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Reneging is legal but the best option for you is to work there for a year and study for the October LSATs. Even if you do decide to go to LS, it's too late for Fall '15 anyway. Work at the accounting firm for a year and attend Fall '16.

Lots of people will tell you a big 4 accounting job is > LS.

179orBust wrote:
Then, during this past semester, I realized that a career in law is something I definitely want to pursue. And it's what I want to do for the rest of my life. Not accounting (it's tedious, you're under-appreciated, etc.).

Every attorney in this board will tell you this is true of law. Why do you want to be a lawyer?

179orBust wrote:I stupidly wisely accepted the offer (signed a contract)

FTFY.

179orBust wrote:Then, during this past semester, I realized that a career in law is something I definitely want to pursue. And it's what I want to do for the rest of my life.

Nope.

179orBust wrote:(it's tedious, you're under-appreciated, etc.)

Wait, are you sure you aren't already a lawyer?

179orBust wrote:So I plan on taking the LSAT in June, and the added pressure that I'd only be able to take it once is really killing me. If I had not accepted the job, I would have had the option to retake in October/December and there would have been a lot less pressure. Basically, I feel rushed right now and under pressure to succeed in June; this is not the way I want to prepare for an exam that will basically affect the rest of my life.

Slowwwwwww down there champ. You've got plenty of time. Lol skool ain't goin anywhere.

179orBust wrote:Let me reiterate again: I don't really have an interest in working as an accountant anymore. And deferring the job offer isn't really a option since the firm won't be thrilled to hear that I plan on attending law school 2-3 years down the road. Even if I can defer, I'm worried that I'll get too caught up in the accounting world and never end up pursuing law. I don't want to risk all that for something I don't wanna do in the future.

I don't see any risk whatsoever there. I mean, I get that you've decided you don't like accounting, but you're just trading one kind of tedium for another, with a brief deferral of about three years.

179orBust wrote:So I'm in a real quandary right now: On one hand, I want to do what is best for myself and on the other hand I don't want to let the firm down. I hate disappointing people and reneging on a job offer would do just that. But I also keep telling myself that I have to be selfish and do what is in my best interest. I've always considered myself a good decision maker and this situation is eating me alive. In addition, I don't even know if reneging on a job offer is legal. Does this happen often? Anyone ever in a similar position? Is this something that can hurt me in the future?

There is no such thing as a Big 4 accounting firm that will be hurt even negligibly by a first year reneging on a job. You may well get blackballed by that firm, but I can't imagine a scenario where they'd be "let down." Also, if push came to shove, they'd shitcan you in a heartbeat, so no need to feel bad.

179orBust wrote:Any advice you can give me would be appreciated immensely. If someone works at one of the Big 4 firms that would be even better. Thank you in advance!

My advice? Try out accounting for a year. See how you like it. Save some money. Find someone of your preferred sex to bang. Maybe casually study for the LSAT. If you still are interested in law school at that point, try to find a paralegal/legal assistant gig. Then if you are still interested, proceed. But minimize debt (say, keep it below $40k or so). Full or nearly full scholly, with no stip, at best school you can swing that at, or GTFO.

But, my real advice: don't go to law school, duder.

Take the LSAT in June. Retake in October or December if necessary. Thousands upon thousands of people have done this while working full time and done just fine, so don't think having a job means you can't take the LSAT. Work at the accounting firm and see how things go. Maybe you'll like it. Maybe it will lead to a different job you like more than accounting or law. Maybe you'll do really well on the LSAT and get a great scholarship to a T14 and decide that's the best route for you. But none of this has to be decided right now.

Just wanted to thank you all for the advice. I'm going to take everything you guys said into consideration and really think it over during the next few weeks. It's a really tough decision, and I hope that whatever I decide will end up helping my future. Again, can't thank you guys enough!

179orBust wrote:Just wanted to thank you all for the advice. I'm going to take everything you guys said into consideration and really think it over during the next few weeks. It's a really tough decision, and I hope that whatever I decide will end up helping my future. Again, can't thank you guys enough!

And with this you're already on a better track than 99% of posters creating these threads.

Work for 2 or so years, save some money, enjoy the (far less) stressful life that comes with working as an accountant, and then see if you want to go to law school. Honestly, I have a lot of friends at Big 4s and I get to see them pretty regularly, exception being 2-3 months during tax season. Only 1 of them has a very intense schedule, and it's still probably less stressful than biglaw.

TheoO wrote:Work for 2 or so years, save some money, enjoy the (far less) stressful life that comes with working as an accountant, and then see if you want to go to law school. Honestly, I have a lot of friends at Big 4s and I get to see them pretty regularly, exception being 2-3 months during tax season. Only 1 of them has a very intense schedule, and it's still probably less stressful than biglaw.

I agree with working for obvious reasons. But most of this post about the lean hours at the Big 4 is dumb.

TheoO wrote:Work for 2 or so years, save some money, enjoy the (far less) stressful life that comes with working as an accountant, and then see if you want to go to law school. Honestly, I have a lot of friends at Big 4s and I get to see them pretty regularly, exception being 2-3 months during tax season. Only 1 of them has a very intense schedule, and it's still probably less stressful than biglaw.

Lol just lol at implying the big4 will have good work life balance,

After working at a big4 op won't even bat an eyelash at billing 2k+

That said, law firms eat up big4 experience+ CPA at oci so it wouldn't be a total waste of time. I would just get your studying out of the way before you start and your schedule rapes you.

dabigchina wrote: That said, law firms eat up big4 experience+ CPA at oci

THIS THIS THIS.

To OP: take the job for like two years, get that sexy stamp on your resume, and enjoy a 1LSA. Okay, you're not guaranteed to get a 1LSA, but it really helps to have MBB/Big4/IB experience, if not at least be able to save a bit of money.

I'm sure everyone else in this thread has drilled you for saying this, but make sure you make sure you actually understand what lawyers do, because the qualities you describe could apply to a lot of legal work.