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Avanst wrote: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.

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

prezidentv8 wrote:If not flame, drop out, take 90k, profit.

Lawquacious wrote:

prezidentv8 wrote: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).

Mick Haller wrote:

Lawquacious wrote:

prezidentv8 wrote: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 wrote: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.