Should I stay in law school? Forum

[Avanst]

I hope that someone here can provide some insight for my circumstances.

I have a BS degree in computer science and quit a decent software engineering job to attend law school. I am currently a rising 2L at a T50 law school. I completed my entire first year with straight median grades, which in my opinion, mean my grades suck.

After the first semester I began to have doubts on whether law school is for me, and posted my resume looking for a software engineering position, just to see what options I have compared to continuing in law. In short, the software market is hot, very hot. I got offered several interviews all of which I ultimately declined upon deciding to continue with law school.

Upon completing my first year, I've realized, and please correct me if I am wrong, that because of my grades, I have to leverage my computer science degree in order to obtain a decent shot at any decent paying job in law. Decent pay meaning any job that pays more than the previous job I had as a software engineer. Which means I have to at least try for IP. Which I think means big law. Assuming of course, I could get a position with my grades at a big law firm doing IP work.

The next thing I realized is I hate writing, which I think is a major problem if I'm going to become a lawyer.

The last thing I realized is I don't want to work 60-80 hour weeks, I would rather work 40-50 hour weeks like I did as a software engineer. Even if that means I take less pay. So work life balance is very important to me.

Here's the problem. The software market is so hot that I received several unsolicited calls for interviews. Recently I decided to go to one, after which I was offered a position for 90k.

Between my view on writing, my grades, and my preference for work life balance, I'm beginning to feel law school was a mistake.

Should I continue to muddle through law school and complete it, or should I bail now and take the job? Any recommendations or suggestions would be very much appreciated.

[TLSwag]

I hope that someone here can provide some insight for my circumstances.

I have a BS degree in computer science and quit a decent software engineering job to attend law school. I am currently a rising 2L at a T50 law school. I completed my entire first year with straight median grades, which in my opinion, mean my grades suck.

After the first semester I began to have doubts on whether law school is for me, and posted my resume looking for a software engineering position, just to see what options I have compared to continuing in law. In short, the software market is hot, very hot. I got offered several interviews all of which I ultimately declined upon deciding to continue with law school.

Upon completing my first year, I've realized, and please correct me if I am wrong, that because of my grades, I have to leverage my computer science degree in order to obtain a decent shot at any decent paying job in law. Decent pay meaning any job that pays more than the previous job I had as a software engineer. Which means I have to at least try for IP. Which I think means big law. Assuming of course, I could get a position with my grades at a big law firm doing IP work.

The next thing I realized is I hate writing, which I think is a major problem if I'm going to become a lawyer.

The last thing I realized is I don't want to work 60-80 hour weeks, I would rather work 40-50 hour weeks like I did as a software engineer. Even if that means I take less pay. So work life balance is very important to me.

Here's the problem. The software market is so hot that I received several unsolicited calls for interviews. Recently I decided to go to one, after which I was offered a position for 90k.

Between my view on writing, my grades, and my preference for work life balance, I'm beginning to feel law school was a mistake.

Should I continue to muddle through law school and complete it, or should I bail now and take the job? Any recommendations or suggestions would be very much appreciated.

take the jerb - 90K u have really low odds of beating that at median from a T50, + no more debt & u clearly enjoy the software market more... seems like a no brainer?

[glitter178]

take the job.

[prezidentv8]

If not flame, drop out, take 90k, profit.

[DCDuck]

Take the job. Your desire for work/life balance and your dislike for writing make me think you would probably prefer software engineering. 90k is an awesome salary, congrats!

[dingbat]

take the job.
Any chance you can continue law school part-time? (or transfer to a part-time program elsewhere)

[dowu]

take the job.
Any chance you can continue law school part-time? (or transfer to a part-time program elsewhere)

TITCR. I would see if I could finish at a part time program (ABA accredited, of course) and rack in that 90k.

ITE, Jerb fashow.

[3ThrowAway99]

If not flame, drop out, take 90k, profit.

Yeah, original post reads like a taunt to law students, but if not I say just take the job. OTOH, with your tech background you could probably have a shot at IP law job even with median grades I think (especially if you pass patent bar), in which case it is possible that your earning potential could be greater (as a lawyer) than if you just stay in tech (depending on what you do in tech). But it def sounds like the law thing may more generally not be for you, in which case--given a very good alternative--I would say just take the job and drop out now.

[Mick Haller]

If not flame, drop out, take 90k, profit.

OTOH, with your tech background you could probably have a shot at IP law job even with median grades I think (especially if you pass patent bar), in which case it is possible that your earning potential could be greater (as a lawyer) than if you just stay in tech (depending on what you do in tech).

I second this. Whatever you decide, you should know that even your median grades won't necessarily preclude you from a decent job in IP. I've known people in similar situations who got really nice jobs.

If you are unhappy in law school, by all means take the job.

[Avanst]

If not flame, drop out, take 90k, profit.

OTOH, with your tech background you could probably have a shot at IP law job even with median grades I think (especially if you pass patent bar), in which case it is possible that your earning potential could be greater (as a lawyer) than if you just stay in tech (depending on what you do in tech).

I second this. Whatever you decide, you should know that even your median grades won't necessarily preclude you from a decent job in IP. I've known people in similar situations who got really nice jobs.

If you are unhappy in law school, by all means take the job.

No it's not a flame, I've been struggling with this since receiving the offer earlier today.

The above post is exactly what I'm looking for. I've been studying my ass off for the patent bar as I am planning on taking it just before the Loyola patent fair thinking I really need to compensate for my grades. By the way, I got 4 selects out of 32 bids, yeah pretty crappy. Then I got a call with this offer. My wife thinks I should stay in law school. If anything to keep my options open for law if I ultimately decide to continue to pursue it.

But I keep hearing that a law graduate has to be from a T14 school or top 10% in the class to even have a shot at a decent job, including in IP. I don't have either. So I felt like I was wasting my time and money by continuing in law school if after graduating, I won't even have a shot at a decent job.

Thank you for the input so far.

[spleenworship]

I'd take the job.

[dingbat]

But I keep hearing that a law graduate has to be from a T14 school or top 10% in the class to even have a shot at a decent job, including in IP. I don't have either. So I felt like I was wasting my time and money by continuing in law school if after graduating, I won't even have a shot at a decent job.

That's a gross oversimplification.