Top Law Schools

I'm serious... at least 40-50% of interviewers ask this. And perhaps I'm wrong, but I feel like people really only want to know that (1) you actually want to work in law, (2) don't have an unrealistic idea of what it is, and (3) didn't very obviously just stumble into it as a backup plan or because you didn't know what to do.

Of course, 1, 2, and 3 could all still apply to you, but that doesn't really matter. My question is how do you answer the question of why law school? To help facilitate discussion and general ideas, perhaps just give me examples of really good and effective answers, or poor answers (and why they are bad).

I don't know if this was a good/effective response but it is how I responded to it in interviews. FWIW I ended up with a SA job.

1) Parent is a lawyer, always been around it
2) Took a business law course in UG and really enjoyed it / sought out prof in office hours for the first time
3) Did an internship that required a lot of physical labor and realized I want to be challenged mentally by my job, not physically
4) Really liked my 1L courses and 1L summer work

I just went through all 4 in that order and tried to be enthusiastic about it.

You Gotta Have Faith wrote:I'm serious... at least 40-50% of interviewers ask this. And perhaps I'm wrong, but I feel like people really only want to know that (1) you actually want to work in law, (2) don't have an unrealistic idea of what it is, and (3) didn't very obviously just stumble into it as a backup plan or because you didn't know what to do.

Of course, 1, 2, and 3 could all still apply to you, but that doesn't really matter. My question is how do you answer the question of why law school? To help facilitate discussion and general ideas, perhaps just give me examples of really good and effective answers, or poor answers (and why they are bad).

Bad: I want to help people.

Better: I have a strong interest in international law.

Best:

Kohinoor wrote: Bad: I want to help people.

Better: I have a strong interest in international law.

Best:

Umm... yeah, thanks...

...

JPU wrote:I don't know if this was a good/effective response but it is how I responded to it in interviews. FWIW I ended up with a SA job.

1) Parent is a lawyer, always been around it
2) Took a business law course in UG and really enjoyed it / sought out prof in office hours for the first time
3) Did an internship that required a lot of physical labor and realized I want to be challenged mentally by my job, not physically
4) Really liked my 1L courses and 1L summer work

I just went through all 4 in that order and tried to be enthusiastic about it.

This is what I am going for in terms of talking with people about my interest in law, but people seems to shrug their heads as if that is not enough. I am kind of trying to develop my answer a bit more.

jaydizzle wrote:
This is what I am going for in terms of talking with people about my interest in law, but people seems to shrug their heads as if that is not enough. I am kind of trying to develop my answer a bit more.

Individually I don't think that my points are all that strong but when given together as a whole story about my life they gain some more traction. I am sure there are more compelling reason but I came straight through undergrad and have 0 interest in public interest so it is tough to really make a compelling reason to pursue corporate law without sounding like I am chasing cash.

Keep in mind that roughly 65% of Law Students are in Law not because they love it, but because they suck at Maths, so no Business School and they were too retarded to do Science so they ended up in some Political Science program getting good grades like nothing and eventually applied to Law School because they think it's their only way out to wealth, which is just a myth.

Noval wrote:Keep in mind that roughly 65% of Law Students are in Law not because they love it, but because they suck at Maths, no so Business and they were too retarded to do Science so they ended up in some Political Science program getting good grades like nothing and eventually applied to Law School because they think it's their only way out to wealth, which is just a myth.

Ruh oh! I'm curious to see what other people have as answer for Why Law School and Why Law.

I say, "because I think I'll be good at it."

Noval wrote:Keep in mind that roughly 65% of Law Students are in Law not because they love it, but because they suck at Maths, so no Business School and they were too retarded to do Science so they ended up in some Political Science program getting good grades like nothing and eventually applied to Law School because they think it's their only way out to wealth, which is just a myth.

65% YOU SAY?

1. I don't understand the current mismatch between market need and labor supply.

OR

2. I really enjoy research and writing, analytical thinking and client service.

Kohinoor wrote:

Noval wrote:Keep in mind that roughly 65% of Law Students are in Law not because they love it, but because they suck at Maths, so no Business School and they were too retarded to do Science so they ended up in some Political Science program getting good grades like nothing and eventually applied to Law School because they think it's their only way out to wealth, which is just a myth.

65% YOU SAY?

I think i was too gentle... i'd say 85%

I actually only got asked "why law school" by ONE interviewer out of about 50 interviewers between OCI and cbs. I'm curious if this question is asked more to those that have gone straight from college or don't have much WE in the legal field. On the other hand, 100% of my interviewers asked me why law firm, but I expected it since I have a lot of public interest experience.

My go-to response:

"Well, I really enjoyed my experience in commercial banking. I met a lot of interesting people and acquired a broad understanding of the way a large financial institution works. However, if I had gone that route, I would have lived my life project to project, quarter to quarter; all recurring annually. I found that I needed something more dynamic in order to be truly happy with my career. New challenges in new cases, or deals.....[blablabla]."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMvARy0l ... r_embedded

Take notes

Jessep wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMvARy0l ... r_embedded

Take notes

Another good one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhjhHuMK ... re=related

That first video is absolutely priceless. Do you have a time machine so you can go back and graduate with those guys?

You Gotta Have Faith wrote:Why law school?

Because I feel like I didn't incur enough non-dischargeable debt in undergrad.

frost wrote:I actually only got asked "why law school" by ONE interviewer out of about 50 interviewers between OCI and cbs. I'm curious if this question is asked more to those that have gone straight from college or don't have much WE in the legal field.

I think you hit the nail on the head. If someone's being asked this question a lot in interviews, it's probably because the resume doesn't clearly show how that person's experiences lead to an interest in developing legal skills or practicing in a particular type of law or organization.

I've only been asked that question in a job interview once, and that was for a permanent job in a niche legal field that's directly related to my pre-LS work. The interviewer asked why I gave up my old career when I was successful at it and it tends to be more lucrative than most non-Big Law jobs. I explained that I went to law school because, among other reasons, my experience as a former corporate client lead me to wanting to counsel others and that I wanted a broader scope of influence than representing just one organization. And yes...I got that job!

dood wrote:WE is pretty legit for answer this. "i loved my old jorb, but after 2 years i just wasnt challenged anymore"

I used something like "at my old job my career ladder could only take me so high, and half the people at the top of the company were lawyers, so if lawyers run everything then that's what I want to be."

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