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I need some help deciding where to go in the fall. George Mason @ sticker price, Washington and Lee @ sticker price, Temple w/ in-state tuition, Penn State w/ $15k scholarship. I'm not sure what kind of law I want to go into or where I want to live. Thoughts?

retake, ed to uva

What's your gpa?

MachineLemon wrote:What's your gpa?

3.8, 158 LSAT

Seriously retake the LSAT. The legal economy is terrible right now and you can get into much better schools if you up your LSAT. GMU and W&L are not worth sticker.

None of the schools you listed are particularly good choices to most people here (including myself). If you simply MUST, I'd suggest Temple, but I also think that you should use your great GPA to the fullest of its potential. Retake and if you get something like 167, I think that you have a chance into somewhere really good with money.

jiveturkey15 wrote:

MachineLemon wrote:What's your gpa?

3.8, 158 LSAT

You have gotta retake. That GPA is too good to waste. I took a year off to study myself--best decision I ever made (for my career). Completely worth it.

How did you prepare for the LSAT? I see you're a new poster. There's tons of info on this site regarding how to study.

None of those schools give you solid job prospects, and all of them will saddle you with enormous debt. On 200k in loans, you'll pay $1500+ a month and pay 60k+ in interest.

MachineLemon wrote:

jiveturkey15 wrote:

MachineLemon wrote:What's your gpa?

3.8, 158 LSAT

You have gotta retake. That GPA is too good to waste. I took a year off to study myself--best decision I ever made (for my career). Completely worth it.

How did you prepare for the LSAT? I see you're a new poster. There's tons of info on this site regarding how to study.

None of those schools give you solid job prospects, and all of them will saddle you with enormous debt. On 200k in loans, you'll pay $1500+ a month and pay 60k+ in interest.

What if I don't want to work for a big firm and work those 60-80 hour weeks but have a regular 40 hour week job in a mid-sized firm?

jiveturkey15 wrote:What if I don't want to work for a big firm and work those 60-80 hour weeks but have a regular 40 hour week job in a mid-sized firm?

Those jobs are very rare. Plus, even small and midsize firm lawyers put in a lot of time.

jiveturkey15 wrote:

MachineLemon wrote:

jiveturkey15 wrote:

MachineLemon wrote:What's your gpa?

3.8, 158 LSAT

You have gotta retake. That GPA is too good to waste. I took a year off to study myself--best decision I ever made (for my career). Completely worth it.

How did you prepare for the LSAT? I see you're a new poster. There's tons of info on this site regarding how to study.

None of those schools give you solid job prospects, and all of them will saddle you with enormous debt. On 200k in loans, you'll pay $1500+ a month and pay 60k+ in interest.

What if I don't want to work for a big firm and work those 60-80 hour weeks but have a regular 40 hour week job in a mid-sized firm?

If you only want to work forty hours per week, you don't want to go into law.

jiveturkey15 wrote: What if I don't want to work for a big firm and work those 60-80 hour weeks but have a regular 40 hour week job in a mid-sized firm?

I hear the DMV is hiring.


Seriously though. I've never ever thought of 40 hours a week as being a possibility. Most of the professional, white-collar types in my life have all worked at least 50 hours a week and usually closer to 60. It's adulthood. Adulthood sucks. Can't wait to be 65.

jiveturkey15 wrote:What if I don't want to work for a big firm and work those 60-80 hour weeks but have a regular 40 hour week job in a mid-sized firm?

From some observed experience, as well as anecdotally, small or mid-sized firm attorney still put in long, long hours (nowhere near 40 hours).

And the above is true, most professional positions require well over 40 hours a week. Attorneys in small practices are no exception and are likely on the higher end even for non-high paying positions. As a smaller practice, that won't be as competitive as big law to get (or require it in the first place), you'll have clients that pay much lower hourly rates. In the case of the run of the mill smaller practice, you have to be competitive in hourly rates since you don't really have anything special to offer clients.

bk187 wrote:

jiveturkey15 wrote:What if I don't want to work for a big firm and work those 60-80 hour weeks but have a regular 40 hour week job in a mid-sized firm?

Those jobs are very rare. Plus, even small and midsize firm lawyers put in a lot of time.

Also, the pay is quite low relative to your debt burden. Retake, if only to get more scholarship $. A small chunk of lawyers make 160k, the rest make 30-60k. With $1500/mo loan payments, you'll be very poor.

I'm going to echo what everyone else has said and tell you to DEFINITELY retake. You should not waste a 3.8 with an LSAT score in the 150s. Increase your score 10 points and enjoy a much better school or significant scholarships at the schools you are currently admitted.