Questions about law school entry, undergraduate degrees, etc Forum

[gnomgnomuch]

how does one "love the law" exactly

The law epitomizes fairness, equality, and accountability. I have a great appreciation and a great deal of respect for our Constitution. I love the law because it ensures that I don't live in an anarchic state.

If you've read any news over the past ever, you'd know that's not actually the case. You can have respect for the Constitution, but it doesn't take into account a multitude of new tech, and a narrow interpretation of it makes it anything other than fair.

There's also that small thing called the 3/5ths compromise...in regards to fairness and equality.

Also, not that you have to justify to us why you want to go to law school, if that's your actual reason then you should think some more about it. If you want to do PI and you end up meeting people whom you can't help because of the law... would you be able to handle that? (Assuming you get PI.)

Otherwise, you'd potentially be getting big-law, where you'd do soul crushing work - for most of us at least - for long hours. The pay would be great, but chances are you'd have some debt, and you'd be helping corporations rather than people.

There are trade-offs everywhere, you don't particularly sound set on law, so do some serious research, maybe an internship, into the profession before you jump in.

[prezidentv8]

here's my.02:

if you decide to go to law school (and that "if" is important -- you sound better suited for policy/nonprofit work rather than legal work per se, but I only know you from a couple of posts on an internet forum, so what the hell do I know?).....

....you have literally two things to consider:

1. debt
2. job prospects (eta: including the substance of the jobs, which generally suck)

that. is. it. minimize debt. maximize job prospects.

focus on that, you'll do all right.

[KMart]

1. debt
2. job prospects (eta: including the substance of the jobs, which generally suck)

that. is. it. minimize debt. maximize job prospects.

focus on that, you'll do all right.

It's a broken record at this point, but, again: with a 4.0 and a strong LSAT you'll achieve both of these. It's all about maximizing your potential on that LSAT at this point.

[melissamj1]

how does one "love the law" exactly

The law epitomizes fairness, equality, and accountability. I have a great appreciation and a great deal of respect for our Constitution. I love the law because it ensures that I don't live in an anarchic state.

If you've read any news over the past ever, you'd know that's not actually the case. You can have respect for the Constitution, but it doesn't take into account a multitude of new tech, and a narrow interpretation of it makes it anything other than fair.

There's also that small thing called the 3/5ths compromise...in regards to fairness and equality.

Also, not that you have to justify to us why you want to go to law school, if that's your actual reason then you should think some more about it. If you want to do PI and you end up meeting people whom you can't because of the law... would you be able to handle that? (Assuming you get PI.)

Otherwise, you'd potentially be getting big-law, where you'd do soul crushing work - for most of us at least - for long hours. The pay would be great, but chances are you'd have some debt, and you'd be helping corporations rather than people.

There are trade-offs everywhere, you don't particularly sound set on law, so do some serious research, maybe an internship, into the profession before you jump in.

I am set on the law but will take your advice into account. I do have a internship this upcoming summer at the DA's office. My main concern was that my CJ degree wouldn't be good enough. I've seen so many other people stating that it wouldn't be and that I needed to major in something else, like Philosophy, I figured I needed to change my major. I'm 33 years old and don't have the luxury of wasting time. So, if I felt I was wasting my time and didn't want to get into law, I wouldn't. I'd already made one mistake of having a different major and didn't want to repeat that. I was in my Senior year RN, BSN before I finally decided to make myself happy and not everyone else. I always wanted to be a lawyer, I just let my family talk me into nursing because they were in healthcare.

I know there's much room for improvement and reinterpretation of the Constitution. The reason I love the law is because we have the power to change it to benefit every citizen in this country. Like it or not, that's true. You have to want it enough to fight for it. I think all lawyers have the ability to change the way laws work. I'll be honest, and I swear I'm not trying to offend anyone, but some of these replies (not yours) sound so defeatist. If you want to change laws and/or the way they work, you can. When someone tells me I can't do something, I make damn sure I prove them wrong.

[melissamj1]

here's my.02:

if you decide to go to law school (and that "if" is important -- you sound better suited for policy/nonprofit work rather than legal work per se, but I only know you from a couple of posts on an internet forum, so what the hell do I know?).....

....you have literally two things to consider:

1. debt
2. job prospects (eta: including the substance of the jobs, which generally suck)

that. is. it. minimize debt. maximize job prospects.

focus on that, you'll do all right.

Thank you for your advice. I do feel that it's incredibly important to go to law school though.

[melissamj1]

1. debt
2. job prospects (eta: including the substance of the jobs, which generally suck)

that. is. it. minimize debt. maximize job prospects.

focus on that, you'll do all right.

It's a broken record at this point, but, again: with a 4.0 and a strong LSAT you'll achieve both of these. It's all about maximizing your potential on that LSAT at this point.

Thank you

I'm aiming to take it next October, so that will give me plenty of time to study I think.

[pancakes3]

Re: other grades
If you have prior non-A grades in addition to your CJ degree you won't have a 4.0, which greatly affects the advice you've received thus far.

Re: your personal views on the law
You should not be a lawyer. Being a lawyer has nothing to do with interpreting the Constitution, changing laws, or benefiting every citizen in the country. Your job as a lawyer is to read, speak, and write on behalf of your client as convincingly as the law and the truth permits, period. If you don't want to do that, you don't want to be a lawyer. This has nothing to do with being a pessimist or an optimist. It'd be like you saying you want to be a banker because you believe every banker has the opportunity to affect the federal funds rate and create jobs for Americans.

[Lwoods]

Everything in here is spot on. Your major doesn't matter, and a 4.0 can go a long way if you get a 170+ LSAT.

You mentioned that you're 33. Before this degree (which I'm assuming is your first bachelors degree), did you take any college level courses, including any community college courses? If so, those grades will also factor into your LSAC GPA, which is the GPA law schools look at for admissions.

The type of law you're interested in will probably never result in a high income for you, so if you do decide you want to practice law, you'll want to focus on getting a scholarship for law school.

If you decide against law, don't fall in the trap of thinking your CJ degree limits you to certain CJ careers. Rather, think about what you would like to do and determine if you need something you don't have in order to do what you want. Often, you won't.

[melissamj1]

Everything in here is spot on. Your major doesn't matter, and a 4.0 can go a long way if you get a 170+ LSAT.

You mentioned that you're 33. Before this degree (which I'm assuming is your first bachelors degree), did you take any college level courses, including any community college courses? If so, those grades will also factor into your LSAC GPA, which is the GPA law schools look at for admissions.

The type of law you're interested in will probably never result in a high income for you, so if you do decide you want to practice law, you'll want to focus on getting a scholarship for law school.

If you decide against law, don't fall in the trap of thinking your CJ degree limits you to certain CJ careers. Rather, think about what you would like to do and determine if you need something you don't have in order to do what you want. Often, you won't.

Hi Lwoods (lol Elle Woods :p ) Yes, I did take college level courses at a university for my first bachelors. I had a 4.0 there as well. I've never made anything less than an A throughout my entire college career. My combined GPA is 4.0. I've always done as much extra credit as I could to keep my 4.0. Most of the time I didn't need to; I've only had two classes throughout where the extra credit was necessary to keep my 4.0.

If I decided against law, it's nice to know I won't be limited. Thank you for your advice.

[melissamj1]

Re: other grades
If you have prior non-A grades in addition to your CJ degree you won't have a 4.0, which greatly affects the advice you've received thus far.

Re: your personal views on the law
You should not be a lawyer. Being a lawyer has nothing to do with interpreting the Constitution, changing laws, or benefiting every citizen in the country. Your job as a lawyer is to read, speak, and write on behalf of your client as convincingly as the law and the truth permits, period. If you don't want to do that, you don't want to be a lawyer. This has nothing to do with being a pessimist or an optimist. It'd be like you saying you want to be a banker because you believe every banker has the opportunity to affect the federal funds rate and create jobs for Americans.

So I shouldn't be a lawyer because I want to help people; because I want to change laws that could benefit clients; because if one day, god forbid, I may want to be a judge or a politician? (Yes I realize not all politicians started out in law, but don't you think it'd help if they did? Without a working understanding of laws how in the hell can a politician function well in their position?) I realize how a lawyer works. I know that they are there to defend and represent their clients. I know that a lawyer is there to provide counsel for a client and to act in their best interests. I know they're there to interpret the law and use it as a tool to seek out justice.

This is exactly why the American dream is practically non-existent these days. Don't you dream bigger? I'm assuming you're either in law school already or are a lawyer, don't you dream bigger? Don't you say to yourself I am (or will be) a lawyer, and one day I can and will change the world because I will go beyond being a lawyer? Don't you realize that other doors open with that kind of education? I'll give you an example now; I worked in a hospital for 4 years while I was in RN school. I was friends with everyone, but had 4 close friends that were RN's. Every single one of them went on to further their education. One of them is now administrator over the entire hospital, 2 of them are CRNP's, and one of them is in medical school now. Don't you think that their RN degrees helped them to get into higher positions? Just because they wanted bigger, it didn't mean that they didn't love their profession before their new positions. They took the necessary steps in order to reach their highest potential. I'm taking one step at a time. I'm nearly done with my CJ, I want to be a lawyer to assist those that seek justice, and when I get through I may want to get into politics. Hell I may want to be an astronaut. Does that mean I shouldn't want to be a lawyer too? Absolutely not.

I can do anything I set my mind to. I don't need to be talked out of wanting to be a lawyer, because you can't talk me out of it. I was talked into RN school and talked out of wanting to go to law school years ago. I'll be damned if I let anyone do that to me again (no offense).

[patogordo]

I can do anything I set my mind to.

good luck with that

[melissamj1]

I can do anything I set my mind to.

good luck with that

Seriously, why is there a need to be a jerk to someone for wanting something? Just piss off already.

[McAvoy]

I can do anything I set my mind to.

good luck with that

[patogordo]

i mean unless your parents are rich. but you didn't mention that in the OP. are they?

[melissamj1]

i mean unless your parents are rich. but you didn't mention that in the OP. are they?

I don't see what that has to do with anything I've never relied on them for money. I will suffice it to say that my husband works in oil and gas.

[McAvoy]

OP every sentence here is just dripping in naivety

You should spend some time around real life public interest attorneys

[patogordo]

shit, my bad. in that case congratulations and enjoy achieving whatever goal you set for yourself with minimal effort.

[McAvoy]

I will suffice it to say that my husband works in oil and gas.

this thread's about to get great

[melissamj1]

shit, my bad. in that case congratulations and enjoy achieving whatever goal you set for yourself with minimal effort.

Why would you think I'd using minimal effort? I worked for my scholarships and I've always worked hard for my grades.

What the hell is wrong with you?! You know I came here for advice and it's a shame I still managed to get trolled. Is your day so boring you have to troll people? It's Saturday, go out, hire a hooker, and get laid. Because if trolling gets you off, God knows you need a little something more in your life to fill that void.

[patogordo]

just telling you what your servants won't

[melissamj1]

I will suffice it to say that my husband works in oil and gas.

this thread's about to get great

I don't see what our money or his job or my family's money has to do with any of this.

[McAvoy]

You're not getting trolled, you're just really think.

[melissamj1]

You're not getting trolled, you're just really think.

Maybe you can fill his/her void.

[pancakes3]

I think it's amazing that you went from doubting your academic credentials and career path one day to being fully empowered that you can change the world as an astronaut/justice/madame-president as long as you put your mind to it.

Look, be a lawyer, don't be a lawyer, no one here really gives a crap. However, even the "haters" are coming with good intentions. You are naive as to just how many barriers that have nothing to do with how determined you are and how much you love law stand in the way between you and being in a position to change the law. I don't really know what kind of defensive mechanism it is to bristle so viciously at the truth.

You're 33 and taking the LSAT next September (not October) and slated to start law school Fall 2016. You have to grind hard to do well on the LSAT to get into a school worth going. Then you have to grind for 3 years after that to get a GPA high enough to do PI. You're going to graduate 2019 at age 38 and have a tough choice deciding where both you and your husband can find work. Then you've got to consider loan repayments. Most damning of all? In this hypo, you actually have control over what happens. Becoming a judge or a politician is entirely left to chance.

So really you're not getting trolled by us. This is reality on reality's terms.

[Wingtip88]

OP - I suggest reading this.

http://www.deanspade.net/wp-content/upl ... v-2010.pdf