Top Law Schools

I'm sure this tale has been told a countless times... I'm about to enroll. I have an otherwise useless degree. I graduated a few years back so I can't apply fresh to consultancies, etc as far as I know. I doubt I can break into any lucrative, non dead-end jobs without getting an advanced degree, unless you subscribe to the "work your way up over 15 years" philosophy. At the moment, I'm not in an industry that would get me into a top b-school.

If you are like me, I don't see how a T6 school could hurt you, even if you dislike the work and the short-termcareer path of biglaw. (assuming you don't stick with big law...). It seems to be the inevitable pathway. I realize people say "don't go into law if you don't WANT to be a lawyer etc etc etc" but I think the assumption is the candidate could go into other decent industries as an alternative. I'd appreciate input on this.

i guess this depends on how much the tuition bill is and how lucrative your post-biglaw career path is.

You sound like law school isn't something you want to do, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone who thinks that T6 is a mistake.

I see:
"TLS, I'm existential crisis over whether or not to attend a T6. Help me."

I understand:
"LOLZ I GOTS INTO CCN. FUCK OFF NOOBS!"

CordeliusX wrote:I'm sure this tale has been told a countless times... I'm about to enroll. I have an otherwise useless degree. I graduated a few years back so I can't apply fresh to consultancies, etc as far as I know. I doubt I can break into any lucrative, non dead-end jobs without getting an advanced degree, unless you subscribe to the "work your way up over 15 years" philosophy. At the moment, I'm not in an industry that would get me into a top b-school.

If you are like me, I don't see how a T6 school could hurt you, even if you dislike the work and the short-termcareer path of biglaw. (assuming you don't stick with big law...). It seems to be the inevitable pathway. I realize people say "don't go into law if you don't WANT to be a lawyer etc etc etc" but I think the assumption is the candidate could go into other decent industries as an alternative. I'd appreciate input on this.

Add not getting biglaw to the formula.

Strategy consulting firms take a variety of backgrounds--liberal arts included.

Have you ever thought to ask: what do I want to do?

I'm hearing instead: how can I make a lot of money?

mwazaumoja wrote:Have you ever thought to ask: what do I want to do?

I'm hearing instead: how can I make a lot of money?

I think the OP's dilemma (and one that a lot of Lib arts majors have) is that, he can't just go do what he wants to do...especially without an advanced degree... and he cant get a top mba cause he doesn't have that kinda work exp. and cant get it anytime soon cause he's got a useless lib arts degree. I was a lib arts major and I'd like to do a lot of stuff but you know what...it aint gonna happen (esp w/o an advanced degree that says pratical skills), so you look at your options and pick the best one... often for lib arts majors who want to make at least some money in the near future...that path is law school...the ideal is not an option imao, at least not right now.

Getting my liberal arts degree was just a stop on the way to what I actually always wanted to do (go to law school).

Joga Bonito wrote:

mwazaumoja wrote:Have you ever thought to ask: what do I want to do?

I'm hearing instead: how can I make a lot of money?

I think the OP's dilemma (and one that a lot of Lib arts majors have) is that, he can't just go do what he wants to do...especially without an advanced degree... and he cant get a top mba cause he doesn't have that kinda work exp. and cant get it anytime soon cause he's got a useless lib arts degree. I was a lib arts major and I'd like to do a lot of stuff but you know what...it aint gonna happen (esp w/o an advanced degree that says pratical skills), so you look at your options and pick the best one... often for lib arts majors who want to make at least some money in the near future...that path is law school...the ideal is not an option imao, at least not right now.

Yeah that's it exactly. Picking from the best option on the menu given. Doesn't mean McDonald's is serving you filet mignon.

sixburgher wrote:You sound like law school isn't something you want to do, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone who thinks that T6 is a mistake.

Going almost a quarter million dollars in debt to do a job you don't want to do is insane. Worse yet, even at the T6, you've got a 25% chance of missing big law and making only marginally more than you can with a BA anyway.

Don't go.

Most people who make tons of money don't start making it from day 1.

mwazaumoja wrote:Have you ever thought to ask: what do I want to do?

I'm hearing instead: how can I make a lot of money?

What if what you want to do is make a lot of money?

Desert Fox wrote:

sixburgher wrote:You sound like law school isn't something you want to do, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone who thinks that T6 is a mistake.

Going almost a quarter million dollars in debt to do a job you don't want to do is insane. Worse yet, even at the T6, you've got a 25% chance of missing big law and making only marginally more than you can with a BA anyway.

Don't go.

Most people who make tons of money don't start making it from day 1.

But those people are the rule, we're the exceptions

starstruck393 wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:

sixburgher wrote:You sound like law school isn't something you want to do, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone who thinks that T6 is a mistake.

Going almost a quarter million dollars in debt to do a job you don't want to do is insane. Worse yet, even at the T6, you've got a 25% chance of missing big law and making only marginally more than you can with a BA anyway.

Don't go.

Most people who make tons of money don't start making it from day 1.

But those people are the rule, we're the exceptions

160K in NYC doesn't go very far with 220K in debt.

Desert Fox wrote:

starstruck393 wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:

sixburgher wrote:You sound like law school isn't something you want to do, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone who thinks that T6 is a mistake.

Going almost a quarter million dollars in debt to do a job you don't want to do is insane. Worse yet, even at the T6, you've got a 25% chance of missing big law and making only marginally more than you can with a BA anyway.

Don't go.

Most people who make tons of money don't start making it from day 1.

But those people are the rule, we're the exceptions

160K in NYC doesn't go very far with 220K in debt.

It'd be at least $200k with the Wachtell bonus. Plus, biglaw salaries will surely have gone up in 3 years

starstruck393 wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:

starstruck393 wrote:

Desert Fox wrote: Going almost a quarter million dollars in debt to do a job you don't want to do is insane. Worse yet, even at the T6, you've got a 25% chance of missing big law and making only marginally more than you can with a BA anyway.

Don't go.

Most people who make tons of money don't start making it from day 1.

But those people are the rule, we're the exceptions

160K in NYC doesn't go very far with 220K in debt.

It'd be at least $200k with the Wachtell bonus. Plus, biglaw salaries will surely have gone up in 3 years

Don't forget the Supreme Court clerking bonus they will pay after you clerk.

Desert Fox wrote:

starstruck393 wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:

starstruck393 wrote: Going almost a quarter million dollars in debt to do a job you don't want to do is insane. Worse yet, even at the T6, you've got a 25% chance of missing big law and making only marginally more than you can with a BA anyway.

Don't go.

Most people who make tons of money don't start making it from day 1.

But those people are the rule, we're the exceptions

160K in NYC doesn't go very far with 220K in debt.

It'd be at least $200k with the Wachtell bonus. Plus, biglaw salaries will surely have gone up in 3 years

Don't forget the Supreme Court clerking bonus they will pay after you clerk.

Exactly. How could I have forgotten that?!?

Personally, I dont see that much wrong with OP's question. Law school is expensive; it is largely a cost/benefit evaluation and the calculus is almost exclusively in terms of dollars and cents.

Desert Fox wrote:

starstruck393 wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:

sixburgher wrote:You sound like law school isn't something you want to do, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone who thinks that T6 is a mistake.

Going almost a quarter million dollars in debt to do a job you don't want to do is insane. Worse yet, even at the T6, you've got a 25% chance of missing big law and making only marginally more than you can with a BA anyway.

Don't go.

Most people who make tons of money don't start making it from day 1.

But those people are the rule, we're the exceptions

160K in NYC doesn't go very far with 220K in debt.

Desert Fox = the Nouriel Roubini of TLS

Translation: I don't know what else to do and I'm too awesome to not have an important job.

Law can be high stress and heavy workload. Going into it because you can't think of anything else to do is wasting several years of your life. Sentiments like in the OP are why there are so many desperately unhappy lawyers.

Desert Fox wrote:

sixburgher wrote:You sound like law school isn't something you want to do, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone who thinks that T6 is a mistake.

Going almost a quarter million dollars in debt to do a job you don't want to do is insane. Worse yet, even at the T6, you've got a 25% chance of missing big law and making only marginally more than you can with a BA anyway.

Don't go.

Most people who make tons of money don't start making it from day 1.

How do you figure 250K in debt? I was planning on more like 100+K

CordeliusX wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:

sixburgher wrote:You sound like law school isn't something you want to do, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone who thinks that T6 is a mistake.

Going almost a quarter million dollars in debt to do a job you don't want to do is insane. Worse yet, even at the T6, you've got a 25% chance of missing big law and making only marginally more than you can with a BA anyway.

Don't go.

Most people who make tons of money don't start making it from day 1.

How do you figure 250K in debt? I was planning on more like 100+K

Are you planning on getting a scholarship? Cost of attendance for NYU for this last year is 70K per year. And tuition costs up every year. Plan on around 220K.

Name one great decision that started with "well I can't think of anything else to do."

Except for my parents conceiving me, there are none. I'm the mistake that proves the rule.

NayBoer wrote:Name one great decision that started with "well I can't think of anything else to do."

Except for my parents conceiving me, there are none. I'm the mistake that proves the rule.

Sounds a lot like my life from ages 13 through 18.

NayBoer wrote:I don't know what else to do and I'm too awesome to not have an important job.

accounts for... what, half of law students? 60%?