Post
by philanono » Wed Mar 03, 2010 1:15 am
I disagree. I think its definitely a good thing that you're already thinking of whether to go to law school or not, because its a very big decision. One of the biggest mistakes I made in undergrad was that I didn't really figure out if law school was the right thing for me, so that's what I'm doing right now while working full time. I intern at the DA's office and I don't really know about other types of law, but I literally follow my DA for the beginning of my internship and its a very stressful lifestyle. I'll break down the positives and the negatives I've seen.
Negative:
1. Stressful - she tells me its a job that follows you around and its true. She's a trial attorney so even when she's at home or wherever, she'll get calls from investigators, cops etc. about finding witnesses, etc. Especially when they're in trial, they practically don't sleep. and they also have a lot of case loads. She has about 34 cases, sometimes she'll stay pass 5pm or take work home.
2. It's not a job where you can easily just call in sick - I was sitting in calender court with my DA and the judge called an attorney who wasn't there. The attorney basically got fined $1,000 for not showing up. There is no forgiveness in this profession.
3. Student Loans - over 100,000 in debt if you go to law school. Your monthly payment would probably be as high as a mortgage payment.
Positive:
1. It's not boring - at least for me, or at least criminal law. It's a very challenging profession and not something where you are forced to sit on a desk doing the same mundane thing over and over. It's the type of job that makes you think and if that's something you like then maybe law is for you.
2. Pay? - this is a maybe. Because in that particular DA's office, she said you start off 60k a year which is shit considering you went 3 years of law school. But now she gets paid 97k a year, after working there for 3 years and being promoted. How you get promoted? It's all about winning cases and not some bullshit they tell you in the beginning about justice.
3. Hours - Sure you work a lot but as long as you finish all your job and on top of your shit, you could leave the office whenever you want. At least in their office, its like that. I'll be working on a Friday afternoon and most DA's are already gone. I think its all about balancing your caseloads.
4. Rewarding - Well this is my own opinion and I think it only works if you're working for the District Attorney's office. I've witness victims in court whose lives were completely changed because of the crime that was done to them and its heart breaking, so knowing that you've put a rapist, sexual offender, murderer etc, in prison so that they will never have to do it to anyone again, it's pretty rewarding. Now if you work as a criminal defense...its a whole different issue, and frankly I don't know how they could do it.
That said, go to law school if you truly LOVE the LAW. One judge told me that LAW is a jealous mistress, and if you don't love it then you're gonna have a miserable life, which is true. He also said that mediocrity is not good enough for law and its true.
My suggestion is intern, anywhere whether its a private firm, the DA's office, public defenders anything where you basically see how their everyday lives work. If you know a lawyer, ask if you can follow them around for a day and see how their lives is like.
Don't go to law school without really understanding what lawyers actually do, that's the worst mistake you can make.
P.S.
Btw, my DA hates her job. LOL.
As for me, I'm still considering LS, because I just love everything I do in there. Sure, it's definitely stressful but what good job isn't?
