Dropping Out Because of Job Prospects/Hatred for the Law Forum

[Anonymous User]

So I think I may drop out. I have a full ride at a T2 but will be right on the fringe of losing it/barely keeping it with poor job prospects. I absolutely loathe school, I can't get through the readings, and can walk into a 70k per year gig in NYC instead. I'm 23 and when I look forward a few years into the future as a lawyer I don't see me being a happy person enjoying my job. My family will say, "don't pass up a free JD!" but on the flipside, i think the absence of debt gives me the unique opportunity to step back, have some self awareness and decide I don't like this crap and can walk away.

I thought you should know, internet. Am I alone? No one in my school seems to be hinting at dropping out.

[RedBirds2011]

Well, thanks very much for keeping me informed.

Sincerely,

Internet

[chem]

So I think I may drop out. I have a full ride at a T2 but will be right on the fringe of losing it/barely keeping it with poor job prospects. I absolutely loathe school, I can't get through the readings, and can walk into a 70k per year gig in NYC instead. I'm 23 and when I look forward a few years into the future as a lawyer I don't see me being a happy person enjoying my job. My family will say, "don't pass up a free JD!" but on the flipside, i think the absence of debt gives me the unique opportunity to step back, have some self awareness and decide I don't like this crap and can walk away.

I thought you should know, internet.

Cool

[monkey85]

Better late than never. Enjoy NYC.

[Aberzombie1892]

So I think I may drop out. I have a full ride at a T2 but will be right on the fringe of losing it/barely keeping it with poor job prospects. I absolutely loathe school, I can't get through the readings, and can walk into a 70k per year gig in NYC instead. I'm 23 and when I look forward a few years into the future as a lawyer I don't see me being a happy person enjoying my job. My family will say, "don't pass up a free JD!" but on the flipside, i think the absence of debt gives me the unique opportunity to step back, have some self awareness and decide I don't like this crap and can walk away.

I thought you should know, internet.

Cool

Story

[Kikero]

So I think I may drop out. I have a full ride at a T2 but will be right on the fringe of losing it/barely keeping it with poor job prospects. I absolutely loathe school, I can't get through the readings, and can walk into a 70k per year gig in NYC instead. I'm 23 and when I look forward a few years into the future as a lawyer I don't see me being a happy person enjoying my job. My family will say, "don't pass up a free JD!" but on the flipside, i think the absence of debt gives me the unique opportunity to step back, have some self awareness and decide I don't like this crap and can walk away.

I thought you should know, internet.

Cool

Story

Bro

[spleenworship]

If it is free, I would finish. Otherwise you have to answer why you were a quitter.

I think it would be easier to say "I didn't like it at all, that's why I am doing something else" than "I spent two years there but didn't even get a degree because I hated it."

Now, if you were paying, then I would quit. If you lose the scholly, I would quit.

But for free? Eff it, just get it done.

[sunynp]

There is absolutely no point in staying if you have a good job doing something else. Take the job and don't look back! Good luck!

[spleenworship]

There is absolutely no point in staying if you have a good job doing something else. Take the job and don't look back! Good luck!

Actually, the more I think about this, the better it sounds. Though I have to say, I'm not sure how far $73K goes in NYC.

[reformed calvinist]

I would drop out tomorrow if I could walk into a 70k/yr gig. What are you doing?

[reformed calvinist]

If it is free, I would finish. Otherwise you have to answer why you were a quitter.

I think it would be easier to say "I didn't like it at all, that's why I am doing something else" than "I spent two years there but didn't even get a degree because I hated it."

Now, if you were paying, then I would quit. If you lose the scholly, I would quit.

But for free? Eff it, just get it done.

The more I think about it, the more it seems like an easy sell in an interview. Everyone hates lawyers. Just make a joke about that and you should be golden.

[spleenworship]

If it is free, I would finish. Otherwise you have to answer why you were a quitter.

I think it would be easier to say "I didn't like it at all, that's why I am doing something else" than "I spent two years there but didn't even get a degree because I hated it."

Now, if you were paying, then I would quit. If you lose the scholly, I would quit.

But for free? Eff it, just get it done.

The more I think about it, the more it seems like an easy sell in an interview. Everyone hates lawyers. Just make a joke about that and you should be golden.

Yeah.... I've changed my mind.

OP, if you hate it, you have a good job offer, and you can make a joke about it.... then quit.

[KMaine]

Not sure why you care if other people are dropping out/what we think. Drop out if you want to. I wouldn't if I were you, but I don't hate the law, so I guess I'm not you. What do youwant us to say?

[Julio_El_Chavo]

I love the law so much. Gee golly, I have no idea what you're talking about!

-TLS Poster

[DaftAndDirect]

This is the least entertaining post I've ever read.

Congrats on your anonymous humblebrag OP.

[spleenworship]

I just had a thought: OP, you are aware that the practice of law has very little in common with law school, right?

[romothesavior]

There is absolutely no point in staying if you have a good job doing something else. Take the job and don't look back! Good luck!

Yeah, this. Just drop out.

[RedBirds2011]

I just had a thought: OP, you are aware that the practice of law has very little in common with law school, right?

Very good point!!

[Julio_El_Chavo]

I just had a thought: OP, you are aware that the practice of law has very little in common with law school, right?

Yeah, working in the legal field is much less deterministic than going to law school: you can get fired or work could dry up for a million different reasons. At least when you're in law school you have some idea of how you're doing. If you're at a good law school and in the top 10%, you know you'll probably be okay. But when your practicing at most firms outside of the tippy top boutiques and biglaw powerhouses, there's always a risk that you'll be fired (stealthily or not) or that sudden "issues" might come up in your performance reviews that make you think you should be looking for exit options or that 25 cases might settle all at once leaving you with nothing to do for weeks on end. If you work for a small firm and the rainmaker decides to leave for another firm without you (or just straight up retire), you're totally fucked, especially if you've been practicing in a niche area. The only people who don't have to worry about these kinds of issues are people at top-ranked firms who have so much work that they don't have time to think about their own job security, although admittedly it is less of an issue for them. But they have to worry about loss of consortium, weight gain, hypertension, etc.

[sillyboots]

The fact that you put so much weight on your personal happiness and health shows that you were never meant to be a lawyer in the first place.

Kidding, but anyway, good luck. It's not a free JD when you could be making money elsewhere and when it costs you an unhappy few years in your 20s.

[dixiecupdrinking]

Jesus, are you kidding me? You hate the law, you hate school, you're not at a good school, and you can make $70k at 23 (which, by the way, goes plenty far in NYC)? Why aren't you gone yesterday? Why would anyone tell this person to stay in school?

[ColtsFan88]

Better late than never. Enjoy NYC.

Better Nate than lever.

Someone poast it, now.

[PDaddy]

So I think I may drop out. I have a full ride at a T2 but will be right on the fringe of losing it/barely keeping it with poor job prospects. I absolutely loathe school, I can't get through the readings, and can walk into a 70k per year gig in NYC instead. I'm 23 and when I look forward a few years into the future as a lawyer I don't see me being a happy person enjoying my job. My family will say, "don't pass up a free JD!" but on the flipside, i think the absence of debt gives me the unique opportunity to step back, have some self awareness and decide I don't like this crap and can walk away.

I thought you should know, internet. Am I alone? No one in my school seems to be hinting at dropping out.

You are NOT alone. If you want to quit, you above anyone else probably knows what's best. I will say that the number of law students focussed on getting through the readings amazes me. To do well in law school you need to do three things: (1) start constructing good outlines from day one, (2) get ahold of professors' old exams so you know what they want you to understand for the exams, and (3) take practice exams over and over until you know you can get your points. Reading the cases is an exercize that allows you to see the law applied and discuss the relevant questions in class - if called upon. It does little to help you on exam day when you must construct your own applications to the hypotheticals.

Maybe you're the type of student who can do well without doing as much of the reading. Maybe refocussing your energy with some different strategies is in order. And you should remember that you don't have to practice law. You can go into business, be an entrepreneur, write books, be a consultant, teach undergrad at a university, etc. A law degree can be used in a variety of ways, especially when you have little or no debt.

If you hate the law, you hate it. But before you quit, ask yourself WHY you hate it. Is it the law school environment or the actual discipline? Do you hate the other students or your profs? I am not telling you to stay; I am advising you to do some critical thinking before you make such a big decision. Going to law school was a big decision; quitting could be an even bigger one.

[Anonymous User]

OP Here. Thanks to those with helpful advice/shared commiseration. To those who thought it was a humblebrag-- It wasn't intended, truly. I can see why you think that though, my bad. The reason I think I will finish out the year is that if I just left and went home my parents would not be OK with it. I know this, and while I've voiced my feelings to them, they've said the same thing-- finish out the year and see if you change your mind once the stress of the school year is over. I know, in my own mind, that i have made a decision but their opinion and support is still very important.

[dailygrind]

Respect for what must have been a very hard choice.