the profession have better things to do.

/rant

[Leeroy Jenkins]

What does being versed in politics have to do with law school

[Knock]

Hey everyone. I only recently got interested in going to law school. Looking at all the posts though, I feel that I am way behind the ball. I am not well-versed in politics, nor do I ever want to be a politician. I am really only looking at starting in the DA's Office and seeing what happens after that. But really, I just am wondering what I am going to be getting myself into when I apply to law school and become a lawyer. I've heard from some lawyers that they love it and it can be an exciting experience and others tell me to stay away and that it is the most boring and two-faced career that exists. I feel like this is something I want to do, but I really just want to get a feel for what law school and the profession is going to be like. To note, I am just finishing up my junior year of college as a Psych major. I have about a 3.7 and though I haven't taken the LSAT yet, I got a 166 on my second practice test. Right now, I'm considering UVA, Michigan, Duke, USC, Georgetown, and UNC.

Thank you for your help

It's personal preference/opinion mainly. Some people like it, some don't. Try reading some Legal-related or Law school blogs to get a feel for the profession, I recommend AbovetheLaw.com

I don't. Reading that site always makes me feel bad about entering the law - not because of the actual content of the posts, but because of the absolutely insufferable personalities of the supposed lawyers and law students who populate the comments section (and many of the bloggers themselves aren't much better). I'd recommend talking (in person) to people currently in the legal profession. Just going on blogs will give you a skewed perception, as people who spend all their time blogging are exponentially more likely to be malcontents; those who are actually enjoying the profession have better things to do.

/rant

Good valid points. Still, I believe blogs allow someone who does not know if they want to go to law school to gain easy and immediate access to information about the law profession from people on the inside.

And the comments at the bottom of the blog...well just about any anonymous comments are like that. ESPN, MSN, Yahoo, pretty much anonymous comments at the bottom of blog posted are the black hole of the internet.

[NU_Jet55]

What does being versed in politics have to do with law school

Absolutely nothing.

HTH

[Leeroy Jenkins]

What does being versed in politics have to do with law school

Absolutely nothing.

HTH

No shit sherlock, that's why I was asking because the OP clearly believes otherwise

[doomed123]

Hey everyone. I only recently got interested in going to law school. Looking at all the posts though, I feel that I am way behind the ball. I am not well-versed in politics, nor do I ever want to be a politician. I am really only looking at starting in the DA's Office and seeing what happens after that. But really, I just am wondering what I am going to be getting myself into when I apply to law school and become a lawyer. I've heard from some lawyers that they love it and it can be an exciting experience and others tell me to stay away and that it is the most boring and two-faced career that exists. I feel like this is something I want to do, but I really just want to get a feel for what law school and the profession is going to be like. To note, I am just finishing up my junior year of college as a Psych major. I have about a 3.7 and though I haven't taken the LSAT yet, I got a 166 on my second practice test. Right now, I'm considering UVA, Michigan, Duke, USC, Georgetown, and UNC.

Thank you for your help

It's personal preference/opinion mainly. Some people like it, some don't. Try reading some Legal-related or Law school blogs to get a feel for the profession, I recommend AbovetheLaw.com

I don't. Reading that site always makes me feel bad about entering the law - not because of the actual content of the posts, but because of the absolutely insufferable personalities of the supposed lawyers and law students who populate the comments section (and many of the bloggers themselves aren't much better). I'd recommend talking (in person) to people currently in the legal profession. Just going on blogs will give you a skewed perception, as people who spend all their time blogging are exponentially more likely to be malcontents; those who are actually enjoying the profession have better things to do.

/rant

Good valid points. Still, I believe blogs allow someone who does not know if they want to go to law school to gain easy and immediate access to information about the law profession from people on the inside.

And the comments at the bottom of the blog...well just about any anonymous comments are like that. ESPN, MSN, Yahoo, pretty much anonymous comments at the bottom of blog posted are the black hole of the internet.

Yes, blogs do hold some useful information - I'm just saying that no one should rely on them entirely, as they paint a skewed picture.

As for the comments, you're right. I guess I just expected (or hoped) that those supposedly intelligent enough to make it through law school and the bar exam would have progressed past that kind of middle-school mentality.

[yeff]

OP, a cold 166 is really good. Study hard, learn the test, and you should be able to get a score that will put you in good shape at those schools, as well as even better ones.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 6&t=117096

That said, don't go to law school unless you want to be a lawyer, and don't go just because you can get into a good school. Take some time, get a job, figure it out. If you do want to go, study hard, get a good LSAT, and apply early.

[ZachOda]

Leeroy you're probably right, I just mentioned it because from what I've read on the forums here, a lot of law schools are very politically involved, and I do not want to look foolish if that ever came up in a class

[Chakazulu]

Start reading books related to the law. Do some soul searching, and make sure you want to be a lawyer.

[DOOM]

Hey everyone. I only recently got interested in going to law school. Looking at all the posts though, I feel that I am way behind the ball. I am not well-versed in politics, nor do I ever want to be a politician. I am really only looking at starting in the DA's Office and seeing what happens after that. But really, I just am wondering what I am going to be getting myself into when I apply to law school and become a lawyer. I've heard from some lawyers that they love it and it can be an exciting experience and others tell me to stay away and that it is the most boring and two-faced career that exists. I feel like this is something I want to do, but I really just want to get a feel for what law school and the profession is going to be like. To note, I am just finishing up my junior year of college as a Psych major. I have about a 3.7 and though I haven't taken the LSAT yet, I got a 166 on my second practice test. Right now, I'm considering UVA, Michigan, Duke, USC, Georgetown, and UNC.

Thank you for your help

It's personal preference/opinion mainly. Some people like it, some don't. Try reading some Legal-related or Law school blogs to get a feel for the profession, I recommend AbovetheLaw.com

I don't. Reading that site always makes me feel bad about entering the law - not because of the actual content of the posts, but because of the absolutely insufferable personalities of the supposed lawyers and law students who populate the comments section (and many of the bloggers themselves aren't much better). I'd recommend talking (in person) to people currently in the legal profession. Just going on blogs will give you a skewed perception, as people who spend all their time blogging are exponentially more likely to be malcontents; those who are actually enjoying the profession have better things to do.

/rant

+1. A lot of truth to what is reported there, but with a really bad attitude. you can always find unhappy lawyers.

[rayiner]

This discussion is pointless until you have an LSAT score. My first PT was 167, my actual was 176. If you're at 166 after one PT, you could definitely get into the high 170s after some work, which would get you in at Columbia, Chicago, etc, and give you an outside shot at Harvard.