Leave law school on resume for job search outside law? Forum

[bigbob1]

I have a decent job in the technology field. I'm also attending law school part-time, with about two years left before graduation. I had planned to stay with this job until graduation and maybe afterwards, depending on my luck at the legal job search. But I'm starting to feel like I'm being treated unfairly and missing out on advancement opportunities. As a result, I'm starting to look for another job, also in technology and not law.

My question is whether to put my in-progress legal education on my resume. Some thoughts pro and con:
Pro: Would make my resume stand out.
Con: But it would stand out in a way that is probably not good for most jobs in technology.
Con: Employer would worry about distraction or availability for long hours.
Con: Employer would worry about whether I'd stay after graduation.
Pro: Employer would probably feel it's dishonest to spring this on them after being hired.
Pro: Employer would probably feel it's still dishonest to spring this on them at an interview.

Your opinion?

[bizzike]

Drop out. Why do you want a law degree if you've made the decision to not practice law? Save yourself money.

[howell]

I went through something very similar, although I was working in the IT department of a law firm (and looking for similar work). I left law school on my resume, and I got multiple offers over the course of my law school career, but at a law firm, it's much easier to explain why they should still hire me. I never had anyone tell me that law school was a problem, but who knows what happened with the jobs I didn't get interviews for. I did get some interviews with non-law firms at the time, now that I think about it. At those interviews, the law school thing didn't seem to be a big deal.

I went with the approach that if it's going to be a problem, I'd rather clear that up as early as possible. Other people with higher risk tolerance might go a different route, but I wouldn't suggest it. Just be able to give a good explanation why they should hire you despite the land of riches that a law degree of course leads to.

One of the people that hired me found out that I had ~2 years left in law school. He figured 2 years of a good employee was better than what they normally got, so he had no problem with the risk of me leaving. I doubt that's the philosophy of most companies, but it was legit for that firm for sure.

[ClubberLang]

I'd leave it off the resume and tell them during your interview. It won't help you get a job in any way, and would make you look like a weirdo and probably keep you from getting some interviews. This is coming from someone in a similar situation who's been through it.

[wert3813]

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[fnma2jd]

I'm in a similar situation. I applied this cycle for part time programs and will most likely be starting this fall (if I don't sit out and retake). I work in a low level finance role and have decided that the con's outweigh the pro's when it comes to reporting law school to your employer. With the exception of applying to something law related, I have no intention of ever disclosing it. The thought of limited availability and not staying in the long run is enough to make someone not hire me.