Public Interest Law Forum
- simplycatalina
- Posts: 935
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2012 7:41 pm
Public Interest Law
I want to go into Public Interest law and I truly have a lot of personal experience/volunteer experience that correlates with that. I'm including this in my PS and Why X essays. I'm just concerned because I know that so many people say that and could actually care less. If it's strongly supported by background, are adcomms okay with it?
- Elston Gunn
- Posts: 3820
- Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2011 4:09 pm
Re: Public Interest Law
If you have real stuff on you're resume, I think they'll believe you. I bet they can generally tell the bs'ers.cbarlow1016 wrote:I want to go into Public Interest law and I truly have a lot of personal experience/volunteer experience that correlates with that. I'm including this in my PS and Why X essays. I'm just concerned because I know that so many people say that and could actually care less. If it's strongly supported by background, are adcomms okay with it?
That said, your resume, goals and even personal statement are going to be fairly minor parts of your application. Where you get in and what scholarships you're offered will depend almost entirely on your LSAT score and GPA.
- simplycatalina
- Posts: 935
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2012 7:41 pm
Re: Public Interest Law
Yeah, I know that that's the case. I just wanted to make sure that they wouldn't reject me because they thought I was bs'ing.Elston Gunn wrote:If you have real stuff on you're resume, I think they'll believe you. I bet they can generally tell the bs'ers.cbarlow1016 wrote:I want to go into Public Interest law and I truly have a lot of personal experience/volunteer experience that correlates with that. I'm including this in my PS and Why X essays. I'm just concerned because I know that so many people say that and could actually care less. If it's strongly supported by background, are adcomms okay with it?
That said, your resume, goals and even personal statement are going to be fairly minor parts of your application. Where you get in and what scholarships you're offered will depend almost entirely on your LSAT score and GPA.
- rinkrat19
- Posts: 13922
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2010 5:35 am
Re: Public Interest Law
Temper your idealism with realism. Don't sound like the wide-eyed fourth grader who wants to hug all the dolphins AND cure childhood cancer AND eliminate all poverty and racism AND establish world peace.
- simplycatalina
- Posts: 935
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2012 7:41 pm
Re: Public Interest Law
I know this. My PS is based on my experiences. I'd assure you that there's no bullshit included here.rinkrat19 wrote:Temper your idealism with realism. Don't sound like the wide-eyed fourth grader ticwho wants to hug all the dolphins AND cure childhood cancer AND eliminate all poverty and racism AND establish world peace.
Last edited by simplycatalina on Wed Jan 09, 2013 12:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- Posts: 119
- Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2012 4:51 pm
Re: Public Interest Law
Um I did all that and adcomms loved it....rinkrat19 wrote:Temper your idealism with realism. Don't sound like the wide-eyed fourth grader who wants to hug all the dolphins AND cure childhood cancer AND eliminate all poverty and racism AND establish world peace.
OP: As long as your resume reflects what you spew and youre concrete about how you could achieve said goals then, of course, it would only cement it. However I would look into all PI scholarship/essay opportunities since the salary, as I'm sure you know, is not so high. There are a few programs where promising about 5 years in PI and their acceptance will give you a free ride through law school.
- simplycatalina
- Posts: 935
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2012 7:41 pm
Re: Public Interest Law
Ok great thank you!! And yes, I intend to look into the scholarships because I know it's not the highest paying field.epiphinous7 wrote:Um I did all that and adcomms loved it....rinkrat19 wrote:Temper your idealism with realism. Don't sound like the wide-eyed fourth grader who wants to hug all the dolphins AND cure childhood cancer AND eliminate all poverty and racism AND establish world peace.
OP: As long as your resume reflects what you spew and youre concrete about how you could achieve said goals then, of course, it would only cement it. However I would look into all PI scholarship/essay opportunities since the salary, as I'm sure you know, is not so high. There are a few programs where promising about 5 years in PI and their acceptance will give you a free ride through law school.
- Rahviveh
- Posts: 2333
- Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:02 pm
Re: Public Interest Law
double
Last edited by Rahviveh on Wed Jan 09, 2013 1:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Rahviveh
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- Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:02 pm
Re: Public Interest Law
You should be looking at LRAP programs. Even with a full ride, at some schools you're still looking at 100K+ of debt which is not feasible with a PI salary.cbarlow1016 wrote:Ok great thank you!! And yes, I intend to look into the scholarships because I know it's not the highest paying field.epiphinous7 wrote:Um I did all that and adcomms loved it....rinkrat19 wrote:Temper your idealism with realism. Don't sound like the wide-eyed fourth grader who wants to hug all the dolphins AND cure childhood cancer AND eliminate all poverty and racism AND establish world peace.
OP: As long as your resume reflects what you spew and youre concrete about how you could achieve said goals then, of course, it would only cement it. However I would look into all PI scholarship/essay opportunities since the salary, as I'm sure you know, is not so high. There are a few programs where promising about 5 years in PI and their acceptance will give you a free ride through law school.
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- Posts: 9807
- Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2012 10:53 pm
Re: Public Interest Law
Also, aside from govt. work, there are basically no PI jobs.cbarlow1016 wrote:Ok great thank you!! And yes, I intend to look into the scholarships because I know it's not the highest paying field.epiphinous7 wrote:Um I did all that and adcomms loved it....rinkrat19 wrote:Temper your idealism with realism. Don't sound like the wide-eyed fourth grader who wants to hug all the dolphins AND cure childhood cancer AND eliminate all poverty and racism AND establish world peace.
OP: As long as your resume reflects what you spew and youre concrete about how you could achieve said goals then, of course, it would only cement it. However I would look into all PI scholarship/essay opportunities since the salary, as I'm sure you know, is not so high. There are a few programs where promising about 5 years in PI and their acceptance will give you a free ride through law school.
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- Posts: 1986
- Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2008 10:05 pm
Re: Public Interest Law
If you're in PI, you'll be paying back your loans using IBR. For most PI salaries, there'd be little or no difference in your repayments if you borrow $100k or $250k.ChampagnePapi wrote: You should be looking at LRAP programs. Even with a full ride, at some schools you're still looking at 100K+ of debt which is not feasible with a PI salary.
LRAP still helps though and is important. At some schools, they'll be covering those loan repayments either partially or in their entirety. If you're earning $40,000 for the next decade, that could be a big deal.
- Rahviveh
- Posts: 2333
- Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:02 pm
Re: Public Interest Law
Right, my understanding was that a good LRAP means your loans are forgiven in 10 years rather than 20?albanach wrote:If you're in PI, you'll be paying back your loans using IBR. For most PI salaries, there'd be little or no difference in your repayments if you borrow $100k or $250k.ChampagnePapi wrote: You should be looking at LRAP programs. Even with a full ride, at some schools you're still looking at 100K+ of debt which is not feasible with a PI salary.
LRAP still helps though and is important. At some schools, they'll be covering those loan repayments either partially or in their entirety. If you're earning $40,000 for the next decade, that could be a big deal.
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Re: Public Interest Law
Too bad OP is gonna be in the OCI bread line like everyone else.ChampagnePapi wrote:Right, my understanding was that a good LRAP means your loans are forgiven in 10 years rather than 20?albanach wrote:If you're in PI, you'll be paying back your loans using IBR. For most PI salaries, there'd be little or no difference in your repayments if you borrow $100k or $250k.ChampagnePapi wrote: You should be looking at LRAP programs. Even with a full ride, at some schools you're still looking at 100K+ of debt which is not feasible with a PI salary.
LRAP still helps though and is important. At some schools, they'll be covering those loan repayments either partially or in their entirety. If you're earning $40,000 for the next decade, that could be a big deal.
Last edited by rad lulz on Wed Jan 09, 2013 2:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- rinkrat19
- Posts: 13922
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2010 5:35 am
Re: Public Interest Law
No, for public interest jobs, your loans are forgiven after 10 years regardless of whether you're on your school's LRAP or just federal IBR (actually PSLF). The difference is that a good LRAP program will be taking care of (to varying degrees, based on income) the interest you're not paying and part of your monthly payment. So if you don't make it the whole 10 years, the amount left on your loans will be much lower.ChampagnePapi wrote:Right, my understanding was that a good LRAP means your loans are forgiven in 10 years rather than 20?albanach wrote:If you're in PI, you'll be paying back your loans using IBR. For most PI salaries, there'd be little or no difference in your repayments if you borrow $100k or $250k.ChampagnePapi wrote: You should be looking at LRAP programs. Even with a full ride, at some schools you're still looking at 100K+ of debt which is not feasible with a PI salary.
LRAP still helps though and is important. At some schools, they'll be covering those loan repayments either partially or in their entirety. If you're earning $40,000 for the next decade, that could be a big deal.
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