Should I go to law school? (Just signed investment banking offer) Forum

[dubya.why]

Hey Guys,

Here's a little bit about my background:
-Philosophy/Econ major at top school
-3.8 GPA, 174-176 practice LSAT
-I've always been much better with words/communication than with numbers (Case in point: 800 CR in SAT for both attempts; started 630 in math but then brought it to 710)
-My plan since high school has always been to go to law school and become an attorney
-Honestly, I always thought being a lawyer was a very attractive and prestigious path, given the sheer amount of media and fiction about lawyers (see Suits, Law and Order, The Judge, John Grisham).
-Because of this, combined with my knack for words over numbers, I always thought the law was for me.

So I am in my junior year in college, and I was very lucky after this round of recruiting. I just signed a summer offer at J.P. Morgan IBD in their Financial Sponsors team (the team that works with PE; historically really good PE placement). I am quite confident I can turn it into a full time offer.

During the past few months of recruiting, I was really immersed in the banking space (WSO etc) and got to know the career quite well. It seems very interesting (and lucrative), but I guess...less cerebral than law? Now I'm entirely unsure if I should go down the law path. Should I continue applying next year? Should I still take the LSAT? It's just a little overwhelming that 3 years of mindset progression is being eroded in the span of 3 months. Lots of people (more than you'd expect) think I'm crazy for even considering law school with this type of opportunity.

What would you do?

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

Take the job, work 3-4 years then decide. People who go K-JD are at a disadvantage in law so this is actually a great thing bc you can make $, get work experience, and decide if you really want to be an attorney. Congrats!

[joeycxxxx09]

I would take the LSAT to see if you can get a full ride at a top 10 school. If not, take the job at JP. You can always go to law school down the road if you don't end up liking it, with money in your pocket.

[dubya.why]

I was thinking of taking the IBD analyst stint as a "gap year" to take some time off and try something new before going into law...but I figure if I do the 2 year analyst stint in banking, I will be 2 years late to the party as a biglaw associate. Should I just go to law school right after college in that case? 2 years late is also 2 extra years to make partner (if I still want to do law).

[Effingham]

I was thinking of taking the IBD analyst stint as a "gap year" to take some time off and try something new before going into law...but I figure if I do the 2 year analyst stint in banking, I will be 2 years late to the party as a biglaw associate. Should I just go to law school right after college in that case? 2 years late is also 2 extra years to make partner (if I still want to do law).

Do the IBanking, you'll regret it if you don't. 2 years off isn't a lot of time, if anything you'll end up in a better firm because of it.

Also, pretty much everyone I know who did Ibanking straight out of school has already lateraled into sweet gigs with wayyy higher upside than biglaw.

[Traynor Brah]

You should certainly take the job and give it at least a few years. Then you can consider law school when you're making your next step from that job. Also your reasons for wanting to be an attorney are a recipe for disaster and immense disappointment.

[zhenders]

I fully agree with Hutz. Law school isn't going anywhere. This is a killer opportunity; if I were in your shoes, I'd spend a few years doing that. You can make the Biglaw opportunity cost argument, but at the end of they day you're young, and this is an incredibly cool opportunity.

[jbagelboy]

If you're interested in finance, try it out for a few years. There are a lot of folks who don't want to be in IB but if you do and you're cut out for it, it makes a lot of sense to take the analyst position and then if your interest in law persists, apply after 2 years.

We have lots of former analysts at my law school; some from the JP Morgan/Goldman's, some from consulting firms (like me) and smaller banks or more specialized investment groups. It's not uncommon, although MBA is definitely the better tread route. Don't think of it as missing out on time as an attorney, think of it as building a valuable skill set and professional experience for your future career.

[malleus discentium]

You should certainly take the job and give it at least a few years. Then you can consider law school when you're making your next step from that job. Also your reasons for wanting to be an attorney are a recipe for disaster and immense disappointment.

This is credited. Practicing law is not nearly as cerebral as you think it is.

[Cogburn87]

-Honestly, I always thought being a lawyer was a very attractive and prestigious path, given the sheer amount of media and fiction about lawyers (see Suits, Law and Order, The Judge, John Grisham).

This is a dumb reason to want to go to law school.

but I guess...less cerebral than law?

Neither of these careers is very "cerebral"

[dabigchina]

damn i regret taking that sweet, highly paid investment banking job

said nobody ever.

[Phil Brooks]

I would also ditch the special snowflake mentality whereby you seem to assume you will make partner.

[legit]

My friend who went to Wharton got advice to take his GMAT senior year during Christmas break because of ibanking hours. Maybe that advice could transfer to the LSAT?

[nerd1]

Unless you have a burning desire to become a litigator, work at the ibanking firm for some years and see if you like it. If you don't like banking by then, then apply to law schools.

I would suggest meeting or contacting some biglaw lawyers and bankers. Since you go to a top undergrad, there must be a lot of those people from your college.

[Nagster5]

With those numbers, I highly advise you to wait to apply until I have an acceptance somewhere.

[emkay625]

Take the banking offer, then decide in 2-3 years if you still want to go to law school. Having the investment banking gig will help you when it comes interview time if you do decide to go to law school. The banking gig could also allow you to save up $, and that plus your high numbers could mean you could avoid taking out loans for ls, which would be a pretty sweet spot to be in.

[BillClinton Jr]

Take the job, work 3-4 years then decide. People who go K-JD are at a disadvantage in law so this is actually a great thing bc you can make $, get work experience, and decide if you really want to be an attorney. Congrats!

+1

[twenty]

Take the LSAT first, THEN take the banking job. You will have no time for studying once you start working, and it's kind of easy to fall from a mid-170s to a high-160s just by letting your brain relax.

Your LSAT scores will be good for 5 years. Work for 2-3 years, see if you want to apply to law school then.

[jbagelboy]

Take the LSAT first, THEN take the banking job. You will have no time for studying once you start working, and it's kind of easy to fall from a mid-170s to a high-160s just by letting your brain relax.

Your LSAT scores will be good for 5 years. Work for 2-3 years, see if you want to apply to law school then.

idk I did way better on the LSAT while employed full time than I did as a college student.

But I made it work by making sacrifices to my professional performance, which I justified since I was leaving the field anyway