How much does work experience really matter? Forum

[johnnybruin]

Folks,

For a person taking a gap year between undergrad and law school, how much does work experience really matter? Would it be more wise to spend more time studying the LSAT (taking it in Oct.)?

I've had pre-med friends go travel for a year, work in a restaurant to cool their heads off, and other "non-remarkable" post-undergrad positions and still do fine in terms of admissions.

In sum, how does WE fit into the formula: "LSAT+GPA" for law schools?

Thanks!

[WahooLaw24]

If it's really good WE, it could help during your legal job hunt one day.

As far as admissions go, though, it's not going to matter a whole lot. LSAT is way more important. Unless you desperately need money, go part time and study for the LSAT.

[062914123]

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[L’Étranger]

If relevant to the area of law you intend to practice --> a lot. Otherwise, not that much. EDIT. Poor reading comprehension skills on my part. If you are a 0L applying to law school as is the OP, then work experience is a soft, which means it does not count for much at all.

[20141023]

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[johnnybruin]

Thanks all!

[Micdiddy]

Not sure the experience itself matters much, but adcoms definitely do not want to see a huge résumé gap where you lived in your parents basement and SSM for a year before starting law school.

[johnnybruin]

Not sure the experience itself matters much, but adcoms definitely do not want to see a huge résumé gap where you lived in your parents basement and SSM for a year before starting law school.

Agreed. It's not that I plan on not finding work during the gap between undergrad and 1L, but I do want to travel for a few months (<2 months) and unwind a bit before heading off to more schooling.

[Young Marino]

Not sure the experience itself matters much, but adcoms definitely do not want to see a huge résumé gap where you lived in your parents basement and SSM for a year before starting law school.

Agreed. It's not that I plan on not finding work during the gap between undergrad and 1L, but I do want to travel for a few months (<2 months) and unwind a bit before heading off to more schooling.

I'm in the same boat. Taking a 14 month break living at home and working a little part time job. Can't hurt, especially if you're applying early in the process

[Keasbey]

I'm in the midst of a gap year working at a small law firm. I'm not sure it did much for my admissions cycle, but it definitely helped me further develop my professional skills and let me mature a little bit. A fair amount of people who go to law school have already been out of undergrad for a few years and have (hopefully) had time to mature and develop some professional skills. I I feel that a year off can do nothing but help.

[TheBiggerMediocre]

Never take a gap year unless you plan on working full time in a related position. Your life started at 18 and ends at 50. I am guessing you are 22, you have already wasted 4 and will waste another 3 in law school. That leaves you with 25. Why would you waste another?

Life doesn't begin until you leave the confines of high school and ends when you get arthritis and other issues that leave you a shell of what you you were when young.

[06102016]

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[cinephile]

Never take a gap year unless you plan on working full time in a related position. Your life started at 18 and ends at 50. I am guessing you are 22, you have already wasted 4 and will waste another 3 in law school. That leaves you with 25. Why would you waste another?

Life doesn't begin until you leave the confines of high school and ends when you get arthritis and other issues that leave you a shell of what you you were when young.

This is crazy bad advice. Some of the worst advice I've seen on this website, honestly.

Life begins when you're born and ends when you die. In the meantime, you have an obligation to yourself to make the best of it. That means trying out different things and deciding what is right for you given your strengths, weaknesses, temperament, and goals. If you make a mistake, there's no reason to stick with it for another 30 years. You can always do something else. Even a year where you hate your job isn't a waste, it's a learning experience. Now you know what to avoid next time around.

[06102016]

..

[cinephile]

I'm pretty sure it's just another dumb troll account.

I think I fall for those rather easily.

[Young Marino]

Nothing wrong with smoking a little or a lot of pot during a year off

[johnnybruin]

Not sure the experience itself matters much, but adcoms definitely do not want to see a huge résumé gap where you lived in your parents basement and SSM for a year before starting law school.

Agreed. It's not that I plan on not finding work during the gap between undergrad and 1L, but I do want to travel for a few months (<2 months) and unwind a bit before heading off to more schooling.

I'm in the same boat. Taking a 14 month break living at home and working a little part time job. Can't hurt, especially if you're applying early in the process

Sounds good! Good luck.

[johnnybruin]

I'm in the midst of a gap year working at a small law firm. I'm not sure it did much for my admissions cycle, but it definitely helped me further develop my professional skills and let me mature a little bit. A fair amount of people who go to law school have already been out of undergrad for a few years and have (hopefully) had time to mature and develop some professional skills. I I feel that a year off can do nothing but help.

I definitely agree that some experience is better than no experience, but I do have a summer internship at a Fortune 500 company and some local government internships on the resume as well as other previous jobs. I suppose I'm kind of a "non-traditional" applicant given my variety of work experiences.

[buddyt]

I suppose I'm kind of a "non-traditional" applicant given my variety of work experiences.

You're probably not.

[beepboopbeep]

I definitely agree that some experience is better than no experience, but I do have a summer internship at a Fortune 500 company and some local government internships on the resume as well as other previous jobs. I suppose I'm kind of a "non-traditional" applicant given my variety of work experiences.

Yea, no offense, but that sounds pretty much like normal for non-K-JD. Lots of us have done cool shit.

Nothing wrong with smoking a little or a lot of pot during a year off

[Young Marino]

I totally plan on doing some spiritual cleansing using herbal remedies during my time off. No doubt about it

[johnnybruin]

I suppose I'm kind of a "non-traditional" applicant given my variety of work experiences.

You're probably not.

Hence the "kind of."

[20141023]

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[TheBiggerMediocre]

Never take a gap year unless you plan on working full time in a related position. Your life started at 18 and ends at 50. I am guessing you are 22, you have already wasted 4 and will waste another 3 in law school. That leaves you with 25. Why would you waste another?

Life doesn't begin until you leave the confines of high school and ends when you get arthritis and other issues that leave you a shell of what you you were when young.

This is crazy bad advice. Some of the worst advice I've seen on this website, honestly.

Life begins when you're born and ends when you die. In the meantime, you have an obligation to yourself to make the best of it. That means trying out different things and deciding what is right for you given your strengths, weaknesses, temperament, and goals. If you make a mistake, there's no reason to stick with it for another 30 years. You can always do something else. Even a year where you hate your job isn't a waste, it's a learning experience. Now you know what to avoid next time around.

Yes life does begin when you are born but you are pretty much stuck in the same mold as everybody else until about 16 or so then usually you get stuck in the education bind for several years. Yes of course you should make the best of it and try out as many things but as quickly as possible. If you actually make a large mistake, then there is a good reason to start over.

Never take a gap year unless you plan on working full time in a related position. Your life started at 18 and ends at 50. I am guessing you are 22, you have already wasted 4 and will waste another 3 in law school. That leaves you with 25. Why would you waste another?

Life doesn't begin until you leave the confines of high school and ends when you get arthritis and other issues that leave you a shell of what you you were when young.

This is crazy bad advice. Some of the worst advice I've seen on this website, honestly.

Life begins when you're born and ends when you die. In the meantime, you have an obligation to yourself to make the best of it. That means trying out different things and deciding what is right for you given your strengths, weaknesses, temperament, and goals. If you make a mistake, there's no reason to stick with it for another 30 years. You can always do something else. Even a year where you hate your job isn't a waste, it's a learning experience. Now you know what to avoid next time around.

I'm pretty sure it's just another dumb troll account.

Nope not a dumb troll, just another perspective that is apparently the opposite of yours.

[keval81]

It depends on the school. Some didn't seem to mind my gap year, while others (namely Northwestern and Chicago) asked me to speak at length about my job and the activities I've undertaken since graduation.