please help-- gap year advice/ narrative disconnect??? Forum

[ekswh]

Hi all,

If your college background "seemingly indicates" no interest in law, is it important to explain in your personal statement why you want to go to law school and to gain legal experience between college and law school?

I just graduated from college in May, and now I am looking for jobs. Ideally, I'd like to apply to law schools in the fall, but it all depends on how I do on the October LSAT (will consider taking another year b/f law school if the score is not to my liking).

Anyhow, I met with one of my college's alums today for informal networking. I am hoping to get a university job, and she works at a university, so she agreed to meet me and give me some advice.

After I told her I want to go to law school in the future (I always have), she said that my resume does not indicate any interest in law, and it presents a disconnect in my narrative (it's true- my majors are in the humanities, and all my extracurricular activities are centered around music- one of my majors). She said that I would have a much better chance of getting into law schools in the future if I get a paralegal job instead of a university job because then I'll have shown a proven interest in law.

This got me worried because I am aiming for the very best (for now, at least).

What do you think? Do you agree that I really need to get a paralegal job instead of a university job to increase my chances of getting into a really competitive law school? Do you think it's important for me to explain the "disconnect" in my personal statement?

Thanks in advance for your input!

[vespertiliovir]

It doesn't matter. Law schools are primarily (read: only) interested in your GPA and LSAT score.

[towkthi]

Hi all,

If your college background "seemingly indicates" no interest in law, is it important to explain in your personal statement why you want to go to law school and to gain legal experience between college and law school?

I just graduated from college in May, and now I am looking for jobs. Ideally, I'd like to apply to law schools in the fall, but it all depends on how I do on the October LSAT (will consider taking another year b/f law school if the score is not to my liking).

Anyhow, I met with one of my college's alums today for informal networking. I am hoping to get a university job, and she works at a university, so she agreed to meet me and give me some advice.

After I told her I want to go to law school in the future (I always have), she said that my resume does not indicate any interest in law, and it presents a disconnect in my narrative (it's true- my majors are in the humanities, and all my extracurricular activities are centered around music- one of my majors). She said that I would have a much better chance of getting into law schools in the future if I get a paralegal job instead of a university job because then I'll have shown a proven interest in law.

This got me worried because I am aiming for the very best (for now, at least).

What do you think? Do you agree that I really need to get a paralegal job instead of a university job to increase my chances of getting into a really competitive law school? Do you think it's important for me to explain the "disconnect" in my personal statement?

Thanks in advance for your input!

Getting a paralegal job is nearly impossible without being a certified paralegal and experience, especially ITE. I graduated a few years ago with a degree in History and Political Science and couldn't get a paralegal/legal assistant job because they all wanted at least 2 years of experience or more. I don't think you need to be a paralegal to boost your chances either way.

[testmachine45]

1) It is definitely not impossible to get a paralegal job. They are a dime a dozen. You have a good shot at getting a paralegal job over any other type of job. ITE doesn't matter anymore. In fact, I got a paralegal job only recently and im 3 yrs out of school.

2)It is better to NOT have paralegal experience on your resume. EVERYONE has paralegal experience. However, on your application materials there needs to be SOME sort of understanding communicated by you about why you want to go to law school. Models become lawyers, garbagemen too, and computer programmers. Working at the univerisity would actually be better than paralegal especially if u can generate a reason for wanting to attending law school based on that experience.