Computer Science or Family Law????? Forum

[dn90]

Hey guys this is my first post just registered, I have been a long time browser but never registered. Now that I am nearing this point in my life I need your opinion. Im currently at rutgers university studying computer science, i cant decide between these two fields. I enjoy both (or at least think so) but i was wondering what will be the monatery gain, if any, between graduating with a bachelors in CS and finding a job or going to law school and studying family law??? Thanks very much for your help.

EDIT: for an ideal CS job i would like to do hardware/networking IT work, preferably for a school.

[D-ROCCA]

Do computer science.

[KibblesAndVick]

Why does FamilyLaw??? get three question marks after it?

[Nikrall]

Do CS in undergrad. Its a fine major to do if you want to go to law school. You can then have the choice of doing CS or going to law school.

[dn90]

Do computer science.

Thanks for your reply! Why do you say that though?

[dn90]

Do CS in undergrad. Its a fine major to do if you want to go to law school. You can then have the choice of doing CS or going to law school.

I am going to be pursuing a CS undergrad degree, I just dont know wheather law school is worth the time and money and will I have a better paying job doing Law

[TommyK]

Not enough details. Do you wanna' do hardware/networking? Software development? The IT field is one of the more stable fields out there.

I would say try out the CS field since you're graduating. If after a few years you're still wondering about the legal field, do informational interviews with lawyers, see what the field is like, and then make the decision.

[dn90]

Not enough details. Do you wanna' do hardware/networking? Software development? The IT field is one of the more stable fields out there.

I would say try out the CS field since you're graduating. If after a few years you're still wondering about the legal field, do informational interviews with lawyers, see what the field is like, and then make the decision.

sorry...good point. Hardware/networking primarily the IT field which i know gets paid less than the other CS fields but I enjoy this aspect of it. I was also contemplating wheater I should take a year off after I graduate and see if i can make decent money in the IT field and then if not go to law school. But i just feel that I will get too lazy establish a career and a family too fast and I will end up never going to LS

[TommyK]

Not enough details. Do you wanna' do hardware/networking? Software development? The IT field is one of the more stable fields out there.

I would say try out the CS field since you're graduating. If after a few years you're still wondering about the legal field, do informational interviews with lawyers, see what the field is like, and then make the decision.

sorry...good point. Hardware/networking primarily the IT field which i know gets paid less than the other CS fields but I enjoy this aspect of it. I was also contemplating wheater I should take a year off after I graduate and see if i can make decent money in the IT field and then if not go to law school. But i just feel that I will get too lazy establish a career and a family too fast and I will end up never going to LS

A couple of concerns here - you're afraid you'll get too lazy - really not convinced you have what it takes to commit yourself to three years to perform competitively in law school.

Networking is stable and pays okay money. I assume you've picked up the necessary cisco certifications to make you competitive.

I've heard really good things about the stability of the virtualization market - because it actually allows companies to shave money from their IT budget by using existing hardware w/ more flexibility. I know it was marked as one of the most recession-proof jobs a year or two ago. It's also pretty niche and in demand. Tough tests though, from what I understand.

If you have doubts about whether law school is the right thing for you, take a year or two off and get your mind right to make the decision objectively. Make some money, buy some furniture, and then in a few years if you want to make the sacrifices, go for it, amigo.

[dn90]

Not enough details. Do you wanna' do hardware/networking? Software development? The IT field is one of the more stable fields out there.

I would say try out the CS field since you're graduating. If after a few years you're still wondering about the legal field, do informational interviews with lawyers, see what the field is like, and then make the decision.

sorry...good point. Hardware/networking primarily the IT field which i know gets paid less than the other CS fields but I enjoy this aspect of it. I was also contemplating wheater I should take a year off after I graduate and see if i can make decent money in the IT field and then if not go to law school. But i just feel that I will get too lazy establish a career and a family too fast and I will end up never going to LS

A couple of concerns here - you're afraid you'll get too lazy - really not convinced you have what it takes to commit yourself to three years to perform competitively in law school.

Networking is stable and pays okay money. I assume you've picked up the necessary cisco certifications to make you competitive.

I've heard really good things about the stability of the virtualization market - because it actually allows companies to shave money from their IT budget by using existing hardware w/ more flexibility. I know it was marked as one of the most recession-proof jobs a year or two ago. It's also pretty niche and in demand. Tough tests though, from what I understand.

If you have doubts about whether law school is the right thing for you, take a year or two off and get your mind right to make the decision objectively. Make some money, buy some furniture, and then in a few years if you want to make the sacrifices, go for it, amigo.

Thank you very much for your prompt responses i really appreciate your help.

Im sorry poor choice of words-- Lazy i guess would'nt suffice, more like, too involved with family and life in general (job etc.)

Also, as for the cisco certs and things of that nature the answer is no. I would have to get all those prior to applying for any jobs. This is something im also very afriad of because what they teach me here is not EVERYTHING i would need to know many employers require PHP, SQL, etc knowledge which i have none of. So im afraid of graduating with a CS degree and then having to learn all these otehr languages and concepts to even be potentialy competitive in the job market.

[TommyK]

I guess my advice would be to start talking to potential employers, recruiters who come to your campus and ask them what they're looking for as far as certs. And at the risk of this turning into a career advice thread, make absolute sure you get internships. IT is one of the most non-credential-focused fields out there and they won't be that impressed if you have a 4.0 gpa in CS if you can't prove that you know your stuff through actual experience.

But my vote is still CS career if you're not 100% committed to law. It's a field with a large barrier to entry ($$$$$) and I wouldn't waste some money unless you are sure as you possibly can be that you want to go down that road.

Shalom,
TommyK

[dn90]

I guess my advice would be to start talking to potential employers, recruiters who come to your campus and ask them what they're looking for as far as certs. And at the risk of this turning into a career advice thread, make absolute sure you get internships. IT is one of the most non-credential-focused fields out there and they won't be that impressed if you have a 4.0 gpa in CS if you can't prove that you know your stuff through actual experience.

But my vote is still CS career if you're not 100% committed to law. It's a field with a large barrier to entry ($$$$$) and I wouldn't waste some money unless you are sure as you possibly can be that you want to go down that road.

Shalom,
TommyK

Thanks alot! have a great day!

[godofcoffee]

I'm not sure if you consider this question answered, but there's a clear monetary jump between IT work at a school (regardless of how good you are) and work at a good law firm. I'm in a similar situation (although I favour program management or a PhD, rather than IT work). Law school is a substantial investment, but if you do reasonably well at a good one, the only way to match your earning potential in CS is to crush a startup or something.